What is your garden shed worth?

 A study conducted by Net Voucher Codes has found that in the average garden shed, there are £2080 worth of items. But even with this amount of expensive items, the study revealed that 29% of people don’t put a lock on their garden shed.

Valuable items in your garden shed

· Average of £600 worth of bikes

· Lawnmowers in our shed average at £250

· On average we have £450 worth of garden tools

· The average amount of garden furniture we have adds up to £350

· Children’s toys average at £230

Now that you know the amount of money that is sitting in your garden shed, you should be more careful and aware when it comes to storing your garden items. Putting a lock on your garden shed is the very least you can do to protect your garden shed from break ins and theft.

If you would like something more substantial, than your average wooden garden shed, Asgard has a range of metal garden sheds, designed to provide fantastic protection from theft. Made from tough weatherproof steel, these metal garden sheds are fitted with tough pick resistant locks to help keep thieves out. Find out more about Asgard metal sheds on their website.

Need large storage for your garden?

Think gardening is for the dull?

Alan Titchmarsh has spoken out, warning that gardening is undervalued, adding that young people must be taught that gardening jobs are not for the “thick dull and unadventurous”.

Alan stated that gardeners work is “undervalued by Government, by the population and by young people in particular - in every instance, because they just do not understand the breadth of what we do and its importance in terms of the well-being of the planet and its population”.

A study conducted by some of Britain’s leading horticultural organisations has shown that more than 70% of companies are struggling to find skilled workers and more than 80% of those businesses surveyed believed it is the poor reputation of horticultural jobs. Due to the perception of horticultural jobs, 19% of companies have been forced to recruit from abroad and 10% of vacancies took over a year to fill.

The Horticultural Trade Association director Carol Paris said “With such a serious skills shortage in the sector we need to change perceptions to show the diversity of exciting opportunities that exist within horticulture and how this can offer a serious and rewarding career for talented people.”

Get the best security for your garden tools

Will food shortages cause Brits to grow their own food?

It might be time for us Brits to dig out the spades and get rid of our precious lawn, bedding plants and rose bushes.

The agriculture minister David Heath has claimed that unless households start digging and growing their own food, we will face empty supermarket shelves as they will struggle to import enough food to feed us. The government are currently warning about future food shortages which could occur as the UK currently imports 40% of its food.

Freezing temperatures earlier this year have already had an effect on crops, with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and peas all being affected by waterlogged ground and low levels of light. More shockingly, over the past 10 years, the growth of tomatoes, cucumbers and spring onions in Britain has fallen so low that they have been labelled as “endangered”. Brussels sprouts, lettuce, leeks and cauliflower are also at risk of becoming “endangered”. If action isn't taken by the government, there will be even less home grown food on supermarket shelves and food prices will continue to rise.

While we wait for the government to take action, people can do their bit by growing fruit and vegetables in their gardens. The number of people growing their own fruit and veg is already on the increase, as the share of fruit and veg grown in allotments and gardens rose from 2.9% in 2008 to 5% in 2011.

For those looking to make small changes, herbs, salad leaves, chillies and garlic are all easy to grow and a great way to get started. So why not give it a go and see what you can grow. Growing your own food shouldn't be a daunting task. This year I took on the challenge of growing my own herbs and vegetables and so far it is going well. Having cleared a small patch in my garden, I have so far planted onions, spring onions and carrots all of which are doing well. Indoors I have managed to grow some chives, parsley, coriander and chillies. This is my first time at doing anything like this, so I am very pleased. So go on, don't be scared give it a go! 

Top Gardening Apps

With smartphones and tablets taking over, there is an app out there for everything! Take a look at these handy apps to help you out in the garden.

Dig My Garden

This app gives a bird’s eye view of your garden, allowing you to see your garden bloom over the seasons. With this app you can create and ‘plant’ your actual garden with hundreds of plants, vegetables, herbs, trees and shrubs to choose from.

Garden Tracker

With this app you can plan your garden plots, plant vegetables and track your gardens progress.  Garden Tracker comes up pre-loaded with over 50 vegetables, with detailed information such as ideal soil temperature, recommended planting season and more!

