How to Make the Most of Your Winter Armchair Gardening

The cold, dark days of winter force even the keenest gardeners to retreat indoors, but there are still lots of gardening jobs to be done from the comfort of your fireside. Here are some of them:

Planning
Now is the time to look through seed and plant catalogues and decide what you want to grow next year. The old favourites? Exciting new hybrids? Most people choose some of each. Don’t be seduced by the beautiful photos of perfect specimens. Read the descriptions carefully to check size, flowering season and any special growing requirements to be sure the new plants will fit in and thrive.

Designing
Whether you are looking forward to starting a new garden, or want to improve an existing one, winter is a good time to sit down with paper and pencil – or garden design software – and explore the possibilities of your plot. When foliage has died down, and the leaves are off deciduous trees and shrubs, it’s easier to see the main shapes and lines in your garden.

When you are busy working in the garden you tend to concentrate on the details and forget to stand back and look at the whole. View it from different windows in the house or wrap up warm and look at it from the road. Pretend you are seeing it for the first time. Note which areas are interesting and attractive, and which could do with being altered.

If your new design is going to mean more heavy work than you can manage yourself, or you’re not sure of the best way to put your ideas into practice, ask the advice of a professional landscape gardener who will be happy to visit and give you a free, no obligation consultation.

Start a diary
Begin the New Year with a gardening diary. You can buy a specially designed diary or make your own from an ordinary hardback notebook. Your entries can be as simple or detailed as you like, but recording seed sowing times, when and where you planted different species, which varieties flourished and which were disappointing, will all provide a source of useful information for future years.

Teach yourself
The fascinating – and sometimes frustrating – thing about gardening is that you never stop learning. There are always new plants, tips and techniques to discover. Do you have a pile of gardening magazines that you’ve collected over the past year but haven’t had time to read properly? Settle down now and catch up with what you missed. If you were given a book token for Christmas, treat yourself to a book on a gardening subject that particularly interests you, or visit your local library and borrow a whole armful of books!

However you spend the dreary winter days don’t get too comfy in that armchair. Before you know it, the spring bulbs will be pushing through the snow and it will be time to get back to work!

How to Choose the Best Path for Your Garden

Many people walk up and down their garden paths without paying much attention to them – unless they notice a wobbly slab or weeds growing through the cracks. If your paths are past their best, or no longer suit the way you use your garden, why not consider some new ones?

A good garden path needs to be functional, but it should also be attractive and an important feature in the overall design of the garden. When planning where to put a path, and deciding which materials to use, ask yourself the following questions:

How much will it be used?
A path from the street to your front door will need to stand up to more traffic than one between flowerbeds in the back garden.

Is it in the right place?
Do you have a path around the perimeter of your garden that is rarely used because it’s quicker to walk across the lawn? Lay paths, or stepping-stones, where people are actually going to use them.

Does it complement the style of your house and garden?
Straight concrete or slab paths suit formal gardens but look out of place in a woodland garden. Crazy paving can add quaintness to a cottage, but seems strange leading up to a modern house. When choosing bricks, slabs or gravel look for colours that will blend well with adjoining buildings and walls.

What about the edges?
Think about how the path will fit into the garden. Will it be on the same level as the surrounding ground or slightly raised? Will it need to include steps? Do you want an informal look with plants spreading over the edges of the path? Or clearly defined, perhaps with a contrasting edging?

Will it lead to a focal point of the garden?
Garden paths are not just for walking on! They also guide the eyes. When viewed from the house does the path only draw attention to the compost heap? Perhaps you could curve the path towards something more interesting, or make a new focal point in front of the compost.

When you’ve spent time and thought on designing the perfect paths for your garden it makes sense to construct them from good quality materials and lay them properly with adequate foundations so they will last for years. If this seems like too much hard work, or you need some advice on how to do the job properly, consult a local professional landscape gardener. Find one who is willing to visit and give you a free, no obligation quote either to do the work for you, or to supply the materials only if you want to do it yourself.

Secure your fence for the winter

Have you checked your garden fences recently? As they form the background to your garden, and are often hidden behind plants, it’s all too easy to forget about them, until there is a problem that is. To preserve your privacy, security and peace of mind you should make sure they are always in good condition.

Prevention is better than cure, and regular inspections will enable you to deal with small faults while they are still repairable. At the very least, it is advisable to have a good look at your fences in autumn, before the winter storms arrive.

