Posts Tagged ‘garden’
For the enthusiastic gardeners amongst us, the hosepipe ban currently affecting an ever-increasing number of regions across the South of England is more than an inconvenience it’s a potential disaster.
But do not despair. With a little thought and reorganisation, you can conserve water, minimise drought damage and still ensure you have a summer garden that’s the envy of all your neighbours!
How? It’s simple……………
1. Improve Moisture Retention in the Soil
Limit evaporation from the soil by mulching soil surfaces. This will significantly improve moisture retention. There are several different types of mulch which can be employed for this purpose:-
a. Organic Mulches
The best organic matter to use would be:
- Animal Manure making sure that it is well rotted.
- Mushroom Compost though this should not be used on very chalky soil or acid loving plants.
- Garden Compost when the texture has turned ‘crumbly’.
- Leaf Mould this compost will suit acid loving plants (recycling garden waste into compost makes one of the cheapest soil conditioners).
- Chipped Bark make sure you buy chipped bark, not chipped wood.
But be careful: when dry and in a strong wind, it tends to blow about the garden!
b. Non Organic Mulches
- Gravel or other Aggregates excellent, long lasting inorganic mulch available in a range of colours, textures and sizes
- Grass cuttings compost with other material first (never compost grass cuttings that have been freshly treated with herbicide).
- Cocoa shells a good, light, porous mulch with small amounts of nutrients
- Rocks, Pebbles & Glass Nuggets are a colourful, efficient alternative to all of the above.
When using an inorganic matter as mulch on the soil, first prepare the site by pegging down a porous membrane on top of the soil. The weight of the inorganic mulch will help anchor anchor the membrane and prevent the gravel or glass nuggets from becoming buried in the soil.
2. Water Butts
Place water butts in the garden in strategic spots where they can catch water from the roof of your home, garage and garden outbuildings. Water butts can be inter-linked using hosepipe to allow the maximum amount of water to be stored.
Call Original Organics for under half price Water Butts including a down-pipe connecter and a watering can on tel. 01884 841515
3. Recycle Domestic Water
Do not use water though that contains bleach or detergent. Bath water can be used so long as you rotate the type of water given in one area. Make sure that the water is not poured directly on to the leaves.
4. Lay a Drought Tolerant Lawn
Grassed areas are the first to suffer from a hosepipe ban. Consider reducing the size of your lawn and possibly replacing it with a Gravel Bed or a lawn made up of thyme or camomile. Alternatively, you could consider hard landscaping.
However, if you’re set on keeping your lawn, a turf company in the South of England called Sovereign has developed a Drought Tolerant Grass called Xeris, details of which can be found by following the link.
5. The Hard Landscaping Option
There are a variety of surfaces other than lawn that offer interest and texture in the garden. These include:
(a) Paving leaving a space between the paving stones for creeping plants such as thyme can soften the edges of a hard-paved area. Even in dry weather there is usually sufficient moisture beneath the slabs for the efficient growth of alpines. Leaving out the occasional slab can also provide space for a larger plant to be grown.
(b) Cobbles and Aggregates naturally complement each other as well as do plants and can be easily worked into curving shapes and organic patterns. For added colour contrast, glass blocks can also be introduced in small areas.
(c) Gravel this is by far the easiest surface to lay, although it is better not to lay gravel immediately next to the house, as it is easily trodden indoors.
(d) Decking can easily be accommodated in any garden regardless of levels. Using grooved timber helps to prevent slipping when the surface is wet.
Combining the above in an imaginative way will not only enable you to conserve water, but will also provide an area of garden that needs little maintenance. It will also create a cool area where plants will thrive during spells of dry weather.
For more information about any of the above contact Amanda
6. Planting
There are a number of ways in which planting itself can help reduce the amount of water evaporation from the soil:
(a) Plant more trees- Shade from trees helps to provide cooler pockets of air, whilst the trees themselves create an excellent windbreak to minimise the drying effect of the wind. If your garden occupies a large, windy site, especially near the coast, you could benefit from planting a high hedge or a ‘shelter belt’ of trees and shrubs.
(b) Grow Plants in Containers- If you grow a lot of patio plants in containers, grouping them together will enable them to produce their own microclimate. It will also help conserve water, as more is required to water more widely spaced plants. Water-retaining granules incorporated in the compost of hanging Baskets and containers will also help keep the soil moist during dryer weather.
(c) Plant Ground Cover- The use of ground cover planting is another very useful way of helping to retain moisture in the soil. Plants with silver coloured foliage are especially effective in achieving this. The art of good ground cover planting lies in creating drifts of plants, broken by the occasional change of height, shape and colour.
