Tag: gardens

Summer home security tips

Summer home security tips | H is for Home

Summer is here, which means that many of us will be opening our windows, leaving the car window open to let fresh air in and even leaving our doors unlocked so we can come in & out with ease. Sadly, this is when most opportunist thieves and burglars strike. You might pop out to the shops and leave your bedroom window open by mistake or forget to close the car window when we return home. So, here you’ll find some helpful tips and advice on how you can beef up your home security this summer.

Wooden fence in front of a hedge

Your perimeter

Take a walk around your property and see for yourself how easy it would be to gain access. Try to see it from a burglar’s point of view and see how you’d find your way in. Gaps in fences, broken fence panels, gates with no locks – all these are access points and give an indication about how the rest of your property might (or might not be) protected. Replace that rotten old fence and even reinforce your perimeters with hedges and trees – check out The Tree Center for a range of privacy trees.

Hedge with a heart-shaped hole cut out

Plants and shrubs

If your garden is looking a little overgrown, now is the time to cut back that hedge, mow the lawn and keep everything in order. There’s nothing better for a burglar or thief then somewhere to hide, and your overgrown hedges and bushes might provide the perfect place. If you keep your property looking well maintained and kept, then it gives the impression that someone is there often, and things are well taken care of and someone is always watching!

Wooden ladder in a garden leaning against the wall of a house

Put away your things

We all like to spend time in our garden and back yards during the nice weather, and it might seem obvious to leave everything outside for you to come back to again the next day. However, leaving expensive possessions out in your garden is only advertising them to potential thieves. Expensive toys, barbecues & accessories, gardening equipment and even your lawnmower should all be put away in your garage or garden shed, so they’re out of sight. After all, if this is the kind of thing you have outside, what expensive electrical items could be inside? Be smart and lock them all away.

Leaving items like ladders and tools around in your garden is also a bad habit that needs to be broken. Anyone could use that ladder in your garden to gain access to the bedroom window you left open.

Man locking a set of glazed French doors

Your doors and windows

It might seem obvious, but we’ve all been guilty of heading out for the day and leaving a window open or even the front door unlocked by mistake. Take the time to check every door and window in your property now and see if it could do with replacing. If the windows have locks, do you have the keys for them? Do you have secure locking mechanisms and deadlocks? And try to get into the habit of remembering to check all the windows and doors before you leave!

Let’s hope these tips help you to protect your home effectively. However, even if you’ve opted for CCTV installation, extra locks to your doors and windows, or a guard dog within your property, it still pays to remain vigilant and aware of what’s happening around you.

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Garden trends for 2018 that will transform your space

Garden trends for 2018 that will transform your space | H is for Home

Are you thinking about how you can update and transform your garden for summer 2018? It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to completely redesign your garden or upgrading what you currently have, there are lots of different options that will transform your space and bring it up-to-date for this season. If you want to know more about the top 2018 garden trends that you should be incorporating, make sure you carry on reading!

Eating al fresco in a garden

Embrace al fresco styling

With spring finally here and summer jut around the corner, now is the time to utilise your outdoor space. Al fresco dining is the perfect way to do this and this year this trend is set to be bigger than ever! Having a place where you can eat and entertain will be a hugely popular garden trend and is a great option for those who don’t have a huge kitchen or dining space. Have a dedicated area in your garden where you can install some mood lighting, comfy furniture and a BBQ for amazing summer nights entertaining family and friends outdoors. Exterior structures are also set to be really big this year and are perfect for covering any outdoor furniture sets that you may have. Some manufacturers have noticed a big rise throughout last year of people requesting verandas, so this looks to be a trend that’s set to rise throughout 2018 too.

Blue garden bench and planters

Opt for a vibrant colour palette

Muted tones are still extremely popular with many people and a lovely muted grey colour applied to woven furniture is a great option that adds a touch of sophistication to your outdoor gardens pace. However, while muted colours are definitely still popular, the big trend for 2018 is bold, daring and vibrant colours being incorporated into our outdoor furniture. Many of us are being that little bit braver with our style and incorporating these fun colours using contemporary furniture design and the latest textile designs.

