How To Care for a Lawn Through Winter?

We all pay plenty of attention to our lawns in the summer, there are always products on sale to do the job. However, when the sun sets early and the temperature drops, it might need a different touch. Let’s look at some gardening tips to help you this winter.

Don’t Overfeed

Generally speaking, you should be giving your lawn its final feed in late autumn, October time. This is to make sure it’s prepared for the temperature to decrease and keep it healthy. This will benefit the roots underneath and aid its ability to look after itself. Using feed throughout winter could have an adverse effect and damage the grass. 

No More Tilling

During winter, your grass will not have the ability to heal and regrow from grass treatments such as tilling. Save manual care like this for the autumn months when your lawn has got plenty of strength. 

Increase The Cut Height

If you need to cut your grass during winter, you can still do this. When using your mower, adjust it so that it only takes the top off as cutting it too low will damage your lawn. During winter months the ground is more saturated, and it could easily churn and damage the grass.

Get Those Leaves Up

Whether you use the leaf blower or the rake, be sure to get up any leaves that have fallen at the end of Autumn. Whilst it may sometimes look appealing, fallen leaves stop air flowing to the grass which prevents it from growing and staying healthy. Get a hold of some big black sacks from your DIY store and get picking!

Pick the Weeds

In winter, lawns retain more moisture. Moisture allows those tough weeds to fight their way to the surface. Be ready for them by making a regular trip around the garden and picking them out as they can take away valuable nutrients from your lawn. 

Lawn Care Tips for Winter

Lawn maintenance in winter can be tricky, so consider the help of a professional gardener for garden maintenance. Many gardeners love to help in winter as it’s an extra source of income. Although some will only work throughout the summer, many will do tree felling through the winter. 

Not only is having a gardener good for winter overall, but it’s also consistent. Paying a gardener to attend once a fortnight can give your lawn the attention it needs consistently. They will be able to make sure any leaves are cleared and keep your lawn at a good height. 

If you are unable to look after your garden yourself through the winter for physical reasons, this can be another reason to get a gardener. Some gardens are difficult to get around in slippery conditions so always get help if you can’t manage on your own. 

Be sure to check out your local gardening specialist. If you are unsure who to use, consider having a look at us, Kite Landscapes. We offer winter gardening services to help transform your garden if it needs some sprucing up. And can offer decking installation, outdoor flooring, and much more. Get in contact with us today on 01344 886 331 or visit our contact page.

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How To Prepare Your Garden For Winter

The days are getting shorter and darker and the promise of rain is becoming increasingly likely; a sure sign that autumn is upon us. If you’re already yearning for the springtime bees and the summer blooms, we have the checklist that is sure to have you enjoying gardening in winter. To ensure that you have the best summer garden next year, make sure you get these winter tips checked off to have your garden maintained for winter.

Tips To Prepare A Garden For Winter

Clean Up and Prune Plants

A lot of your outside plants have had their peak and are ready to enter their dormant phase. Be sure to deadhead your autumn plants and prune your summer flowering plants before it gets frosty. If you can, leave fresh water and an untidy corner for hibernating animals, such as hedgehogs, to help them out this winter.

Worried that your favourite flower might not return next year? Take cuttings to ensure that it will. This is an easy, inexpensive way to create more plants. If you’re dubious about slicing through your shrubs – maybe you’ve never done it before and want to make sure you do it correctly – hire a gardener to help you get on top of it all. They can help with regular garden maintenance or lend their services for a particular one-off job. Specialist gardeners who understand the needs of each person they work with and their garden can ensure that you maximise your space and materials.

Shield Plants From Cold

Some plants will happily take shelter in your house in the winter, but make sure to find them the best spot for the sun, although it might be difficult. Those plants that unfortunately are too big to come inside your home can be moved to a greenhouse or covered with fleece or hessian wrapping. Young plants will benefit from a cold frame over the winter, but make sure to open the lid if it gets warm to prevent them from overheating or getting diseases. 