Is every post firm, and are all the fittings securely fastened? Are there any loose or broken planks? If you’re unable to do any repair work yourself, it is well worth calling in a reputable fencing company. It’s far easier and cheaper to have one section of fencing repaired or replaced than to delay and risk more extensive damage occurring.

To stand up to British winters, a fence needs to be well constructed from good quality materials. If you need a new fence that will last through many years of wind, rain and frost, choose a professional company that takes a real pride in its standard of work and will be able to advise you on the best type of fence for your garden’s situation.

Unfortunately, even the sturdiest fence can be damaged by a severe gale. And if you are unlucky enough to be in the path of one of the 35 or so tornados that are reported in the UK each year it is highly unlikely that your fences will survive such a battering completely intact.

Although you can’t avoid such extreme events, you can minimise their effects by finding a local company that offers an emergency fencing service before you actually need it. Hopefully, you’ll never have to call, but having the contact details of someone you can trust to deal with emergency fence repairs quickly and efficiently can be very reassuring.

Designing a Winter Garden

Garden design is all about individual taste. One person’s dream garden can be another gardener’s nightmare! But one thing on which everyone agrees is that a garden should be interesting all the year round. If your outdoor space is as dreary as the weather during the winter months here are a few ideas to brighten it up.

Shapes
Bare branches of ‘ordinary’ trees can look quite extraordinary, especially if dusted with snow. Leaves, stems and seedpods, which are hardly noticed when a plant is in full flower, become the centre of attention when outlined with a sparkle of frost. When planning to introduce new plants don’t forget to find out what different species will look like in winter.

When luxuriant summer foliage has died down, the underlying shapes of the garden can be seen more easily. Stand back and try to pick out the main shapes of both hard and soft landscaping. Taking photographs or making a simple sketch can help.

If beds, borders, lawns, hedges etc. are mostly square or rectangular consider the difference introducing a few curves might make. Likewise, a tall angular shape could give an interesting visual lift to a planting scheme of predominantly soft, rounded shapes.

Colours
Unless you live in a very mild area – or have exceptionally green fingers – you won’t be able to produce floral displays as vibrant and varied as those of summer. A window box or tub near your door planted with winter-flowering pansies is the easiest way to provide a bright welcome to visitors.

Most plants that flower in the coldest months tend to have small, paler flowers but that doesn’t make them any less attractive. Light colours show up well against dark backgrounds and seem to reflect even the weakest winter sun.

Snowdrops are an obvious choice, although choosing from the hundred or so available varieties can be confusing! The common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is one of the earliest to flower in January, while others are more likely to appear in February or March. Winter-flowering heathers, hardy cyclamens (Cyclamen coum) and hellebores can also be relied on to flower early.
In spite of its name, the Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) rarely blooms at Christmas but it is well worth waiting for its large, white flowers to appear from January to March.

But flowers are not the only sources of colour. Red, orange and yellow berries brighten up dull days – at least until the birds have feasted on them.

Tree bark also comes in a wide range of colours. Most people can recognise a silver birch (Betula pendula) by its white trunk, but it also has many attractive cousins such as the hardy river birch (Betula nigra) which has peeling, cinnamon-coloured bark. Many acers reveal colourful and patterned barks once they’ve shed their beautiful autumn leaves.

If you haven’t enough room for trees, perhaps you could find space for some dogwood. There are many varieties, all with colourful stems ranging from yellow to deep red and almost black.

Scents
What’s better than flowers in midwinter? Scented flowers! Many early-flowering shrubs bloom from December and smell wonderful! If you plant your favourites near your door or alongside your most-used paths you can enjoy them every time you go outside. Some of the most popular are Wintersweet, Mahonia, Viburnum, Winter jasmine, Witch hazel and Winter honeysuckle, all of which have several varieties.

Wildlife
Winter is the time when many people become more aware of the wildlife in their gardens. It’s easier to see birds in the branches of bare trees, and tracks left in snow give clues to unseen night visitors. A harsh winter often makes normally shy creatures venture closer to houses in search of food so this is the best time to encourage them.

A well-stocked bird table or hanging feeders placed within easy view of your windows can attract a surprising number of species. As well as entertaining you with their antics, birds will reward you for your generosity by searching the rest of your garden for overwintering insects and soil pests. Why not help them further by putting up some nest boxes in readiness for spring? It won’t be long!

