Landscaping & Gardening

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Five Ways To Entertain In Your Garden - Safely

27th November 2020

‘Tis the season to be jolly, yet in the (not so festive) spirit of being jolly safe, many people are having to rethink their festive gatherings. With most of the country going straight into tier 2, it means that the rule of six is back – as it was at the end of Lockdown v1: groups of up to six can meet outside.

That rule didn’t seem so tricky to handle in the summer of ’20, but come the winter months and entertaining outside is a fairly chilling prospect (literally). Here are some ideas to make your outside space work for you – and up to five other people.

Light it up

It may be getting dark early, but don’t see this as a limitation; see it as an opportunity to fill your garden, decking or terrace with beautiful lights. Festoon plants, bushes and fences with fairy lights to give a magical, festive feel.

TIP – save the planet and money by binning the battery-powered fairy lights. There is a time and a place for them, and it’s not in your garden. Invest in solar powered lights or get in touch with your local electrician to safely install an exterior power point.

Fire away

Few things are cosier than sitting around a firepit with a glass of something warming and a big pile of marshmallows. Sitting around a firepit naturally enforces social distancing and is much more relaxing in these stressful times than sitting watching TV.

TIP – don’t have a firepit? Pop to your local recycling centre; washing machine drums can be converted to firepits cheaply and easily.

Table plans

The days of everyone budging up next to each other on a bench or chair are long gone. These days, instead of a “sit where you like” arrangement, it is important that you think about seating so people can maintain their social distance. If you are lucky enough to have a long table, make sure that households sit together with at least 1 metre between them.

TIP – if you have been meaning to invest in new outdoor furniture, now is the time! Check out local carpenters – many will have some beautiful handmade pieces that are built to last for generations.

Say “no” to nibbles

Unless you are planning on doing a sharing platter per household, nibbles are a no-no. Stick to hot plates of food that are designated per person.

TIP - Even better, make a big pan of chilli, stick it on the fire outside, and let people help themselves.

Build a wall

A little bit of windbreak can make a surprising amount of difference on a breezy night. If you have a decking or patio with rails, consider adding a temporary wall – Perspex sheets or even tarpaulin stapled or taped to the rails will take the edge off the wind.

TIP – if creating an outdoor shelter or fitting a glass or Perspex decking rail has been on your to-do list, now is the time to get it done. Get in touch with your local builder or handyman for a quote.

This year hasn’t gone according to plan – for anyone. But by coming together with our communities and supporting each other, we can make the best of it. For more inspiration, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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How To Build A Brick Barbecue

Do you love dining al fresco? If you enjoy nothing more than a barbie in the garden, it is probably worth getting a good barbecue. Of course, you could spend hundreds of pounds on buying a new one but making your own is fun, cheap and will last for years. What’s not to love about that?If you are planning on building a brick barbecue and you have no bricklaying experience, it may be best to find an online instruction film to help you or employing a builder or handyman. However, if you do have some experience, this guide will help you.You Will Need:Bricks or breeze blocks– these can be bought new, or you can look for reclaimed sparesPaving slabsBarbecue set – you can buy grill pans and grills online, from about £30Brick settsCementSandSpadeTrowelSpirit levelHosepipe.Planning Your BarbecueFirst, choose the best spot. Make sure the new spot is level, out of the wind and away from anything flammable. If you are in doubt, you can always have a portable barbecue in the spot to see if it is right. There are two types of barbecue to choose from: a basic barbecue, or one with a stone side table, too. Do a bit of research and plan your barbecue according to your creativity, ability and tastes. Once you have decided on the size and design, you can calculate how many bricks you need. Lay your barbecue grill and (if you are making a side table) stone slab on the ground and lay out a surround of bricks, keeping as many as possible whole. You will end up with a capital E in bricks. This will tell you how many bricks you need per row. Based on a barbecue 13 bricks high, multiply the number of bricks in your E by 14 – to give you a few spares.The BuildUsing a mix of 5 parts sand to one part cement, fix your bricks. Use the spirit level at each stage to ensure that it is even. On the seventh course (row), on the left hand and inner walls, place the bricks side-on to create a ledge for the tray to sit on. Lay another three complete course and use side-on bricks on the 11th course (row) for the grill. Another two rows will give you a completed barbecue but if you want to add a warming grill, complete four more courses around the grill section only. make ledges on the 16th row and finish off with two more courses. Finally, cement a stone slab onto the side table section to complete your work area.Once your build has dried, you are ready to enjoy many years of happy barbecuing!
Tips For Protecting Your Garden

