Content
29 December
This Aloe polyphylla has been planted out for several years now, has been snowed on, trodden on by the firemen in 2013 and has sailed through, getting bigger each year. We are hoping to see it flower - maybe next year!
14 November
How
to Build a Garden Gate
With winter now underway, it is all too
easy to neglect your garden space. This is primarily thanks to a combination of
adverse weather conditions and falling temperatures, which make it difficult to
complete tasks such as cultivating seeds, turning over soil and even mowing the
lawn. With this
years’ winter set to be colder and more unpleasant
than in recent years, there is a chance that your outdoor space may even become
something of a no-go zone in the months ahead.
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How
to Build a Garden Gate: And Why Now is
the Time
With this in mind, now is the ideal time
to make any last-minute adjustments to your garden and ensure that it is
prepared for the hardship of winter. If you need to build a garden gate, for
example, consider the following steps towards achieving this aim safely and
efficiently: -
1. Deal in Accurate Measurements
Before you being to construct your gate,
it is important that you measure out the space accurately. Make a note of these
dimensions, and consider them in line with any future development plans that
you may have for your space. You must also calculate these measurements
according to general construction rules, typically by ensuring that your posts
are no longer than five feet apart. This will help to secure your frame and
structure once it is in place.
2. Ensure that you have the right
Tools and Components
With your measurements having being
taken, the next step is to ensure that you have the requisite tools and
components to complete the job. This is often easier said than done, as there
can be a surprising amount of hardware required to create a functional and
durable gate that is well engineered. One of the key considerations is your
choice of suppliers, as you should to source your items from reputable trade
retailer such as Barrier
Components in a bid to guarantee quality while reducing costs.
3. Dig your Holes, Sink in the Posts
and Construct your Gate
With your measurements in place, you
should have a clear understanding of where to dig and install your posts. Then
be sure to dig your holes to a depth of approximately 1-2 feet, before sinking
your posts into the spaces and ensuring that they are secured in place. The
depth of each hole is important, as shallow spaces will leave your gate
unsecure and ultimately distinguish it as a hazard. One your posts are secure,
you can fit your hinges and gateway to complete the task and provide an added
security dimension to the security of your home.
12 November
The Why and the How:
Building a Raised Bed for the Garden
To novice or aspiring gardeners, the
winter months hardly seem like the ideal time to cultivate crops or plant
seeds. Experienced gardeners know better, however, as gardening is in fact more
of a full-time hobby that can be practiced all year round. November
is an excellent time to move any deciduous shrubs,
for example, and by digging up the root and replanting them in a new position
you can optimise their growth. This little known fact underlines the complexity
of gardening and the challenges facing enthusiasts all year round.
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| The raised beds by the pond |
Building a Raised Bed
for the Garden Why is it a Beneficial Move
Novices may also have heard of building
raised beds in their garden, as this is another relatively simple tasks that
can help individuals to avoid a host of outdoor challenges. As a starting
point, it is important to note that raised beds are filled with a customised
soil and compost blend, rather than standard soil that can require replacing
all too often. This reduces the labour associated with maintaining your garden
space, as does the fact that drainage is built into the bed walls to negate the
risk or erosion. In the summer months, raised beds also provide plants with greater
exposure to the sun and helps to extend the traditional growing season.
On the issue of labour, raising the soil
level and planting an elevated bed by even a relatively small amount reduces
the hard work required to place seeds, weed and harvest crops. Even sensible
and proactive gardeners who use multipurpose tools from a reputable supplier
such as Anglia
Tools can struggle with the physical intensity of outdoor
chores, and having a slightly raised bed can help to ease this burden.
How to Create a Raised
Bed in your Garden
When it comes to building your raised
bed, it is important to identify the necessary construction materials. As it is
essentially a bottomless frame that is set into a shallow trench, you will need
to focus on building up the sides with various materials including rock, brick
concrete or even interlocking blocks. Timber is the most popular construction
material for raised beds, however, although you will need to avoid using wood
that is preserved with toxins if you intend to grow edibles.
On a similar note, you should also avoid
placing creosote treated railroad ties to reinforce your raised bed. This
is also unsafe for crops or edibles, as toxins can escape into the soil and
place your family and friends at risk.
23 October
How to Build Your Own Polytunnel
Polytunnels are useful for all kinds of gardening requirements you may have. In an extended
growing season they can help you save significant amounts of money, making them
valuable for you and your garden. However it’s important to bear in mind that
even though polytunnels may be rather cheaper than greenhouses considering the
equivalent growing area they cover, they still come with a price attached.
