All In A Days Work

We are a nation of garden lovers. Thank heavens for the varied, and sometimes wacky designs that pop out of peoples imagination. The garden is a lifelong hobby for many people. They have worked, and watched their gardens mature, for decades, achieving a perfect balance with nature. Other people enjoy a contemporary, cutting edge garden design in marble and stainless steel among other modern materials.

This article is written for someone with. or thinking of starting, a young family and who has a plain back garden that can be sculpted to please and entertain their children for years to come.

Here are my top suggestions.

Winding Paths

Take a look at the image. Children will be drawn to those paths like moths to a flame. The paths are easy to create. Simply remove the turf from your lawn following your chosen design, place a weed resistant membrane down and then cover with gravel or stone chippings. I would, however recommend that the path be replaced with a hard surface such as crazy paving when you have more time as the gravel may keep finding its way onto the lawn, only to be hurled at your windows as the lawn is mowed. Crazy paving is a therapeutic and artistic pastime that can be worked on at your leisure with broken slabs from your local garden centre or builders merchants.

Sunken Maze

Armed with a spade and a chainsaw, you could give your children years of fun with their own sunken maze. This is how you create one using railway sleepers:

• Mark out the maze using string and pegs.

• Dig trenches for the maze down to a depth of a railway sleeper on its side, plus 3 inches.

• Line the bottom of the maze with weed resistant material and place a 3 inch layer of gravel down.

• Use railway sleepers to line each side of the maze walls. Cut with a chainsaw and fix them together with bolt-headed screws.

Make the maze as elaborate as you can as it is going to keep your children occupied for many years.

A few skips will be needed to remove the excavated soil if your maze is huge. You will find skip hire prices online or in local newspapers.

Underground Den

A deeper structure could be built into the garden using the same principles as for the maze. Excavate a large, deep hole. Line the walls with ever versatile railway sleepers and lay a few inches of gravel for the floor. Steps down to the hole can be created and the roof capped with sleepers too. As long as the sleepers are fixed firmly together for the walls, the structure is very strong indeed. There is one possible danger with and underground den; it could theoretically flood. Therefore it is advisable to build a door that can be locked as an essential safety measure. This is a great chance to make the entrance look like a cottage from a fantasy story. With imagination this den could look magical.

Build a Hill

A simple hill will keep your little ones happy for many years. Perhaps use the soil from the den and maze so there is no need to hire a skip. The hill is easy to create; simply pile soil up firming it as you go. Dont make the sides too steep, you will have to experiment with the soil you are using. Use either grass seed or, preferably, peg turf onto the mound to make it weatherproof and durable.

After completing these projects you will be able to sit back and watch your children do what they do best; play. You can’t put a price on that. Remember to photograph and film them for when you are old. It soon comes around you know.

picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindzgraham/4077327231/sizes/z/

There has been a break in the winter weather recently, and I made the most of it. My back garden isn’t finished, but there are only a few tidying up jobs left, so I am very satisfied. Usually, I find myself staring out of the window at my backyard, dreading the first cutting of the lawn. If the grass starts growing for a couple of weeks when it springs back into life, the first cut is the hardest one.

Credit 

The weather wasn’t perfect when I started work, so it was a job for a warm coat and warm boots. It did feel good to get outside again, even in the cold, after a long, dreary winter. I completed a couple of major jobs and a lot of smaller ones.

I’ll explain just what I got up to here and hope it will encourage you to get out early this year.

Fencing

I thought the garden needed framing properly. I like my privacy too, so it was time for new fencing. If you are thinking about a new fence, here’s how to go about it.

1. Remove all traces of the old fence.

2. Using string and some pegs, mark the line of your fence.

3. Dig the first post hole and make it two feet deep.

4. Place a post in the hole. Remember to use a corner post where needed.

5 Place soil and rubble in the bottom half of the hole and ram it in hard. The more time you spend on this job, the stronger the post will be set.

6. Pour concrete in the rest of the hole, up to ground level.

7. Measure the position of the next hole and follow points 1-6.

8. Install the first gravel board and fence panel between the posts before the second post is rammed and concreted. Assuming they will fit afterwards is a common mistake.

9. Keep repeating the process, section by section, until you have worked around the garden,

Framing the garden has had a dramatic visual effect.

Structure

My patio area gets a lot of sun, and it can get uncomfortable to sit out there at midday. Needing a way to create a little shade, I decided to build a pergola and train roses up it. Mine was only going to be a simple structure, so I didn’t need to employ professional pergola builders, I could handle this job myself.

The pergola itself consisted of four pressure treated posts set into the ground, one for each corner. These posts were simply connected together at the top with more treated timber. Then further lengths of timber were added from front to back creating the roof frame. Climbing roses were then planted to grow up each post.

Those were the two biggest projects. I have also managed to cut my lawn, weed the borders and prune my rose garden. Everything is looking great. All that is left to do is to jet wash my patio and paths to make them look like new. When all of the little jobs are complete, I will be able to enjoy my garden in the nice weather instead of working in it. Perhaps you should think about getting started early too. It’s much nicer to have the hard work behind, rather than in front, of you.