As the days are growing warmer and longer, plenty of us are bringing the garden furniture out, or treating ourselves and investing in new garden accessories. Whether it is a loved set of garden chairs, a paddling pool, a flash new barbeque or gardening tools, most gardens tend to contain a few high-value items.While we spend a lot of time and effort securing the items inside our home, all too often, we forget to take care of the things in our garden. What’s more, if possessions go missing and they were not appropriately secured, you are unlikely to be covered by insurance. We look at simple measures that you can take to make sure your property stays safe.1. Check the AccessIf your garden is easy to get into: low fences, a gate that doesn’t lock, gaps in the fence, opportunistic thieves can’t just see what is in your garden, they can get to it easily, too. If you have a low wall, there is no need to block yourselves in completely, but trellis can make your garden harder to get into. Make sure that you shut and lock your gate when you are not in the garden and take a little time to look for and fix any gaps in the fence. If there is a “risk” area of your fence, where your garden can be more easily accessed, for example, by a busy road, consider growing a prickly climber up the trellis or fence.2. StorageYou know the saying “out of sight, out of mind”? Well, it is true when it comes to opportunistic burglaries. If you are not using your lawn mower, bike or surfboard, don’t leave them in the garden - keep them out of temptation’s reach by storing them out of sight in the shed or garage. If you don’t have storage space, any kind of security will help; something as simple as padlocking a bike or kayak to a railing will make a big difference.3. SecurityGates and sheds are the first line of defence when it comes to keeping your garden secure, so it's worth investing in the best quality gate and shed that you can afford. Remember, you can always add additional locks to your shed door or gate for additional security. Exterior lights are an effective deterrent, too; motion activated ones are often enough to spook a would-be burglar, as well as alert you to any sudden movements in the garden.4. Get CoveredFinally, being the victim of a burglary is bad enough, but finding out that you're uninsured is even worse. If you have an expensive barbeque, garden furniture, tools or other equipment in your garden, check that your insurance covers it and that you take the appropriate measures to make a claim if you do need to.
Gardening Jobs To Do In June

With longer days and a rise in temperatures, June is a very rewarding month for most gardeners; pruned pants and newly planted shoots seem to double in size overnight. As tempting as it is to sit in the garden with a chilled drink while you admire your handiwork, it is more important that you stay on top of things in your garden. Here are the top gardening jobs for June – just a few minutes each day before you sit and relax with that drink will make all the difference.Get PinchingPinch off the tips of fuchsias to promote a bushy plant and a healthy crop of flowers. Likewise, pinch off side shoots on your tomato plants. If you don’t want to discard the pinched shoots, you can replant them – but be prepared for a hefty tomato crop!Pick AwayAs soon as you notice your sweet peas flowering, get picking! Not only will they look beautiful on the kitchen table, but picking will help to stimulate more growth. Deadhead roses to encourage new flowers. Start harvesting early lettuce, tomatoes and new potatoes. If you get into a habit of harvesting and re-sowing salad crops, you should be able to maintain a steady supply of delicious home-grown leaves throughout the summer. Finally, keep an eye on your onion and garlic plants – once the leaves turn yellow and start to wilt, they are ready to pick.Tame Unruly ClimbersClimbers such as vines, honeysuckle and clematis, have a habit of getting out of control very quickly. As new shoots grow, tie them back using soft-tie wrap to help keep them in order. Likewise, tie back or stake out tall perennials to help prevent wind damage.PlantingAs we say “hello” to summer, we should finally be past the risk of a night frost. This is a great time to plant out your vegetable seedlings – courgettes, squash and sweet corn should flourish in the warmer weather. If you haven’t planted runner beans yet, there is still time! Don’t worry about sowing indoors, you can sow outside directly into the ground.Mowing and WeedingThe downside of a flourishing garden is that grass and weeds will grow more quickly, too. A vibrant lawn is fantastic – but you will need to mow it at least once a week to keep it lush. Hoe your borders regularly to keep on top of weeds – when it comes to weeding, little and often is a good idea; a few minutes a day really will help to keep the weeds away!Are you getting behind on your gardening jobs? If there are some jobs that you just can’t seem to manage, you might want to consider getting a gardener in to help you. Even if it’s just for a regular weed and mow, a professional gardener can get the job done so that you can enjoy the fun bits.If you’re having fun in the sun, share your gardening photos with us on Facebook or Twitter.