Keep Gardening – the Easier Way

Gardening is great exercise. All that digging, weeding, mowing lawns and cutting hedges helps to keep muscles strong and hearts healthy. But even the most enthusiastic gardener has to slow down as the years go by. If the hobby that once gave you so much pleasure is now causing aches and pains, nature is telling you it’s time for a rethink. You don’t have to give up gardening altogether, but you can almost certainly make it easier. Here are a few ideas you might like to consider:

Make a list of all the different jobs you do in the garden and mark the ones you are finding the most difficult. Brainstorm to find ways of reducing, or even eliminating, those particular tasks. For example, installing a simple irrigation system could save you many trips with a heavy watering can in dry weather.

Aim higher. One of the most common problems for older gardeners is getting down to the ground. When bending, stooping or kneeling is uncomfortable – or even impossible – explore ways of lifting plants up to your level. Raised beds that you can easily reach when standing or sitting are practical and attractive. Wall-mounted planters come in a wide range of materials and styles to match your house and garden and can be fixed to exactly the height that suits you. And, for a colourful but easily maintained feature, how about a tiered stand on which you can arrange a number of hanging baskets?

Choose your plants with care. Do you have formal flowerbeds that you fill with a succession of different bulbs and bedding plants throughout the seasons? Consider using more perennials that can stay in the same place for several years, perhaps with easy-to-grow annual seeds sprinkled between them. A collection of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, under planted with drifts of spring bulbs, will provide year-round colour and interest in return for minimal maintenance.

Check your tools. Good gardening tools can last a lifetime, but if it now takes almost as much effort to lift that heavy spade as it does to dig with it you need to lighten up! Visit a garden centre that stocks a good selection of tools and try out different brands for size, weight and ease of use. Look out for tools that have been designed for disabled gardeners. Many of them, like long-handled trowels or easy-to-grip pruners, make gardening easier for everyone.

Don’t give up the veg! If you’ve been enjoying your own home-grown vegetables and fruit you won’t want to give them up for supermarket produce. But if you use traditional growing methods that include lots of winter digging, now would be a good time to consider switching to a raised bed system. There’s no need for deep digging and closer planting means you get the same yield from a smaller space – with fewer weeds! You can also grow a surprising number of fruits, vegetables and salad crops in containers. Imagine sitting comfortably on your patio and picking perfectly ripened strawberries!

Ask an expert. Redesigning a garden to make it easier to manage doesn’t mean covering most of it with concrete or paving. Often, a small change, such as altering steep steps, can make a big difference. Check your local professional landscape gardeners and find one who will be happy to visit your garden and give you a free, no obligation consultation. You might be pleasantly surprised by some of his or her suggestions.

The Colours, Shapes and Scents of a Winter Garden

Garden design is all about individual taste. One person’s dream garden can be another gardener’s nightmare! But one thing on which everyone agrees is that a garden should be interesting all the year round. If your outdoor space is as dreary as the weather during the winter months here are a few ideas to brighten it up.

Shapes
Bare branches of ‘ordinary’ trees can look quite extraordinary, especially if dusted with snow. Leaves, stems and seedpods, which are hardly noticed when a plant is in full flower, become the centre of attention when outlined with a sparkle of frost. When planning to introduce new plants don’t forget to find out what different species will look like in winter.

When luxuriant summer foliage has died down, the underlying shapes of the garden can be seen more easily. Stand back and try to pick out the main shapes of both hard and soft landscaping. Taking photographs or making a simple sketch can help.

If beds, borders, lawns, hedges etc. are mostly square or rectangular consider the difference introducing a few curves might make. Likewise, a tall angular shape could give an interesting visual lift to a planting scheme of predominantly soft, rounded shapes.

Colours
Unless you live in a very mild area – or have exceptionally green fingers – you won’t be able to produce floral displays as vibrant and varied as those of summer. A window box or tub near your door planted with winter-flowering pansies is the easiest way to provide a bright welcome to visitors.

Most plants that flower in the coldest months tend to have small, paler flowers but that doesn’t make them any less attractive. Light colours show up well against dark backgrounds and seem to reflect even the weakest winter sun.

Snowdrops are an obvious choice, although choosing from the hundred or so available varieties can be confusing! The common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is one of the earliest to flower in January, while others are more likely to appear in February or March. Winter-flowering heathers, hardy cyclamens (Cyclamen coum) and hellebores can also be relied on to flower early.