Winter crops will still require protection from the cold days which will impact their rate of survival. Cloches can be used to protect low-growing plants such as vegetables and herbs. If you’re not sure which plants will survive winter without your input, always seek gardening tips from a landscape professional as they will be able to provide you with credible advice.

Dig Garden Beds

Digging can be an arduous task but it’s the best way to enrich compacted soil. Autumn is the perfect time of year to do this as the soil is usually moist but not frozen or waterlogged. The best way to dig the garden beds is by creating a neat trench of the same depth and width as the spade you are using, breaking up and turning the soil as you go. Adding homemade compost to the soil will enrich the soil with nutrients.

Whether you use your garden to grow produce for the family to graze on, or as a haven for insects and wildlife to thrive in, these winter gardening tips are sure to help provide the same success for the next coming year.

To find out more about garden maintenance or garden landscaping, get in touch with us at Kite Landscapes on 01344 886331, or visit our contact page to submit a contact form.

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Reasons To Hire A Garden Designer

Your garden is an important extension of your home and you need to maintain it just as passionately as your lounge or dining room. The very fact that your garden is outdoors does make this slightly more difficult though as the weather has a massive effect on your ability to grow plants or maintain your garden furniture. 

If you’re not naturally green-fingered, achieving the perfect garden design can feel like a mountain to climb. It’s a great idea to hire a garden designer or landscape designer to help you pull together a garden design that works year-round, without excessive care and attention. 

The Benefits Of Hiring A Garden Designer

To save yourself the hassle of designing a fantastic, awe-inspiring garden all by yourself, hiring a garden designer comes with a whole host of benefits.

• Budgeting

You might have a ton of big ideas for your garden that you’ve Googled. However, are your ideas realistic? A garden designer will fully understand the costs of labour and structural changes that you want to make and will help you to create your perfect garden at an affordable price.

• Design Ideas

Let’s face it, you aren’t a gardening guru, so you might be slightly unimaginative about your design ideas. A garden designer will be able to visualise your space and give you valuable insight into how to make changes to uplift your garden and give a model, magazine-style look. 

Your garden designer will pull together a conceptual design that’s perfectly in proportion with every aspect of your ideal garden drawn out in detail – even down to the flowers and plants that you’re going to choose. This helps you to visualise the final product and make changes before you go ahead with the landscaping, reducing any potential problems along the way. 

• Terrain Analysis

Not every garden is suitable for every style. If you have a garden that’s on a slope, it can be difficult to work out a design that works for you. Equally, ground that’s too flat can have issues with drainage. A landscape gardener or garden designer can pinpoint exactly where you might have problems and can suggest innovative solutions to allow you to set up a stunning garden that’s practical too. 

• Project Management

Getting your garden in shape, especially if you have a large space, can be a challenge. You might need professional equipment, workmen, and plans drawn up and you must make the changes in the correct order to avoid duplicating your workload. A garden designer can help you to pull your garden project together efficiently and can recommend professional workers or contractors with equipment to help you get the job done. 

Typically, an established garden designer or landscape gardening expert will already have lasting relationships with reputable builders, gardeners, and businesses who hire out landscaping equipment, so you’re sure to get a great service. If you would like to find out more about how Kite Landscapes can help you create the garden of your dreams, get in touch today on 01344 886331 or head over to our contact page for more details.

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What is Landscape Gardening and What Does it Involve?

Landscape gardening is always thought of as something that only occurs in huge manor homes and parks, however, it’s perfect for your own home’s garden. It’s a beautiful expression of the natural landscape in a domestic setting that people can enjoy publicly or privately. It can incorporate trees, a body of water, statues, fountains, and carefully thought-out foliage to create a dramatic look that merges art, science, and nature, and more, all in one place.

The History of Landscape Gardening

Landscape gardening goes right back to the 18th century in France. Popular paintings of the time by artists such as Claude Lorrain depicted huge gardens with lakes, hanging willow trees, bridges, and artistic features.