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Looking for more landscaping & gardening advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common landscaping & gardening questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

Do I need a professional to design and landscape my garden?

For simple stuff - planting, basic lawn care, a few raised beds - you can often manage it yourself. For anything involving hard landscaping, drainage, retaining walls, or changing ground levels, get a professional involved.
Badly built retaining walls and poor drainage cause expensive problems. A landscaper will also know which materials will actually work for your soil and conditions.
What is the difference between a landscaper and a gardener?

A gardener looks after your garden on an ongoing basis - mowing, pruning, planting, general upkeep. A landscaper creates the garden in the first place - patios, paths, fencing, decking, drainage, planting schemes, the whole structure. Some people do both, but they're distinct skill sets.
If you want the garden transformed rather than maintained, a landscaper is who you need.
How do I get rid of an overgrown garden?

It's often more work than it looks. Beyond cutting things back, there may be significant root systems to clear, possibly invasive species to deal with (Japanese knotweed needs specialist handling), and ground prep before any replanting can happen.
For anything seriously overgrown, professional clearance is going to be faster, more thorough, and safer than tackling it yourself.
What time of year is best for garden landscaping work?

Hard landscaping - patios, paths, decking, fencing - can happen most of the year, though very wet or frozen ground causes delays. Planting is best in spring or autumn when things establish more easily.
If you're planning something big, book a landscaper in late winter for spring work - good ones fill up fast once the season gets going.
What should I do if I have Japanese knotweed in my garden?

Take it seriously. It can damage buildings and hard surfaces, and some mortgage lenders won't lend on properties where it's present and unmanaged. You're not legally required to remove it as long as it stays within your boundary, but you are responsible for stopping it from spreading to neighbouring land.
It needs specialist treatment - either chemical treatment over multiple growing seasons, or excavation and licensed disposal. Don't compost it or put it in your general garden waste.
What are the benefits of artificial grass?

The obvious one: no mowing. It stays looking decent all year and doesn't turn to mud in winter, which is a real plus for households with kids or dogs. Modern artificial grass is much more realistic than it used to be and holds its colour well. Worth knowing though: it gets noticeably hot in direct sun, needs occasional brushing, and is made from plastic that can't currently be recycled at end of life.
It's a great fit for a low-maintenance, practical space - less so if the environmental benefits of a real lawn matter to you.
How can I make my garden low-maintenance?

Cut down the amount of lawn first - it needs more regular attention than almost anything else. Swapping sections for hard landscaping or planted beds with ground-cover plants makes a real difference.
Pick plants that suit your soil and aspect - ones that are happy where they are will largely look after themselves once established.
A thick bark mulch layer keeps weeds down and holds moisture. A drip irrigation system on a timer removes another regular task. A good landscaper can design a scheme specifically around low maintenance rather than just what looks attractive.
Do I need planning permission for decking, a pergola, or a garden room?

Decking is usually fine under Permitted Development as long as it's no more than 30cm above ground and doesn't cover more than half the garden. Open pergolas are generally okay - but start enclosing them with a roof and sides and they get treated differently.
Garden rooms are classed as outbuildings: permitted if single-storey, within size limits, not used as living accommodation, and set back properly from boundaries. Listed buildings are a different matter - any structure nearby needs listed building consent. If you're not sure, a quick inquiry to your local planning authority will give you a clear answer before you spend anything.

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