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.

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.

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.

How to protect your vegetable garden from the frost

Britain is set to face a big freeze over the next couple of days and we are told this could continue throughout December, with temperatures as low as -20c! If you are planning on keeping your vegetable garden alive and thriving, throughout the winter and cold weather but are worried your crops will be ruined by the frost, help is at hand. 

Cover your vegetables

The most common way of protecting your vegetable garden is by covering them with some type of material. Any material can be used, such as old blankets and sheets. Lightweight material can be draped directly on top of the plants, however if you use a heavyweight material this will need to be supported, to prevent your vegetable from being crushed. Secure your covering with stakes, rocks or bricks. Covers should only be placed on at night and removed in the morning, to allow your plants to breathe. Card board boxes are also a good at covering your vegetables, again don’t forget to remove these in the morning.

Mulch

Mulch is great at insulating your plants from the cold, as it helps to lock in moisture and holds in heat. A depth of 2 to 3 inches should be sufficient and you can use items such as straw, pine needles and leaves.

Water

Watering your vegetables a few days before frost is due to hit, is another way of helping your vegetables see out the frost, this is because wet soil can hold more heat than dry soil. Make sure you only water the plants lightly before the temperature drops.

Containers and pots

Anything you have growing in a container or pot should be brought into a garden shed, garage or greenhouse if possible. If the containers are small enough, why not take them inside. If they cannot be moved, wrap the containers in bubble wrap to help keep them insulated. Burying the pot in soil is another good way of keeping your container vegetables insulated.

Cold frames

Cold frames are a transparent- roofed enclosure for growing vegetables and plants in, while protecting them from harsh weather conditions.  Cold frames provide air and soil temperature insulation, as well as shelter from the wind. Using cold frames is a good away to protect your vegetables from frost. And help them survive the winter.

If you are growing vegetables this winter, this advice and tips should help to keep your vegetables alive and thriving. 

Preparation for your winter garden

 Here are a few tips to help you through the winter season.

Clean up           

Be sure to remove weeds and annuals from your garden. On shrubs and trees, remove diseased leaves, but pruning is not recommended.

Cut back perennials

These should be cut back to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. These will keep your garden looking neat and tidy and save a lot of hard work in the spring.

Get mulching

Mulching protects plants from the drastic temperature change that winter brings and insulated them against the cold.  Mulch can be made up of dried leaves, pine needles, shredded bark etc and 4 to 6 inches is sufficient.

Winter proof containers

This can be done by wrapping bubble around the containers and covering the soil with mulch.

Prepare new ground

Winter is the ideal time to dig over new beds and boarders, ready for spring sowing. This can be done as long as the ground isn’t frozen or water logged.

Clean and store tools

Clean out old pots and seed trays ready for the spring. Clean and sharpen tools and store in a dry place for winter. If your shed is leaky, this water can ruin your gardening tools and other equipment., make sure your shed is in a good condition for the winter weather. If you are looking for a new shed Asgard has a wide range all made from weatherproof steel to protect stored items. 

How to repair your garden after bad weather

There has been a lot of bad weather and rain this summer and for many it has ruined what was going to be a beautiful garden. All is not lost though, the sun has been out and the stormy rain of July is firmly behind us. If you’ve not managed to get out there and sort it yet, here are a few tips that might come in handy.

Weeds

Weeds will have been thriving in the wet weather, make sure you pull them up from the root as soon as you can. Weeds come up much easier when the ground is wet.

Soil

Heavy rain can leach the nutrients from soil. To replenish this restore with a slow- release fertilizer.  The primary nutrient that will have been lost is nitrogen, if this is lost you will be able to tell from the lack of growth and poor colour older leaves.

Replenish your garden

Lawn

If your lawn is water logged it is important to keep off it until it has fully dried out, then you can begin to make repairs. It’s always a good idea to give your lawn some attention in preparation for the winter and revitalise it after the summer.

As autumn approaches be sure to rake away leaves, as they can smother the lawn and damage the grass. When the frost hits, be sure not to walk on your lawn if it is covered with snow as this will damage it.

For a full guideline on autumn lawn care click here>

Make your garden bloom this autumn

Plants

Make your garden shine and look its best over what is left of the summer and up until the frost hits.

There are still plenty of bedding plants about that love autumn weather conditions and a large number of these will bloom right up until the first frost. Flowers will keep your garden bright and beautiful, you might even begin to think its still summer!

Some flowers that bloom in autumn are:

Baby’s breath

Carnations

Roses

Chrysanthemums

See a full list here>

British summer time is rubbish, no time to do the gardening!

It’s the time of year that everyone looks forward to…..summer. The British summer has never been the greatest, but the weather this year has left us all wondering if we are going to see much of the sunshine at all. April to June this year has been the wettest second quarter in the UK since records began and if the beginning of July is anything to go by, it is likely to continue. What does mean for our precious gardens? You've spent weeks choosing flowers, planting seeds, weeding and pruning, only for your garden to be submerged in water.  Or you've been putting off tackling the weeds and those overgrown bushes and now because of all the rain, your garden has turned into a jungle!

Like many people you may have purchased brand new garden furniture and instead of lounging in your new sun loungers or dining alfresco, you’re watching it get soaked through the dining room window. What do you do? Wait out the rain, or brave it?  Either way, here are a few tips to keep your garden in shape.

Brave the rain

• Pull up dandelions and thistles while the soil is wet, this way you stand a good chance of getting the root out in one piece.
• Rescue waterlogged pots, as potted plants can die if the compost becomes saturated. Rescue pots by removing trays from under them.
• Re-sow if necessary, as they may have rotted due to wet soils. Re-sow leafy and root crops when it gets a bit warmer, as they will still do their stuff this year.
• Get some wet weather clothes, walking jackets and trousers that are waterproof yet breathable work well.
• Plan a garden path, make this the last year you squelch your shed by putting in hard landscaped paths or steps, stepping stones, a gravel path or maybe something more ambitious.
• Make a list of which flowers do well after heavy rain? Start preparing for when the weather takes a turn for the better.

After the storm

• Remove rain-damaged or faded flowers. Not only will this make plants and your garden look better, it also encourages more flowers to grow.
• Pesky slugs and snails come out at night, protect young plants and seedlings from them.
• Weeds are thriving so pull them up before they set seed.
• Keep off the lawn as much as possible when the ground is sodden. You can make repairs in early autumn.
• If you experience flooding due to rivers bursting their banks, or broken drains releasing diluted sewage into the garden, this is potentially serious. Any crops covered in flood water should not be eaten.
• Don’t forget to store your gardening equipment and furniture in a waterproof shed, to stop your gardening equipment and furniture from going rusty or rotten. Check that your shed is free from leeks, this is especially important for electric gardening tools such as lawn mowers.

When the weather is as stormy as it has recently been, having a tough weatherproof shed or storage unit is important. For the best in weatherproof garden storage visit Asgard Secure Steel Storage.

Information from the Telegraph