(d) Use Windbreaks- It is not only trees and shrubs that can be useful in slowing down the wind and reducing moisture loss in the garden. More immediate remedies are things like woven willow panels, trellising and baffle fencing, all of which provide instant, effective help in combating the drying process when erected in the right places. For long term windbreaks, evergreen hedges such as holly or deciduous hedges such as hawthorn are an excellent choice.
(e) Terracing- In sloping gardens, water quickly drains away, leaving slim opportunity for the soil to absorb any moisture. Terracing provides a flat surface to help contain and conserve water supplies. Terracing can be constructed in various ways, one of which is to use sleepers.
As a Garden Designer all these things need to be taken into account and planned for. Remember no water equals sure disaster.
Learn why metal garden furniture can accent the perfect outdoor entertainment area. The garden, backyard and patio of many homes are the owner’s pride and joy the center of mild weather entertainment, or a quiet refuge. As such an important area it deserves furnishings which are not only beautiful but durable and fit the home and the owner’s sense of style.
A garden area has many uses depending upon the lifestyle of the homeowner. A family with children may use theirs as a play area and the furniture must not only be beautiful but extremely durable. Metal furniture is perfect as it will usually withstand even the most active of children.
A couple who prefer to spend quiet evenings admiring their garden and the stars may choose patio sets which will not only enhance the looks of their backyard area but will be able to endure wind and rain over years and still retain their beauty.
The entertaining family may choose the outdoor party over a stuffy indoor party every time. Everything from backyard barbeques to birthday celebrations may be held in the garden if weather permits. This type of family will avoid light plastic furniture which can easily be blown over or damaged by overexcited children. Metal picnic tables could suit this area for the children with perhaps a more grown up area featuring metal furniture for adults.
Plastic furniture can certainly be affordable but it can easily be damaged within a single season of use and rarely can withstand active children for very long. Replacing furniture every year is not the ideal for most homeowners and particularly not for those who use their garden area regularly.
On the other hand, wood patio sets can add a very refined look to a garden area. However, wood furniture usually requires a sheltered area in order to survive without damage for a season much less over several years. A combination of specially treated wood and metal furniture may be practical and may suit the needs of some yard decorators.
If outdoor furniture is not in a protected area it is usually wise to avoid rattan furniture if durability is what the decorator wants as well. Although rattan can look good, it also needs some protection in order to survive over time. Children may be rough on rattan furniture so it may not be ideal for a family that includes children in their outdoor activities.
Metal furniture can be as elaborate or as delicate as the decorator desires. It can also be durable and practical when sturdiness is the quality most sought. A combination of practical and durable metal furniture can be ideal for families with children. Alternatively a delicate wrought iron patio set could fit well in the decorating scheme for those who entertain mainly adults. Whatever style is deemed most suitable, the homeowner can be sure that metal garden furniture will be durable enough to grace their gardens through rain and shine for many years to come.
Looking for the ideal piece of furniture for your garden? A garden bench maybe the perfect choice. Benches provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy your garden or simply take time out from your daily routine. A Garden bench can also create an attractive focal point in any garden. Strategically placing your bench near trees or near areas of interest provides easy access for viewing your favorite part of the garden.
With the wide range of benches available on the market today, your choices are numerous. Benches are made from an amazing array of materials including different types of wood, cast iron and aluminum. Solid wood benches manufactured from Pine, Cypress and most commonly Teak can last for many years when properly maintained.
Cast iron and aluminum offer strength and unsurpassed durability.
No matter whether you have a traditional style or contemporary style garden, a Teak garden bench will look great and will give you many years of enjoyment. Teak is preferred among most bench manufactures because of its high strength, natural beauty when weathered and resistance to bugs.
Most garden benches generally require little attention during its normal lifespan. Metal benches may require repainting from time to time, Pine wood may also require additional coats of paint or clearcoat, but Teak and Cypress are such great materials, that no refinishing is ever required. You can also buy bench covers which offer protection for your bench during the colder and wetter months of the year.
Garden benches are available in many different designs and sizes to suit your exact requirements.
Love seats allow two people to sit and enjoy that special area of the garden, while larger models are available that seat 3 to 4 adults. Child size benches are great for the young ones to sit and enjoy the garden with the adults.
Finding a garden bench is as simple as going online and browsing through the vast array of models available. Look for quality materials, styles that match your garden and a size to fit. Seat cushions can also be obtained to make your bench more comfortable and decorative. After setting up your garden bench, you will be glad that you added one of these stunning items of furniture to your garden.