There are ways that you can go ahead and build your very
own polytunnel from scratch with very basic parts that you can source easily
and at a low cost. Here is our guide to doing just that.
Main
Components
The two main parts of any polytunnel are
its tunnel framework and its polythene cover. There are various places you can
go to look for a suitable long-lasting cover, and these are easy and affordable
to find. The framework itself is the trickier part that you’ll have to get
stuck into as your new DIY project. A normal polytunnel framework is made out
of hoops of aluminium tubing. If you don’t use aluminium you can of course use
a similar metal. You can
replicate this using offcuts of scaffolding tubes and mains water
pipes, both of which you may be able to find free of charge at a building site,
or which you can purchase at a very low cost nearby. A typical scaffolding pole
of 48mm outside diameter should be cut to a length of around six foot, and then
driven into the ground to a depth of around three foot, sticking up out of the
ground. This leaves three feet out of the ground to give you a polytunnel with
three foot high straight sides. To prevent the tube from getting damaged you
should use a heavy hammer with a block of wood on top. Using a spirit level
will also help you to make sure that the poles are vertical. Then once that is
done you can cut your mains water pipe of 50mm inside diameter long enough that
when each end is pushed over a scaffolding pole it forms an apex at around
eight feet above ground. You can then cut the remaining pipes to an identical
length.
Keeping
It Safe
It’s important to make sure the water
pipe is safe and secure, and to do so you must drill a hole through the pipe
and scaffolding tube and then secure it using a nut and bolt. Or you can simply
put a large nail through the hole, cut off all but the last inch, then bend the
rest around to the inside of the polytunnel. The polytunnel cover meanwhile
won’t come into contact with any metal, so you don’t need to use polytunnel hot
spot tape. To finish the job, position your hoops at intervals of four to five
feet along the length of the polytunnel in order to hold the component parts of
your polytunnel securely in place. Then you can leave it in position in your
garden and enjoy the benefits it brings.
How to Build a Garden Pond: Step by Step Guide
There are many
environmental benefits of building a garden pond and for the pond owner, it’s a
wonderfully therapeutic and rewarding hobby that can provide hours of
interesting fun and excitement. As well as supporting local wildlife, a pond in
your garden can help you conserve water over time. Whilst a lawn needs to be
watered regularly throughout the summer months in Britain, a pond can replenish
sufficiently through light rainfall across all seasons. Not only can a garden
pond provide birds and wildlife with drinking water but there are many species
which breed in ponds such as invertebrates like pond skaters, water beetles and
mussels, amphibians or fish, and bugs such as dragonflies and damselflies.
If you are planning on
digging your own garden pond, follow the step by step guide below:
- Contact Your Local Council
To be sure that you
aren’t digging into any buried utilities, contact the local council before you
start planning your dig.
- Gather Your Tools
Once you have the
go-ahead from the local authorities, it’s time to gather the right tools and
equipment:
-
Shovel and trowel
-
Pond lining materials
-
Fountain pump
-
Access to running water
-
Landscaping rocks
-
Bricks
-
Rope
- Start Digging
Using
the rope, mark out the shape and size of your pond and start digging this area.
You don’t need to dig at the exact same depth all across as a variety of levels
helps to create handy plant shelves. Use a trowel to achieve different shelf
levels. Don’t forget to dig a space for a skimmer if you choose to use one. Or
if you intend on installing a waterfall or fountain, take a look at the
different pumps online.
- Line the Pond
The
next step is to put the underlay in your pond. This can be created from a
number of different things including sand, newspaper or special pond underlays
purchased from garden centres. Then place a pond lining over and hold in place
with bricks.
- Fill the Pond with Water
Use
a garden hose to fill the pond with water but don’t forget that if you are
installing a skimmer or pond pumps, you need to account for these before
filling. If you choose to have a water feature, test it out before you complete
the pond.
Now
tuck the pond lining under the bricks and then cover with dirt so you can’t see
the lining anymore. Place your landscaping rocks around the edge of the pond.
Not only will rocks cover the crease of the lining but they are also essential for
necessary pond bacteria.
- Finishing Touches
Wait
at least two days before you start adding pondlife such as fish and add
decorative touches to your pond. You can create a wetland using sand or you can
start to add plantlife around the edges of the pond.