In spite of its name, the Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) rarely blooms at Christmas but it is well worth waiting for its large, white flowers to appear from January to March.

But flowers are not the only sources of colour. Red, orange and yellow berries brighten up dull days – at least until the birds have feasted on them.

Tree bark also comes in a wide range of colours. Most people can recognise a silver birch (Betula pendula) by its white trunk, but it also has many attractive cousins such as the hardy river birch (Betula nigra) which has peeling, cinnamon-coloured bark. Many acers reveal colourful and patterned barks once they’ve shed their beautiful autumn leaves.

If you haven’t enough room for trees, perhaps you could find space for some dogwood. There are many varieties, all with colourful stems ranging from yellow to deep red and almost black.

Scents
What’s better than flowers in midwinter? Scented flowers! Many early-flowering shrubs bloom from December and smell wonderful! If you plant your favourites near your door or alongside your most-used paths you can enjoy them every time you go outside. Some of the most popular are Wintersweet, Mahonia, Viburnum, Winter jasmine, Witch hazel and Winter honeysuckle, all of which have several varieties.

Preparing Your Garden for Winter

It seems as though we’ve only just begun to enjoy the British summer when the days become shorter and trees take on their autumn colours. There might still be a few more warm days to come, but this is the time of year when gardeners’ thoughts should turn to winter.

Preparing your garden for winter is mostly about tidying up and preventing problems that can occur in the colder months. There’s not always a clear division between the seasons – early frosts can be followed by a spell of milder temperatures – so plan your work by the weather forecasts rather than the calendar.

Clear up Fallen Leaves
If you (or your neighbours) have lots of trees, clearing up fallen leaves can be a big job. But think of all that lovely, free leaf mould! You can add some leaves to your compost heap but, as they rot more slowly than softer material, it’s better to deal with large quantities separately. Mix with a few lawn-clippings and place in sacks or plastic bin-liners pierced with some ventilation holes. Store the sacks in an out-of-the-way corner of the garden. Around this time next year, the leaves will have broken down into a rich, crumbly compost.

When they have lost their leaves, it’s easier to spot and deal with dead or diseased branches on deciduous trees and shrubs. If you are worried about the safety of large, overhanging branches ask the opinion of a tree expert before winter gales arrive.

After clearing most of the leaves, it’s time to tend the lawn. As growth slows down mow it less frequently and raise the cutting height a little. Scarify the lawn by giving it a good rake to remove dead grass and any moss. Then spike all over with a garden fork, lifting the turf slightly as you do so. This will allow oxygen to get into the compacted soil, encourage deeper root growth and improve drainage. If you have a large lawn and don’t relish the prospect of doing this work by hand, you can hire machines to do both jobs. Finish off with an application of lawn fertiliser, making sure you’ve selected an autumn mix that will nourish without promoting rapid growth.

Caring for Tender Plants
If you have any tender plants that you want to overwinter, be sure to pot them up and move them into a greenhouse or conservatory before the first frosts. The biggest danger to hardier plants left outside in containers is that their roots will freeze. Try insulating pots by wrapping them with several layers of bubblewrap or horticultural fleece.

Plants that are not completely hardy but are left in the ground can be protected with a 10-15 cm layer of dry leaves, bracken, straw or bark chippings.

Dropping Temperatures
As temperatures drop, many plants will begin to die down. Remove dead annuals completely and cut down unsightly dead material on perennial plants. But don’t use the shears and secateurs too eagerly. Many plants, such as ornamental grasses and those with unusual seedpods can still look attractive, especially when sparkling with frost. Another reason to leave on the dead flowers of mophead hydrangeas is that they protect the tender buds that will produce next year’s flowers.

Strong winds and heavy rain often do more damage than snow and frost. Make sure climbers are securely tied to their supports and check that tree stakes are still firm. If strong winds are a particular problem in your garden consider making temporary windscreens with netting or hessian stretched between posts, especially around evergreens and newly planted shrubs. Don’t put up solid barriers as these can cause even more wind turbulence.

Garden Repairs
Once the summer foliage has died down, the garden’s hard landscaping becomes more noticeable and is often easier to reach. Check your boundaries, paved areas, raised flowerbeds and screens. A simple repair to a damaged fence panel now could save you having to replace the whole thing after it has failed to stand up to a winter storm. Small cracks in concrete or brickwork will only get worse after hard frosts, and those wobbly paving slabs you’ve been meaning to fix all summer could be much more dangerous when they’re covered with snow.