Looking for quick loan online is one easy way to be able to buy your garden bench. You can browse the internet and find the best loan companies there.
Different types of garden equipments are required to maintain a beautiful and neat garden. There are various types of hand tools as well as power tools that can be used for various purposes. Gardeners require many kinds of tools but there are some essential tools required for proper gardening.
Buying the right type of garden equipments can be quite confusing for beginners but there are some basic tools which can be identified easily. The following section describes some of these tools which can be bought from many of the online stores at affordable rates.
Basic Garden Equipments
Shovels: One of the most common and basic tools required for gardening includes the shovels. The shovels are needed for digging and moving the soil. It is also used for planting trees and shrubs. It has round and pointed blades.
Shovels with flat edges at the top of the blades prove to be more useful as you can place your foot on it while digging the soil. A variety of shovels are available today in many of the leading garden equipments stores.
Pruning Shears: Necessary lawn tools should include pruning shears to trim plants and cut dead branches. Pruning shears help to cut the plants neatly without ripping them. There are mainly two varieties of pruning shears which include bypass and anvil. Pruning shears can also be differentiated by two types mainly the hand and machine operated shears.
Trowels: Garden equipments also consist of trowels of various types. Trowels are similar to spades in appearance but are more pointed and longer. It can either be narrow or wide. There are many designs which make digging an easier task. Choosing rubber handles is an excellent idea as it is easy to grip. Solid soil can be dug easily with the use of narrow blades.
Spading forks: Another useful lawn tool includes the spading forks which are similar to spades. Strong forks have square tines and can be used efficiently for breaking the soil.
Hoes: Most important garden equipments include the hoes which are used to remove weeds. Weeds can be found in every garden and it is essential to remove them easily without destroying the plants. Hoes can also be used to smoother the soil around the plants. Steel blade hoes are strong with suitable handles. Different shaped hoes are available today, so it is important to choose hoes that provide comfortable handles.
Lawn movers: The list of garden equipments is incomplete without the mention of lawn movers. Different types of lawn movers are available today which include electric lawn movers, heavy duty lawn movers, petrol lawn mover and so forth.
Water cans: Various kinds of water cans are available which include copper water cans, light weight water cans, and portable copper water cans.
Other useful garden equipments include carts and wheelbarrows. It is difficult to carry things around the garden without the use of wheelbarrows. Different types of wheelbarrows of various sizes and features are easily available today. With wide and varied options of tools and equipments, it is important to know the type of tools required for your garden.
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Most homeowners are taking it for granted to customize the living spaces of their property. Not only because they are too busy to change the concept of their front yard but because they could not find the right approach of enhancing the beauty and appeal of their garden. It may sound odd but it could be one of the biggest impediments standing in one’s way nowadays. Aside from they need to put some aesthetics elements in the garden to make it more attractive and functional, they need to consider the other structural components that will greatly influence the outlook of the yard and the perception of an individual.
Setting up the landscape design of your themed garden is not a one-day project or experiment where you can easily assemble the live or faux plants like in meditation, pool or play areas. Thinking of the best materials or elements requires ample time and effort. Perhaps, an advice from your landscape designer can help you decide on how to increase the value of your estate and the style and features of a garden that you have always been dreaming of. Sometimes, you need to find a comprehensive approach or effective techniques in developing the bland and barren portion of the yard if you want it to be captivating and interesting to the eyes of the people.
Instead of the white pickets, why not install outdoor artificial hedges on the front? Albeit they are faux, they can absolutely cover the unwanted views for the visitors while they are relaxing and conceal the impinged cacophonous noise of the neighbors while having a talk with the family. Fake hedges are made from the blend of polyurethane material that has sun protection so you will not going to worry about fading. Moreover, they are not hard to maintain. No need for you to water it every day and trim the overgrowing sprigs.
On the other hand, if you are not prepared to get your hands dirty, you can display the wide variety of outdoor artificial plants available in pots, boxwoods and planters. There are artificial azaleas, gardenias, geraniums and bougainvillea that you can choose from. You can also perfectly mix them with artificial vines and ferns. Furthermore, proper application of flower colors is a must. Apart from they can tailor a relaxing nook, they can also completely influence one’s mood.
So if you are tired of toiling the soil over the yard, use the outdoor artificial plants. They are the best alternative and the perfect solution to your problems. You will not be seeing your filthy fingernails anymore and your sweat glands all over your face. Likewise, you will enjoy the whole year round of inspirational atmosphere of your beautiful garden.
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