For pond design ideas, visit
DigsDigs online for some photo inspiration. Or for a video guide, watch
this interesting step by step montage on Youtube.
10 October
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| Rhus typhina putting on a show |
Four Ways to Keep Your Garden Tidy in the
Autumn
Autumn
is officially here and whether you dread the colder days or love the falling
leaves, it’s time to flow with the season. Naturally, the significant change
will mean that your garden needs some tender loving care. But this is when
things slow down, unlike in crazy spring.
So prepare your garden for winter and keep things weather-resistant with
these quick tips on keeping your garden tidy this autumn.
1. Deal with Leaves
If you’re anywhere near
a bunch of beautiful trees or even have a garden open to blustery winds, you’re
bound to find lots of dead leaves lying in your garden. Some people don’t mind
but beware that these are lovely homes for all kinds of mould, fungi, insects
and pests like slugs. Plus it helps to remove the leaves quickly and easily to
a safe compost pile or
handy leaf mould when you want to mow your lawn for one of the last times
before winter! Keep things tidy by using a traditional rake or even a fancy
leaf blower.
2. Safe Storage
It’s time to pack away
that summer garden furniture and clean off those garden tools into some dry,
safe and neat storage. Garden sheds are great but they don’t always keep the
cobwebs out. Check
this website out for some modern looking and easy to maintain garden storage
ideas. Deck boxes, cupboards, shelves and even garages are good places to store
away all your garden accessories during the autumn and winter.
3. Trim those Plants
Summer plants and
flowers will begin to wilt and fall away during the autumn so it’s important to
trim them and tend to their leaves to keep them safe for deflowering next year.
Carefully
clip off any dead flowers, leaves or stalks and keep them in a compost heap
or garden bin so that they don’t fall all over your garden lawn and create an
unwanted and unkempt mess!
4. Clear the Weeds
We all know that weeds
need to be kept in check but thankfully, during the colder months, they don’t
really tent to bother our gardens that much! However, it’s important to get rid
of them once and for all in the autumn so that they don’t drop their seeds and
sprout in spring next year. Get your weed killer to hand and say good bye to
them for the foreseeable future to keep your garden looking great!
7 October
The
Complete Guide to Turning Your Shed Into a Garden Workshop
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For many people the shed is simply a place to house
garden tools. Although a shed is indisputably useful for this task, do you not
feel like you’re missing out on so much more? It really needn’t be damp, dark
and musky because, with a little hint of planning and motivation, you can turn
your shed into a fully-fledged workshop that allows you to do all of your DIY
tasks. Here’s how to do just that.
Converting
a Shed into a Habitable Space
Of course, (a little obviously), the first stage if
you don’t have a shed is to get one from somewhere such as ilikesheds.com.
Metal is best here, as it leaves you room to expand if you really do catch the
DIY bug!
From here, all you need is a little elbow grease and
you’re on your way to converting your shed into a bright and airy room suitable
for any DIY task.
One thing you should certainly consider for your
shed is a heating system, and underfloor ones are available so that you can
still keep all of your floor space. These only run at relatively low
temperatures, but if you don’t want the additional expenditure, then consider a
cheaper alternative such as insulation. In a wooden shed, around 70% of heat is
lost through the roof or floor, so prioritise those areas first.
As well as heat, you’ll also need light. Of course,
if you’re buying new, then you can choose an option that maximises light, but
if not then simply replace one of your old roof panels with an insulating
plastic sheet. Simple, cheap and effective.
Getting
the Power Supplied
If you’re going to be doing DIY in your shed then
you’re going to have to install a power supply. Of course, unless you’ve had
vast experience with this sort of thing, then it is always better to call in a qualified electrician who will have the
job done quickly and, more importantly, safely. Don’t take the risk and put
your new shed (and your life) in jeopardy before you have even begun.
Making
Sure You’re Secure
Sadly, although your new shed is a great asset, it
will quickly
become a target for thieves; particularly after they’ve heard
the power tools. Due to this, you need to make sure you’re secured. For this
reason, although a padlock is cheap, it’s best to have either a motion sensor
or an alarm as well (preferably both), as these will deter thieves who will be
aware the shed is monitored. It may seem like an expensive option, but it’ll
help you sleep at night and protect hundreds if not thousands of pounds worth
of power tools.
This list is by no means extensive, but hopefully it
gives you a good idea for how you can turn your shed into a workshop, or at
least whetted your appetite. So, go on, what are you waiting for?