Pond Life
If you have a pond, remove dead foliage from aquatic plants along with as many fallen leaves as you can. Ice will be your biggest problem. If the whole surface of the pond freezes, the pressure of the expanding ice can damage the walls. Fish can survive the cold, but they can be killed by poisonous gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide that become trapped under a layer of ice.

One solution is to buy an electric heater designed to float on the surface of the pond. It only needs to be switched on when there is a risk of ice forming and it will keep a large enough hole open to enable gases to escape. Moving water freezes less easily than still, so keeping a fountain running will have the same effect.

If the pond does freeze over completely don’t be tempted to smash the ice if you have fish; the shock waves can kill them. Standing a pan of hot water on the ice will melt a hole and then you can siphon out some water to leave an air gap between the ice and water.

Retire to the Shed
When bad weather prevents work outside, retire to the shed or garage and give a little attention to your tools. Clean and oil metal parts and give wooden handles a wipe with a cloth dipped in linseed oil. Now is a good time to have the lawnmower serviced.

Finally, settle down indoors with seed and plant catalogues and begin to make plans for next year!

Professional Landscape Gardeners Can Save You Money

‘How much will it cost?’ That is the first question most people ask when considering whether or not to hire a landscape gardener. If you want to create a new garden or re-design an existing one, wouldn’t it be much cheaper to do the job yourself?

The answer is: not always. When you add it all up, using an expert can actually save you money. Here are some reasons why:

No hidden extras
A good landscape gardener will give you a free, detailed written quotation so you know exactly what the final bill will be. It’s not so easy to estimate the total cost of a DIY project. When buying materials (fencing, paving slabs, turf etc.) be sure to read the price lists carefully. Some suppliers add VAT on as a separate item, which can come as a nasty surprise if you’ve forgotten to include it in your calculations. If you are not able to collect heavy or bulky materials you will also have to pay delivery charges. And what about tools? Unless you already have all the tools you need, you will have to buy or hire them.

No costly mistakes
A professional gardener has years of experience and knows what works – and what doesn’t. After spending time with you to understand your needs, and doing a survey of your garden, he will formulate a plan to create the garden you want in the quickest and most efficient way. He will do his best to incorporate your ideas, but will also point out potential problems you might not have noticed, and suggest solutions you hadn’t thought of.

Lasting value
A reputable landscape gardener takes pride in his work. He knows that a satisfied client is likely to recommend him to other people, and the quickest way to lose business is by charging exorbitant prices for shoddy work. Skimping on materials or labour is always false economy. For example, a fence made from good-quality timber and properly fixed to firm posts will retain its strength and good looks for many years. A cheaper alternative will soon be damaged by wind and rain and need to be replaced.

An asset for the future
A well-designed, easy to manage garden will provide you, your family and guests with an attractive place where you can relax, play and enjoy all the benefits of outdoor living for years to come. It will also add value to your home, and make it easier to sell, should you ever decide to move elsewhere.

Summer Gardening Tips

Here is my pick of the tips for a healthy looking summer garden that you and your guests won’t fail to enjoy:

Colour burst
Make sure you turn any containers or hanging baskets to ensure they get equal exposure and bloom all round!

Keep annuals flowering by frequently watering and feeding with a plant food rich in potassium; and don’t forget to keep up with the deadheading!

Watering Well
Make watering a priority to keep your plants healthy. Use saucers under your pots to improve efficiency and cut the need for watering by adding water-retaining gel or granules to the compost or by mulching the soil.

Green, Green Grass
To keep your lawn green, thoroughly water it occasionally, but give it a little water on a regular basis. Using a fork to spike the grass will help the water to get through to the roots. And don’t forget to raise the cutting height of your mower blades! Mow your lawn too short and you’ll end up with moss and weeds.

Hearty Herbs
Herbs are at their best during the summer emitting the very best scent and flavour. Cut them and freeze within ice cubes so they can be added to dishes straight from the freezer all year round.

Prune and Prepare
Prune early flowering shrubs and climbers immediately after they flower so that new growth is encouraged and you will be all set to enjoy an abundance of flowers next year.

Garden Landscaping Tips: Two for Today

Here are two garden landscaping tips for today:

Tip One: How does the garden look from inside the house?