Back then, a professionally landscaped garden was a sign of opulence and gave landowners a sense of competition.

Landscape Gardening Today

These days, landscape gardening isn’t only confined to huge stately home estates and can be done simply to give you a tranquil and attractive garden space. You can incorporate landscape gardening into your own home to make your garden a statement feature.

Having a beautifully landscaped garden has a lot of benefits including giving you somewhere to relax and reflect, a place to entertain and impress guests, and it can even increase the value of your home.

The Types of Landscaping

There are a couple of different forms of landscaping and the type that’s right for your garden depends on the size and shape of your garden. 

Either way, you might want to make your garden follow a certain theme or pattern. Perhaps it’s a Mediterranean theme or an oriental theme, for example, and hiring a landscape gardener can help you design and achieve your perfect outdoor space.

Hard Landscaping

Hard landscaping is the most popular choice for a smaller garden setting. It incorporates all of the practical furniture, patios, and decking that you need to get that perfect entertainment space. Things like hot tubs and BBQ areas could now be considered as landscaping, as they help you adapt your garden so that you can fully enjoy your outdoor space. For an oriental theme, you may choose to add artistic statues or a grey stone patio area and pergola.

Soft Landscaping

Soft landscaping involves using the natural lay of the land in your garden and adding in plants, trees, and natural elements to artfully transform the space. For a Mediterranean theme, this may involve palm trees and tall, grass-like plants which will make a trip to your garden feel like a luxury holiday.

The Benefits of Hiring a Landscape Gardener 

●       They Have a Wealth Of Experience

Garden landscaping can be a challenge, especially if you’re not too sure what you’re doing. A contractor has the knowledge and experience to see what will work and what won’t with your space.

●       Saves Time – Giving You More Time To Enjoy Your Garden

A landscape gardener will draw out the garden plans and measure the space before making any changes. This saves a lot of time later on, as you’ll know exactly what your garden will look like in the end.

It also means that you’re more likely to do your whole garden overhaul in the one go, saving you a lot of hassle and leaving your garden a mess for longer.

●       Save On Costs

Contrary to popular belief, garden landscaping could be cheaper than doing a garden up bit by bit. Typically, people will lay a patio, then save up the money to add a BBQ area, and so on. 

However, doing these sections individually will mean you have to hire two sets of contractors and two sets of equipment which consequently might mean that the two sections don’t quite gel correctly. Having the whole thing sorted in one go is a higher upfront cost but will likely cost less in the long run as your garden will be perfect without any changes being needed.

●       Get a Professional Finish To Your Garden

A landscape gardener guarantees a professional, high-quality outdoor space. Sure, you could do it yourself, but because you’re inexperienced, the finish won’t be as polished, it will undoubtedly take you longer and there’s a chance you won’t be satisfied at the end. 

If you would like to find out more about garden landscaping services, then get in contact with us at Kite Landscapes and see how we can help you transform your garden into a true feature of your home. Contact us on 01344 886 331 or visit our contact page today.

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Decking Maintenance Tips | Ensure Your Decking Lives a Long Life

During the summer months, you must get your outdoor area looking perfect for all those BBQs with your friends and family. There’s no better way to make your guests jealous than with a well-maintained decking area. The only problem with decking is that it can get pretty dirty and damaged over the winter if you don’t keep up with proper maintenance.

To keep your decking looking amazing, here are a few decking tips to ensure you care for it correctly and keep it looking new for longer.

How To Maintain Your Garden’s Wooden Decking

Sweeping Off Debris

During the autumn, dead leaves will fall and if they’ve become damp, you’ll likely end up with mulch on your decking that needs to be removed. It’s best to get a stiff-bristle sweeping brush to remove any of the larger pieces of debris – ensure you press down fairly hard to remove any dirt stuck in the cracks of the decking.

Regular Cleaning

In damp weather, mould and mildew can build up on the top of wooden decking and it’s tough to shift. Hardwood and softwood are both affected, so your choices in decking material won’t be a factor in the amount of cleaning you need to do unless you go with a composite material. 