Peeling paint on a wall

Wabi-sabi styling

If you are guilty of not having too much of a hands on approach with your garden space, which we can say we are too, then you will be glad to hear that the wabi-sabi trend is here to stay in 2018. If you’re not as green fingered as you would like to be this will definitely be the trend that you will want to incorporate into your garden this year. Wasi-sabi is a Japanese term and they’ve been practising it for hundreds of years, from the 15th century. This is essentially when you accept the natural cycle of your garden space, which is growth, decay and death. This is the opposite to what we normally hear, as the Western world usually strives for perfection and this trend is exactly the opposite. The key with this trend is to get a good balance between nurture and nature and you are encouraged to enjoy your garden space and relax in its natural beauty. Weathered pots, rusty gates and moss-covered stones are all part and parcel of this trend. To incorporate this into your garden, try to choose plants that will change over time with the seasons to add character to your garden.

White painted, clap-board garden shed

Multi-use sheds

Another big trend for your garden space this summer is to have a multi-use shed. These sheds are growing in popularity as more and more people are looking for a shed that they can do more in than simply just store items. The she-shed has been a huge trend over the past couple of years and sheds are now becoming a much more practical and functional space.
You can find an array of not just sheds but also garden workshops at ShedStore. They offer a wide range of metal, plastic and wooden sheds in an array of designs and sizes, plus they are at great prices which can all be viewed at their website; https://www.shedstore.co.uk/. Why not turn your garden workshop into a place where you can enjoy your favourite hobbies such as completing DY projects?

Vegetable plot in a garden

Grow your own food

We’re all becoming more and more aware of where our food comes from and what exactly is in it. There has been a huge increase in the number of people eating organic and adopting a plant-based diet, all of which can be incorporated into your garden as part of this 2018 trend. With food prices rising and plant-based diets rising over 360% in the past decade, why not try to grow your own food in your garden?
Have an allotment in your garden or just section off a small area of your garden to experiment with different foods. There are some vegetables that are easier to grow than others, so why not start by growing broccoli, spinach, peas or even quinoa? You could even start smaller by growing a box of herbs.
You can learn how to get started on your own allotment at https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=84.

String of garden lights

Solar lights

When spicing up your garden, you want to think about incorporating some lights into it which are perfect for those warmer summer evenings. The big trend for garden lighting in 2018 is solar! This is good for both ornamental lighting and as a practical solution too. Solar lighting is a great addition to the garden as they are now cost-effective and completely safe. They help to create the perfect atmosphere for you to unwind and relax.

Copper head sculpture in a garden

Add a touch of copper

You may already have noticed that copper was one of the biggest trends in interior design throughout 2017 and this trend is set to continue as we move it outside to the garden. Copper is a gorgeous colour and this material provides a lovely rose-gold effect. Hard landscaping with copper can provide a warm effect and is the perfect contrast to any surrounding wood, stone or gravel.

Euonymus Oxyphylluscredit

Add exotic plants

This year, it’s all about the exotic plants, so, if you’re green fingered, this is a trend that you’ll love. Why not try out planting some unusual and exotic specimens? The euonymus oxyphyllus is a slow-growing shrub from Korea that’s becoming increasingly popular due to its gorgeous colour! The leaves start as a stunning emerald and then this transforms into bronze, yellow and red over autumn.

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4 new gardening trends to try in 2017

4 new gardening trends to try in 2017

Many recent studies indicate that time spent in and amongst nature plays an instrumental role in reducing stress and improving general health & well-being. Fortunately, due to modern advancements, it’s not necessary to go into the woods to spend time with nature. You can do so in the comfort of your own home, office or garden.

No longer are we limited by climate, rainfall, space and soil conditions when it comes to growing plants. The advancement in modern techniques and technology enables virtually any available space to be transformed into a plant haven. Here are four new gardening trends to consider.

Vegetable seedlings

  1. Growing herbs & vegetables indoors

Indoor gardening techniques and equipment have improved in leaps and bounds over recent years. People are often choosing (or being forced) to live in smaller spaces without large gardens, whilst at the same time the demand for local and organic food has increased tremendously. Hence, many are opting to grow their own herbs, salads and other vegetables such as pak choi and chillies indoors. You can also grow your own herbal plants for infused teas, soaps or medicinal treatments. A windowsill is a perfect site for all this. You might also have a small balcony area that you can dedicate to these plants; or, failing that, grow plants under lights or use aquaponic systems.