If you are considering landscaping your garden, take some time to think about how your plans will look when viewed from the inside of your house looking out, as well as how the garden will look when you are outside. Try to achieve a design that will enhance both views.

Tip Two: Think before you plant!

When planting, think about the special conditions of your area. In certain areas you will need to choose plants according to the soil type. If your garden tends to be quite boggy, opt for plants that thrive in lots of water. If you are in a clay soil area, don’t choose plants that need good drainage; and if you are in an area where wildlife is abundant and your garden is regularly visited by deer, choose plants that are known to be deer-resistant such as Geraniums or Lily of the Valley.

The benefits of decking your garden

Garden decking is exceptionally versatile; it can be used to overcome issues that make landscaping difficult, to enhance the features of a garden, to add practicality or to extend your house into your garden. Here are some of the major benefits of decking your garden:

A solution for sloping and uneven ground
Garden decking can counteract uneven ground and sloping sites. Building on stilts and using steps and different levels will give the impression of uniformity and will make your garden much easier to navigate.

Unlimited Design Possibilities
There is a plethora of decking materials available and add-on features such as pergolas, balustrades and privacy screens. Adding a deck allows a whole host of flexible interesting design possibilities to your landscaped garden.

Flexibility
Garden decking can easily be combined with other garden features like water features, statues, rock gardens and planting to achieve a garden centrepiece.

Ease of Handling
Garden decking is easier to handle than hard landscaping materials like paving and bricks. It is lighter too, which means it is much easier to handle, especially if you are not experienced in any construction trade., and good therefore for raised areas.

Versatility

Decking can be used for a wide variety of uses, the most popular of which is extending living space outdoors to create the illusion of a larger property. Decking provides a home with a socialising area and is perfect for properties on riverbanks or even for caravans.

Garden decking allows you to create a practical and attractive garden design that provides additional space for entertaining and socialising without a large outlay. Why not get a quote from your local landscape gardener and see how much it would cost to install decking in your garden? It could even add value to your property!

Take a look at some of the Essex and east London decking projects we've recently undertaken:

Decking photo gallery

Essex Gardeners: Your lives made easier with a reliable supply and delivery service

We are offering gardeners in Essex a helping hand courtesy of our turf and topsoil supply and delivery service which covers Essex and East London.

We’re offering a service to smaller garden landscaping companies or gardeners who need access to quality turf and topsoil at competitive prices, and who need them delivered direct to the properties they are working on.

We offer discounted trade rates and complete reliability of service. We’re known for being dependable and we know how important it is to present a positive public image, and for this reason we guarantee to make all our deliveries – of the very best quality materials – on time, every time.

Are you a gardener or landscaper based in Essex or east London? Call in to 1B Sunnyside Gardens, Upminster, Essex or telephone 07852 666858 to discuss your particular turf and topsoil supply and delivery needs.

Three Things to consider when landscaping your garden

When done properly and with careful thought and planning, landscaping a garden brings a whole host of benefits ranging from environmental to social. But there is much to consider when embarking on a garden landscaping project. In this article we cover our top three:

1. Space
At the planning stage, make sure you take into consideration what the garden will be used for and factor in a range of practical features. For example, you may want a secluded area for sunbathing; a place for children to play that needs to be robust enough to stand up to heavy traffic; you may want to include a place to entertain; and you may also want to use trees to filter noise. Combining beauty with practicality is a fundamental part of the garden landscaping process.

2. Style
Maintaining a style theme throughout your garden is vital if you want the finished product to appear streamlined, attractive and a pleasure to spend time in. It is also a good idea to match the style of the garden to the style of your home. Modern houses lend themselves to contemporary garden designs whilst period homes work best with traditional style gardens. Put some thought into blending the inside with the outside and the results will be admired by all who visit.

3. Planting
Remember that plants grow! Your shrub or sapling may be tiny now, but what size will it be when mature? You must take into consideration what size the plant will grow to otherwise you could end up planting it too close to a wall, a fence or other plants. If other plants end up in its shadow, they may not survive and if the roots are too close to your home, it could have serious repercussions which may even lead to subsidence. Make sure you find out about the plants you are buying and allow enough space for them to grow to their mature size.

These are just a few of the many things you need to take into consideration when planning your garden landscaping project. Watch this space for more!

Increase the space in your property and increase its value - landscape your garden!