We are lucky to live in Britain; our weather is the best! Everyone moans about it – and those who have been flooded recently have good cause – but it’s really not that bad on the whole. Ye, our summers feel terribly short, and we can’t spend a lot of time in the sea around our coast without getting hypothermia. However, our climate is great for our gardens.

We may not be able to grow the most delicate tropical plants, but we have a massive selection for what will grow.

We love our gardens and spend a lot of time preening them. The winter always seems longer when we are itching to get outside and tidy up ready for the growing season. There are some, however, who dread the thought of endless lawn mowing and constant weeding.

I am writing this in the hope that those who wince at the thought of gardening can find some handy hints to make their lives a little bit easier when controlling weeds. Now the title may seem a little ambitious, however, with a little work at the start of the season there is no reason why you can’t spend the whole summer relaxing.

Weedkiller

Sometimes there is no other option, but to apply a liberal dousing of weedkiller. This can come in particularly handy on gravel driveways or the wasteland at the end of your garden. It may not be the most suitable choice if you are keen on protecting the environment, but you do have other options available.

Hard Work

The simplest method for controlling your weeds is to get down and dirty. Using a small fork, dig meticulously in your borders and remove every trace of weeds and roots. Think of it as a therapeutic exercise. A sure way to prevent weeds growing is to remove them completely. While rummaging through your borders and beds, keep a close eye out for any sign of Japanese Knotweed. This is an invasive weed that is not native to this country. It is insidious and can destroy your home if left to its own devices. Unfortunately, if you find it you will have no option but

to call in professionals such as TP Japanese knotweed treatment or another experienced company that can be found with an internet search.

Mulch

After weeding borders at the start of the season, a thick layer of mulch will prevent further weed growth. Try to lay a thickness of at least three inches, as any less will not be very effective.

Baking Soda

This is a handy tip told to me by my grandad, and it actually works. If you have weeds growing through the cracks in paths, dig them out with a knife and pour baking soda in. Weeds will not be happy growing there for a long time.

Membrane

Weed proof membrane is available on a roll from all DIY shops and garden centres. Peg it in place over the soil and cover with wood chippings or gravel. Job done!

Concrete

It’s not for everyone, but some choose to pour a slab of concrete in their back yards and rely on pots for planting. Each to his own I suppose.

Hoe

If you can get into the habit of using the hoe for ten minutes once every few days, your weed problem will be solved. It isn’t like gardening; you don’t even have to bend down. All it takes is a relaxing stroll around your flower beds running the hoe back and forth over the surface.

So now you know what I know. Weeding needn’t give you nightmares anymore. Armed with a little wisdom you can reclaim those flower beds and enjoy the summer. Well done my friends.

Photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nordique/17934561/sizes/z/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blumenbiene/6951955877/sizes/m/

Our homes, as we find out over time, become a labour of love and  lifelong project that we never actually finish. After settling in and starting to raise a family, we may look around and realise that all of the houses on our street or estate look terribly similar.

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Not that there is anything wrong with that, sometimes, however, it is nice to add a few little nuances to give our home an individual touch that sets it apart from the rest. Now, if you appreciate a classical feel in your home, you may be interested in the tips I am about to give you that, when subtly applied, can give a period influence to your property.

Front Door

The front door to your property should be big and bold, Using a hardwood, panelled door that is painted to a very high gloss will make yours stand out. Fit heavy brass furniture to enhance the quality of your door.

Fit a canopy above the door. It need only be a small one, and there are plenty of people selling them online. You will find a canopy that has the period features for which you are looking.

Windows

Maybe it is time to change your windows anyway. Consider replacing them with a modern style that is sympathetic to the look you are seeking. New double glazed units are available with the panelled effect that period windows displayed.

Garden

The quality gardens of the day were not using concrete or pink paving slabs. Wherever possible use materials that were popular in the day, such as reclaimed Cawarden York Stone or other used flagstones. Build plenty of seating into your garden and paths that encourage people to explore.

Wood

The interior design can be influenced by the use of real, or imitation wood. Flooring, for example, simply oozes the quality feel that was around back then. Using natural wood flooring, or even high quality laminate that comes in stunning effects, will add to the subtle ambiance that you seek.

Interior Doors

The interior doors can be changed quickly and easily to modern reproduction alternatives. Plain doors simply aren’t up to the job. As with the front door, dress them with good quality brass or lacquered furniture to gain the maximum effect from them.

Coving

All of the best houses have ornate coving. Huge coving could look ridiculous if you have a small room so be careful how you choose the right one for you. If you are lucky enough to have a large room with a high ceiling, there is far more choice available to you. Period coving can still be found, or even made, in the specification of your choice.

Fire

A real fire will set the scene perfectly. Compliment this with a reproduction, or original if your budget will stretch to it, fire surround and you have a winning combination. Not only will it give you the look that you seek, but it will be a welcome luxury come winter.

If you have followed my quick guide, your home should now have a different feel to it that is not in your face. It is more of a subtle effect that is achieved by a lot of little touches working together. It can cost quite a lot of money to complete this project, but you have all the time in the world. Every little job is potentially increasing the value of your home too.

So what is your next project?