Do you have a patio area in your garden? Maybe you use it as a place to enjoy your morning cuppa, an outdoor entertaining area, or somewhere that the the kids can play while you keep an eye on them from indoors. You probably use it for all of those things, and no doubt a few more too! It may be a hardworking area, but with a bit of effort, a patio can also look really great and enhance your outdoor space. Treat it as an outdoor room, rather ...
Is artificial grass a good option for family gardens?
Picture the typical family garden in your mind, and chances are there’s grass involved. Lawns are a popular choice in family gardens for good reason: they provide the all-important space that kids need to let off steam, be that through ball games, obstacle courses, imaginative role play, or plain old running around. And of course, a lawn provides a softer landing than a paved area, while still being nice to look at. Lawns do require a fair ...
What to consider when choosing garden fencing
As well as serving a practical purpose, garden fencing can really enhance the look of your outdoor space. Installing or replacing garden fencing can be a significant investment, so it's important to get it right first time. This guide from the experts at Jacksons Fencing covers the important aspects to consider when choosing fencing, read on for lots of great tips. What material? When it comes to fencing, materials matter, and considering ...
Perfect autumn garden projects
My garden is definitely looking very much like an autumn garden now; the leaves are starting to fall, the apple tree is weighed down with fruit, and most of the plants are dying back after a summer of flowering. Things are gradually slowing down, and that change of pace brings with it opportunity. With relatively mild weather and less garden maintenance required, autumn is a brilliant time of year to tackle new projects in the garden. Here are ...
Are you the UK’s best amateur gardener? Prizes to be won with Wilko!
Given that so many of my lovely readers are amateur gardeners, I thought you'd be interested in this fab competition that Wilko are running at the moment. There are some great prizes on offer! Wilko is looking for green fingered locals to enter the 2017 ‘Wilko Amateur Gardener Of The Year’ competition. Research suggests the UK is a secret haven of garden enthusiasts – with 88% of UK residents rating having a nice garden as important, ...
How to choose the best garden building for your home
Do you have an outdoor building in your garden? I would guess that most of us have a shed of some sort, but increasingly we are looking to our outdoor areas to provide additional living space too. Rising house prices, the growing popularity of home working, and the trend towards slower living and re-connecting with nature are just a few factors contributing to the growing range of garden buildings on the market. If you’re looking to replace or ...
5 must-have tips for creating the perfect garden room
The arrival of a new year often gets us thinking about new home and garden projects; what's on your to-do list? I'm planning a new kitchen with views onto the garden, which will really increase the use of our patio and work wonders for outdoor entertaining. I'm also dreaming about a lovely garden room; if you're looking to maximise your living space without major building work, they're a really great option. If you're thinking about adding a ...
Ideas for creating privacy in a family garden
Do you think of your garden as an outdoor room? At this time of year in particular, our gardens work hard to give us extra space for outdoor dining, family garden games, entertaining, and simply relaxing in the sunshine. Using our gardens more can make us feel the need to create some privacy. Unless your house is situated in a large, detached plot, your garden is likely to be overlooked in some way. Even if you get on ...
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016: inspiring my own garden
Last Saturday I visited RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the first time. I've been longing to go for ages; not only is it THE place to see the top garden designers showing off their talents, there's so much inspiration elsewhere, with the amazing floral marquee, the smaller artisan and fresh gardens, and the hundreds of stalls offering gardening retail therapy. We had a fantastic day, immersing ourselves in each garden we came across, and learning ...
Garden design: the best decking for a family garden
Do you have a decked area in your garden? It’s a really popular choice for creating a patio area, and can really enhance the overall impact of your outdoor space. In a family garden decking is a great multi-tasker, providing an area for supervised play, dining, entertaining or simply relaxing in the sunshine. Traditional wooden decking is a popular choice, but when it comes to using it in a family garden, it has it’s drawbacks. In wet or ...