Even if space is short within a home, the impression of a bigger property is made possible by cleverly designing a garden so that it works as a living-space extension.

A stunning garden that has been well-planned to incorporate practical benefits such as sectioning off areas for children to play, creating privacy from neighbouring properties and keeping animals contained will attract attention from prospective buyers.

I suggest the following for adding space and therefore value to a property:

Consider a deck or patio that leads out from large glass doors and make sure you don’t hide it behind curtains – you want your viewers to walk into the room and immediately be drawn to your lovely outside space!

Use this decking or patio area to create an outside dining and entertaining space. Consider covering it and adding a heating system so that the area can be used all year round rather than just during the summer months.

Add an outdoor kitchen with a permanent barbeque or outdoor oven and a sink. If your property is strapped for entertaining space inside, make that space outside! That way you can utilise your inside space for other important things, thus making your home even more attractive to potential buyers.

And don’t forget the front garden! It is the first thing viewers see so make sure it looks fantastic and leaves a lasting impression.

Landscaping a garden makes it easier to sell a property. It is all about extending space outdoors, and making that outdoor space habitable all year round.

Anyone in any doubt on how best to utilise their outdoor space should contact D&G Garden World for friendly, expert advice; it will be money well spent, and will be recouped when the property is sold!

A Healthy Lawn is Good for the Environment

A healthy lawn not only looks attractive and provides a focal point for your garden; it also offers a multitude of wonderful advantages for health and the environment. How?

1. Airborne pollutants like dust and spores are absorbed and therefore prevented from irritating the respiratory systems and skin of those that suffer from asthma, eczema and allergies.

2. Grass converts carbon dioxide to oxygen, cleanses the air that we breathe and helps to lower the effects of global warming.

3. A lawn filters pollutants from rainwater so that the water that runs into the soil and down through the water cycle into our lakes and seas is cleaner.

4. A lawn prevents soil erosion by preventing soil from being washed away or broken down. This means it will continue to provide a breeding ground for plants and insect life, and in turn a haven for birds and wildlife.

Your garden could help towards making a global impact so make sure your grass is well fed and maintained. Choose a trusted supplier for your turf, grass and topsoil and lawn maintenance products and take advantage of their wealth of knowledge and advice.

Free Fencing Guide

Putting up a fence? Read our advice first!

Border Line
Probably the most important factor to think about when putting up a fence is the border line between your property and next door. Any doubt? Look at the deeds of your property or talk to the solicitor that dealt with your purchase.

Tree Roots
Are there any tree roots in the vicinity that could interfere with the fence or its post holes?

Type of Fence
Why are you building this fence? Is there a practical reason such as to provide privacy? If so go for a solid fence around two metres or more in height. If it’s to prevent children or pets wandering outside the confines of the garden, to stop wildlife wandering in, or to train plants around your border, then go for a lower level picket fence or ornamental trellis. Any experienced fencing company will provide help you choose the right fence for your needs and help you measure up correctly so that you buy exactly what you need.

Fence Position
Make sure you will be able to erect the fence where you wish; consider its use and how it will stand up to the weather conditions and finally, ensure that you opt for the right fixing option, whether that is permanent or moveable in the future should it be necessary. And take advice from your local fencing specialists like D&G Garden World who will only be too happy to help!

Landscaping your garden: the benefits

There are countless benefits to landscaping a garden, not least your own enjoyment of the outdoor life.

A well-designed garden will add extra space to your home, acting like an extension to your living space and adding value to your life, as well as to your property. The benefits are practical, environmental, financial and social.

The practical benefits of garden landscaping

When landscaping your garden you can factor in features that will bring benefits on a practical level. For example, you could plant trees in strategic positions so as to minimise traffic noise; you could plant bushes or shrubs to enhance privacy and by erecting a fence you can define boundaries, prevent stray animals wandering in and reduce the amount of rubbish that blows into your garden. You could also divide your garden to allow for children’s areas, pets’ areas and of course adults’ areas!

The environmental benefits of garden landscaping

A healthy lawn and a good variety of plants and trees make invaluable environmental resources. Apart from purifying the air by absorbing carbon dioxide, plants also attract wildlife, birds and insects into the garden which all work together to enhance the local biosphere. Everything has a purpose and each link in the chain benefits the environment in its own way.

