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!