Swallow greenhousecredit

  1. Greenhouses

If you do have some outdoor space, it doesn’t need to be large or expansive in order to grow your own food. You can have a Swallow greenhouse installed in your backyard or flat roof terrace. These greenhouses are specifically manufactured to help grow delicate plants that require specific conditions. They are constructed of timber that is heat-treated up to 215ºC, protecting the construction from rotting. Hence, you can be assured of the durability of Swallow greenhouses as they’re built to handle cold and damp weather conditions with ease. If you’re considering installing a Swallow greenhouse in your backyard or other potentially suitable space, pay a visit to the site greenhousestores.co.uk.

Cacti and succulent house plants

  1. Jungle and desert-inspired interiors

A trend that has been gaining momentum recently is grouped collections of house plants. If you browse magazines and interiors websites, you’ll see that many home-owners are using house plants to decorate their homes – arranged in wonderful assemblages of various sizes and shapes. Many have broad, glossy, architectural leaves and others cascade down from shelves and hanging planters. This gives quite a jungle-inspired feel and they’re currently all the rage.

The same can be said of cacti and other succulents. Again, they’re arranged in concentrated collections for maximum impact. Various pot colours & sizes – and using alternative containers such as up-cycled tins can add further interest. When decorating your home, consider these bold and intriguing house plants – for both the natural air purification benefits and to make a real interiors statement.

Click Grow house planting kit

  1. Hi-tech gardening tools

There’s some great new technology on the market for the both the experienced and aspiring gardener.

There is a growing range of apps available for your smartphone or tablet. There are plant identifiers such as the RHS ‘Grow Your Own’ which tells you what fruit & veg you can grow; when to plant and harvest and what pests and diseases you may encounter. There are also a number of podcasts that you can download and watch to improve your gardening knowledge.

The Parrot Flower Power plant monitor is a little device that you stick into your plant’s pot (either indoors or out) and it monitors and analyses the growing conditions. It sends you alerts to your smartphone via an app to let you know if the plant needs more or less light, water, warmth or even if it needs to be re-potted!

If there are rooms in your house that get little natural sunlight, you may find it a challenge to grow plants successfully. This dilemma has now been solved. There are now planting kits that come with integrated LED lights to ensure that your plants get all the light they need.

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Gardening for Wildlife

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Cottage garden with borders, paths and shed

Image credit: Kellan

Nothing beats sitting in your garden on a sunny afternoon, listening to the birds sing and watching other little wild creatures shuffle in and out of your garden. To encourage more wildlife info your garden, there are lots of tips and tricks you can implement, so your garden is even more welcoming.

Starlings eating on a bird tableImage credit: pjs2005

Bird Tables

Having a bird table is a wonderful addition to a garden: you’ll have so many different bird species fluttering in and out of your garden throughout the year. There are many different types, from freestanding bird tables, through wall mounted, ground feeding and small ones hanging from trees or fences. Place yours in front of a window, so you can watch the birds even when the weather is chilly, and keep it stocked up with bird feed throughout the year to ensure you have your fair share of feathered visitors.

detailed view of a log pileImage credit: Martin Bamford

Log Pile

Piles of logs not only allow your wood to dry out for the best log fires in your fireplace, but they also allow biodiversity to thrive. It’s a great location for growing different mosses, and encouraging small mammals, insects and amphibians. Build it in a pyramid shape if you’d like to attract hedgehogs too, but never set it alight without checking for wildlife.

frog popping its head out of a pondImage credit: Dan Zen

Pond Life

Ponds are great for wildlife, and they’re really easy to construct. Make sure the edges are shallow: that’ll allow easy access for little creatures like frogs and newts. Install plants around the edges to shelter the pond life, and keep it clean with pond cleaners that aren’t made with too many chemicals.

Virginia creeper growing on a wooden fenceImage credit: Laura Bernhardt

Plants

Climbing plants are not only beautiful, but they also provide excellent nesting habitats. There are lots to choose from but good ones are roses, honeysuckle and clematis. If you have a bit more space, plant a hawthorn hedge, blackthorn or hazel: the hedge will provide nesting sites along with nuts and berries for wildlife during the harsh winter months.

Bee on lavenderImage credit: Alden Chadwick

Flowers

Encourage bees with pollen and nectar-producing plants like lavender. The Royal Horticultural Society can advise on the best plants, and you can also provide a dry nesting box for bees: one with a see-through window would allow you to watch them at work!

The garden is an amazing place for wildlife if you can create the perfect environment. With just a few easy steps, you’ll have a garden bustling with life!

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