The financial benefits of garden landscaping

A professionally landscaped and well maintained garden will add value to your home and undertaking a garden landscaping project could bring double the expenditure in terms of added value as well as making a property much easier to sell, especially nowadays where buyers are looking for additional features such as readymade outdoor living. Landscaping your front garden brings particular benefits as this will be the very first thing a prospective buyer will see when viewing your property, and if it looks good, it will leave a lasting impression.

The social benefits of garden landscaping

An outside space in which to entertain; to take lunch with friends, spend quality time with loved ones or watch over the children. A landscaped garden is all of these, and can be designed around your precise needs. It just takes a bit of planning!

There is much to gain from landscaping your garden; getting it done professionally will help too but otherwise strategic planning will count for much. Think about what you want to get out of it, and build your wishes into your garden!

How to choose a Landscape Gardener

Faced with hiring a landscape gardener, many people don’t know where to turn. There are many to choose from, and lots of them claim to be ‘garden experts’. But how can you be sure you are choosing the right company?

I’ve put together some advice on choosing a good quality landscape gardener that won’t let you down or charge you too much and will go the extra mile to help make your new garden the only place you’ll want to be.

Ask them:

What services to do you offer?
Some landscape gardeners cover a variety of services including turf laying, fencing, decking, patio laying and planting. Others however only specialise in one area. If you are looking for an all-round garden landscaper then you must quiz your prospective provider as to what they can actually do – properly and professionally.

Can I see and check testimonials from past customers?
If you have not been recommended to this garden landscaper by someone you know has been satisfied with their service, then ask them for testimonials that you can verify. There is no substitute for hearing from other satisfied customers that this garden landscaping company can be trusted to do a good job, on time and for a reasonable price.

Can I see photographs of previous work?
Ask for photographs or even video coverage of recent garden landscaping jobs so that you can check the quality of the work.

Do you provide written, no-obligation quotations?
Make sure the garden landscaper puts their quote in writing on official headed paper showing a postal address and full contact details. Verify these details and look the company up by searching for them on the internet. Listings in directories and a strong presence stand for a lot.

Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions, any garden landscaper worth their salt will answer them without hesitation. Whatever you do, take your time and ask around for recommendations. All of this will ensure your garden project runs to schedule, is not overpriced and the resulting garden is something to cherish.

Free Advice on How to Lay Turf

It strikes me that if my garden centre customers want to lay their own turf, then it is up to us as experts to help them do it properly so that they get the best out of their lawn, recommend us as quality turf suppliers in Essex, come back to us to buy other garden and fencing products in the future and feel that they have been given value for money.

I’ve put two free turf laying guides together:

A Guide to Preparing & Laying Turf
A Guide to Choosing and Preparing to Lay Turf

I have also posted a video on You Tube showing how Graham and I laid a lawn in Essex:

Free Guide: How to Lay Turf

Anyone embarking on laying their own turf will really benefit from some expert advice. Choosing the right turf, preparing the topsoil properly and laying the turf in a certain way are vital. My customers in Essex laying their own turf are also welcome to my personal advice which will be offered when they call in to our Upminster shop in Sunnyside Gardens, Upminster, Essex.

The benefits of a family run business and a personal service

My company, D&G Garden World, has been in the gardening and fencing business for over 20 years .

Along with my busines partner Graham, I founded Webb’s Garden Centre, a company that became a household name throughout Essex throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

I believe that Webb's became so successful and a household name in Essex because of the personal service we offered. Customers would ask us for advice on absolutely anything - and they got it. We didn't just sell gardening supplies, we helped people learn how to use them.

We’ve always liked to go a step further with the service we offer customers. Simply delivering fencing or turf isn’t really much help to anyone who isn’t confident in doing the job themselves. That’s why we provide a free advisory service to all customers purchasing products for their garden project.

We appreciate that not everyone can afford to hire a professional landscape gardening company to design their garden and that some want to tackle the job themselves. We make sure that garden DIY-ers are not left alone to get on with the job by helping customers choose the right type of products in the right quantities, whether that is turf, fencing, decking, patio slabs or anything else they might need for their garden. Graham and I are happy to offer the benefit of our experience and expertise by explaining how best to carry out the job and how to maintain their finished garden.

Feel free to call in to 1B Sunnyside Gardens, Upminster, Essex or telephone 07852 666858 or visit http://www.dggardenworld.co.uk if you'd like to talk to us about your Essex gardening needs.