Landscaper’s companion

Landscaper’s companion is an interactive plant database, with over 26,000 plants from around the world.The app provides a short description, size, cultivation advice and pictures.

Vegetable garden guides

This app is a great reference tool, with guides for successful growing of over 90 vegetables. Each vegetable has a section on the growing process, how to grow and disease information.

Garden Pro

Garden Pro provides users with all the necessary information about particular flowers and plants, with a directory of over 7,000 species. Details provided by this app include growing requirements, how to care for the plant and common pests.

Add value to your home through your garden

When trying to sell your home, the appeal of your garden can often be overlooked. But a new study has shown just how important a garden can be to potential buyer.

Research has shown that when it comes to moving house, two fifths of people living in the UK would refuse to even consider a home unless it had a decent garden and one in seven home owners claim that simple garden improvements have added value to their property.

 

If you are trying and struggling to sell your property, here are a few ways that you can add more value through your garden:

• Reduce clutter and simplify the space, which will make your garden look larger 
• Conceal unsightly items such as wheelie bins 
• Remove all weeds 
• Mow your lawn and trim the edges. Neat grass always looks appealing and the smell of fresh cut grass is delightful 
• Address any long term problems before you put your house on the market 
• Check that your garden furniture is all in good condition. Even if you aren’t planning on leaving this behind, potential buyers will be able to think about where their own items will go.

Men love their sheds

We all know the garden shed is associated with men, pottering away inside and distracting themselves from the outside world. A recent survey carried out by Cuprinol has found some interesting statistics on men and their sheds. A man's shed has always been associated with an ‘escape’ or ‘haven’,  a special place that men can have all to themselves.

This survey has revealed that:

·     

65% of Britons own a garden shed and out of those surveyed it was found that 21% of men flee to their shed to avoid family arguments.

12% of men also admitted to preferring time spent in the shed compared to time with their families. 

     49% of those surveyed said they would be lost without their shed

     6% said that they would like to be buried inside their garden shed

This survey shows just how much we Brits love our garden sheds. If you are looking for a new ‘haven’ or escape, take a look at the Asgard range of metal garden sheds.  These sheds are are all made from strong weatherproof steel for the toughest storage. With a wide range to suit all needs, you are bound to find the perfect shed retreat for you.

Information taken from The Telegraph

Preparing for your spring garden

Spring is almost here, here’s a quick guide on some of the things you should be doing to get your garden ready.

Order seeds

Decide on the things you want to grow this year and make sure you order bulbs, plants and seeds early to avoid disappointment. Make sure you choose plants that will grow best in your garden environment. Take note of the amount of light and soil conditions.

Clean up

The very first thing you should be doing is clearing any clutter by removing fallen leaves and branches and add it to your compost heap, if you have one.

Start composting

If you don’t already have one, get yourself a compost bin. This will provide you with rich compost for next year. All you have to do is add plant debris and leaves cleaned up from your garden, then add in materials like straw, grass clipping and weeds with water and a compost bio activator.

Check and clean your equipment

Make sure all of your gardening equipment and tools are in good working order. If necessary take your lawnmower and other gardening electrical equipment for a service. Clean your and sharpen your other tools as this will help preserve them and they will be in tip top condition.

Prune

Remove dead, damaged and diseased branches and trim and prune shrubs.

Tackle the lawn

Cut your grass and remove any signs of weeds. Add some grass feed to bring your lawn back to full health.

Hunt garden pests

Check for snails, slugs and aphid colonies taking shelter in your existing plants.

Garden plant theft, keep your garden safe!

New statistics have been released from More Than Home Insurance showing that overall more UK residents are becoming victims of plant theft from their gardens.

The research has shown that the majority of these thefts occur in the front garden, with plant pots and hanging baskets being swiped from outside front doors.

Results found that the top 10 most stolen garden plants were:

1.  Hanging baskets
2.  Bay trees
3.  Rose Standards
4. Olive trees
5. Rare lilies
6. Bonsais
7. Miniature palm trees
8. Magnolia trees
9. Daphne Shrubs
10. Conifers

You may think that there is no way of protecting the plants in your garden, but there are a few things that can be done to help prevent the theft of your plants.

