October is the Time For.. Planning for Spring Colour

While the start of the colder weather gives the impression that the garden is shutting up shop for winter, this is the right time for planting spring bulbs.

I love the autumn, the time to plan for the year ahead. It’s good to think that as the leaves turn and fall and the garden prepares for frost and snow you’ve made firm investments to ensure your garden bursts back to life when the weather warms up. Planting now in October, before the weather gets too cold, makes good gardening sense too as the soil is still holding some of the summer’s heat and will really help the bulbs get rooted in the soil and, quite literally, put some roots down!

Getting Nifty with the Rake

If you’ve spent the summer cultivating the perfect lawn then it’s important you get the rake out and gather up any fallen leaves to make certain they don’t rot on your springy grass. I like to leave fallen leaves in other parts of the garden though – where they can’t do any harm, just because it’s such a seasonal treat to see piles of golden leaves. Keeping your paths and patio clear however is a good idea as wet, rotting leaves are extremely slippery. Another note on lawns – after the final cut of the season, now is also a good time to give the lawn a good autumn feed, particularly if your lawn has seen out more than its fair share of impromptu football matches, barbecues and the odd tent or two during the summer months!

Pottering

October is a good time for bringing any houseplants indoors that have enjoyed some freedom outside during the summer months, especially before the first frosts hit. Clean out any nest boxes that you’ve installed in the garden and start thinking of good places for bird feeders or a bird table; our feathered friends don’t need much help at the moment where food is concerned as there’s a veritable smorgasbord all around us but they will in the winter time. Prune shrubs now and get weeding and mulching too.

If you’d like to discuss garden plans for next year or you’d like some advice on replanting a lawn then feel free to get in touch.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.