Dobbies’ guide to hosting a winning summer garden party

Whether it’s cheering on your country during the World Cup, enjoying Wimbledon with friends, or making the most of the bank holiday sunshine, summer is the perfect time to bring everyone together in the garden.

Dobbies has unveiled its essential guide to hosting a relaxed and stylish garden gathering, with expert advice and carefully selected products to help customers make the most of their outdoor space all season long.

From sprucing up flower beds to creating a welcoming seating area for afternoon drinks or evening BBQs, Dobbies has everything you need to turn your garden into a welcoming summer retreat.

Neaten up the garden

Before hosting friends and family, a little care and attention can make all the difference. Trim back hedges, clean up borders and remove weeds to give your garden a neat and tidy look. Tidy flower beds by removing any deadheads with Dobbies’ own-brand secateurs. When tackling weeds, water the soil first to soften it, then grasp firmly at the base and pull slowly to extract the entire root. Once you’ve tidied up, apply a layer of compost or fresh topsoil to enhance the appearance of your beds and give your plants a healthy nutrient boost.

Dobbies’ range of own brand gardening tools are available in store and online, priced from just £4.99, which will come in handy for any pre-party tidying.

Hand trowel, £4.99; Top soil, £5.00; Secateurs, £12.99

Create the perfect outdoor living set-up

A successful garden party is about comfort as much as style. Whether hosting a Wimbledon afternoon tea, a family BBQ, or a World Cup watch-along, comfortable seating and thoughtful touches make guests feel at home.

Dobbies’ range of outdoor furniture includes dining sets for long lunches, lounge sets for relaxed evenings, and compact options for smaller spaces.

Add finishing touches like overhead string lights, solar lanterns, a rug, cushions and throws to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that will carry your space through to the evening.

Lisbon 4 seater grey, £399; Compact coffee lounge set, £899; Alps Mocha Curve sofa set, £1799

Outdoor Oasis cushion, £14; Small tabletop firepit, £39.99

Outdoor Lighting

Continue the garden party into the evening with Dobbies’ selection of outdoor lighting to add some ambience to your outdoor entertaining space. As the World Cup matches will take place at night time in the UK, add solar lighting to your garden to make your space bright and keep the party going.

Wicker solar lantern £17.99; String solar lights, £19.99; Beige wicker lamp, £19.99

 Food and drink essential

From classic BBQs to wood-fired pizzas, outdoor cooking brings everyone together and Dobbies’ range of outdoor kitchen essentials caters to a range of budgets and needs, making it easy to host with confidence.

Complete the set-up with practical yet stylish accessories such as serving trays, salad servers and glazed jugs, perfect for refreshing summer cocktails. Add in info on the foodhalls.

Dobbies 18” kettle charcoal BBQ, £49.99; Gozney Arc 14” pizza oven, £599; Grill Guru large, £1099

Mango wood spotted salad servers, £14.99; Glazed terracotta jug, £24.99; Palm tree tray, £29.99

For more inspiration and to shop Dobbies’ outdoor living range for Spring Summer 2026, visit www.dobbies.com