What you can do:

Mark it - Mark your plant pots, containers, vases etc with your postcode, using an indelible marker pen.

Secure it - Hanging baskets are an easy target for thieves, so make sure these are secure. Make them difficult to undo by using wire or a small chain and lock.

Go large - the bigger and heavier your plants are, the harder it will be for thieves to steal them. Choose heavy bulky pots that are difficult to move.

Get thorny - add some thorny plants to your garden around access points and fences, to deter thieves.

Why is gardening good for you

Gardening has many effects on your health, take a look at these many positive effects of gardening and how they could benefit you.

Garden to get stress free 

Working out in nature is peaceful and can be very relaxing. Focussing on gardening allows you to forget about the everyday stresses of life, clear your mind and give you a chance to focus on resolving any troubling issues.

Metal health

Gardening has been shown to improve depression symptoms, as participating in gardening can provoke a more positive mental outlook and improve your overall mood.

Get your source of vitamin D

Working outside in the sun also has its health benefits as it will increase your intake of Vitamin D. Your body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet B rays in the sun. Getting enough vitamin D is important because without it, it can lead to weak bones.

Source of exercise

Gardening enables you to work all major muscle groups, you will gain strength and burn calories.  Gardening can involve lots of stretching and heavy lifting. This all leads to healthier bones and joints, increased flexibility, decreased blood pressure and lowers your risk of diabetes.

Why not start gardening to see the differences it will make to you. 

Gardening in the snow

The UK has had some harsh winter weather over the last week, with severe frosts, snow and freezing temperatures. Anyone brave enough to attempt gardening in these conditions deserves a big pat on the back! Everyone else who feels daunted by the task, don’t panic, there are some things that you can do to help protect your plants from the cold.

Cold weather is damaging to plants because it causes the water in plant cells to freeze, resulting in the damaging of the cell wall. Snow can have its benefits as it acts as a form of insulation, protecting plants from the cold and frost. Unfortunately snow can also be potentially damaging for your garden as heavy snow can weigh down on tree branches, causing them to break.

What to do when it snows

It is important to remove excess snow from branches, trees and hedges to relieve the pressure snow can put in them.

Don’t leave snow on your greenhouses, cold frames or garden sheds as this can cause damage to their structure.

Make sure your conifers and hedges are supported. Use string to avoid branches being pulled out of shape. 

How to minimize damage to your garden

Move plant pots next to a house wall, to keep them warm.

Stay off the lawn, as walking on it while it is frosty will damage the grass.

Don’t mulch when the soil is wet or frozen.

Why you should et gardening

It’s a new year and if you are new to gardening then everything you experience in your garden will seem daunting. Don’t be dismayed, here are a few tips that will keep your spirits up even if nothing seems to be going right.

Things wont always go right

Sometimes gardening doesn’t go to plan and you may not end up with those flourishing rose bushes you dreamt of (well not straight away). Being a good gardener doesn’t come naturally to everyone, you may need some practice before you get it right. Even if you are a green fingered god, you can’t predict the weather and only a real god could make something grow during a flood!

Ask for help          

Don’t struggle along on your own. If you are unsure or want some advice If you are like me, with a neighbour who’s garden is always in full bloom they will be more than happy to help you out. Experienced gardeners are full of knowledge that could take years to gain on your own, so don’t be shy. Asking garden centre staff and online gardening forums is also a good way to get gardening help.

Try something new

So you’ve got the green fingered bug and your garden is sprouting up nicely. You suddenly realise it looks like a daffodil farm because that is all you had the guts to grow. Don’t be afraid, try something new! Your garden is a chance to transform your home to somewhere more exotic. Try a new plant, tree or even growing fruit for something new.

Share your  experiences

Once you’ve gained some knowledge, don’t forget to share it and your experiences in the garden with others. 

The most important thing to remember is to enjoy yourself! Gardening can be truly rewarding, no matter what you plan to grow, seeing the results of your hard work will be the most encouraging reason to carry on gardening year after year.