6 October
Creating a Fabulous Night Garden
Most people make the
mistake of thinking that a garden is something to be enjoyed exclusively in the
day time, but I genuinely love our garden at night time too. Yes, flowers look
beautiful in the sunshine, but there are so many beautiful things to see when
you spend your evenings in the garden. From summer barbecues to autumn
bonfires, there are so many opportunities to spend time in the garden at night,
which is why it is important to get your night garden up to scratch. Here are
some ideas to help you get your garden looking great when the sun goes down. White Flowers
Have you ever noticed
how white flowers look in the moonlight? If you haven’t, the best way I can
describe them is to say that they glow in the dark! Okay, okay, so not really
glow in the dark, but they do have a definite glow to them. If you plan on
spending plenty of time in your garden at night, then white or pale flowers are
the best way to brighten up your garden naturally.
Night Time Bloomers
Did you know that there
are actually certain types of flowers that only flower in the evening? I love
the Evening Primrose in particular - it’s such a stunning flower that only
starts to come out at dusk. Not only does it have plenty of pretty yellows
blooms, but its scent is gorgeous too. Don’t forget Four O’Clocks which, as the
name suggests, come out in the late afternoon when it begins to get cooler. These
flowers are only viable at night and will have shrunk away by the morning. If
you want something a little more exotic then the Dragon Fruit Flower will not
disappoint.
Garden Lighting
As you know, our garden
is one of our favourite places to spend our time and so we’ve invested in some
garden lighting to allow us to stay out a little later. Don’t worry, garden
lighting doesn’t mean you have anything tacky or neon (no thank you!) and there
is something to suit every taste. Companies such as Scotlight Direct have a fantastic range of stylish
outdoor lights to choose from.
Encourage Wildlife
We love wildlife, and
from bats to hedgehogs to badgers, so many animals come out and play at night
and it’s so easy to make your garden welcoming for them. If you can, put out
cat or dog food and a plate of water (never milk!) for hedgehogs
and peanuts for badgers and just sit back and watch them enjoying your garden
too. If you have trees, then you can even put up bat boxes too, but be careful
not to disturb or upset them as they are a protected species.
I hope this inspires you to enjoy your garden at night as much as we enjoy ours. Do you have any great ideas for creating a fabulous night-time garden?
11 September
Storing Garden Tools
for Winter
As autumn approaches and signs of those long nights are slowly
creeping in, your time in the garden becomes less and less, and so do the
maintenance and garden jobs. So if you’re thinking about how to store your
tools at the end of the season, then you’re in the right place.
Having a tool shed or garden
building to store your tools is essential, as your tools need to be dry to
be in the best condition for next year.
Blades
Before you store anything, sharpen or replace blades on
tools that cut or dig. Filing can easily sharpen any tools that have worn down
over time. Use a medium grit sharpening stone to hone and maintain the sharp
edge of any cutting tool. For faster cutting, wet the stone with water or
honing oil. Don’t attempt to sharpen a trimmer or any other tool with a
serrated blade.
Most digging tools aren’t sold sharpened, so you should
sharpen them from the start. File the working edge to a 45 degree bevel with a
course file.
Rub the blade with a wire brush to remove any rust, and wipe
down the metal with light oil to prevent corrosion.
Handles
Check your tools’ handles for splinters or cracks. Smooth
handles with a medium grit emery cloth (emery cloth doesn’t tear as easily as
sandpaper). Wipe a dry handle with linseed oil to rejuvenate and protect the
wood over the winter.
If your handle is broken, then you should always replace it.
Maintaining your
Lawnmower
If your mower is petrol, then make sure it’s out of fuel by
running it until it runs out and the motor stops. Change the oil and remove the
spark plugs and change them if necessary. Clean the engine and the frame of the
mower, using a scraper to remove any built up grass and dirt on the underside
of the motor.
If you have an electric mower, unplug it before you start
any cleaning.
Check the condition of the blade and if it needs sharpening,
use a heavy file to remove dull edges or you can simply replace it.
Storing Your Hose
Make sure that any shutoff valves or spray nozzles are
detached from the hose and stored inside. Drain out your hose, roll it up and
store inside. Cold hoses can be stiff and difficult to use, so if you can,
store somewhere warm.
Organising Your Tool
Shed
There are lots of different ways that you can organise
your shed, but as long as you can find everything you need and it’s in a
good condition when you do, then you can organise it however you like.