However, the more often you do a deep clean, the longer it’ll stay unstained from mildew. It’s recommended to do a deep clean every 6 months but keep up with sweeping in between to ensure the dirt doesn’t get too ingrained in the decking.

Soap and Water

If you keep your decking fairly clean, you may be able to get off the worst of the dirt using a stiff brush and some hot, soapy water. Using dish soap is a good way to ensure you aren’t damaging the wood. The trick is not to soak it too much though, and always do this on a dry day to ensure it can dry as quickly as possible. Leaving your wood damp for long periods could encourage more mould to grow, ruining all your efforts.

The soap and water method is often enough to ensure a brand-new look for composite decking, which is much lower maintenance than wooden decking, though more expensive to purchase and install initially.

Using Cleaning Products

If you’re not managing to clean off the worst of the dirt with dish soap, you may need to move on to stronger wood cleaning products. Specialist deck cleaning products can be purchased from a DIY shop and can be mixed with water to achieve the same effect.

Decking Cleaning Tip:

Always sweep or scrub in the same direction as the wood grain. This allows the wood to maintain its integrity and strength, making it last much longer and helps avoid dangerous splinters.

Power washing

If you have a large decking area, you may want to invest in a power washer. Don’t ever use the jet wash nozzle, as the power of the water can erode some of the wood. Use the buffing power wash attachment to focus the water over a larger surface area and never leave it sitting in one place. You’ll also want to put it on the highest-level setting, so you don’t buff off too much of the surface.

Sanding 

It’s natural for the surface of the wood to become a little discoloured over time. If you notice any darker patches, lightly sand the wood to get rid of the damaged area before laying any treatment. This ensures an even tone across the decking. Sanding down the wood will also make it much easier to apply the wood treatment.

Wood Treatment

If you want to maintain the wood’s natural colour, it’s a good idea to treat it with oil. The oil will freshen up the natural colour and make it more waterproof as some of the oil is absorbed into the wood’s surface. This also prevents the wood from splitting, as the wood won’t expand and contract as much if less water is absorbed into the decking.

If you want to add a colour to the decking, you can get coloured treatments, which essentially do the same job as oils, but can be applied in the same way as paint. It’s advisable to use a roller or spray set to apply the colour to avoid the unevenness of a paintbrush.

Decking Treatment Tip:

Don’t walk on your decking after treatment for at least 48 hours. This ensures even coverage and allows for adequate absorption of the coating (without your footprints becoming a permanent fixture).

For more tips on how to maintain your decking or to get a new decking made, contact us today and let us help you have your dream garden.

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Things To Consider When Buying A Garden Water Feature

Garden water features are an excellent addition to a garden. They can add that finishing touch to your outdoor space, develop a sense of calm and relaxation in your garden, and they could even be good for the plants and wildlife, depending on the type of water feature you choose.

Things To Consider About A Water Feature

The Water Feed

The most important thing about a water feature is – you guessed it – the water! But where will it come from? The first thing you need to consider before setting up your feature is where it’s going to go and how close that is to your water supply. You don’t want to have to dig up your whole garden.

How The Water Feature Is Powered

If you’ve chosen a small water feature, you might be able to get away with solar power to create the pressure that carries the water. If so, make sure your water feature sits somewhere in your garden that normally gets plenty of sun.

If you’ve got a larger garden water feature, it’s probably going to need electricity to run it properly. In this case, you need to ensure you have access to water and electricity in the same place, which can be trickier.

The Space Available In Your Garden

Depending on the size of your garden, you’re going to need to select a water feature that’s proportionate. There’s no point buying a tiny water feature in a large garden – you’ll never notice it. Similarly, having a giant water feature in a tiny garden will look very odd.

Try to set the water feature so it takes up a corner of your garden – enough to make it a ‘feature’ but not enough so that you can’t fit in foliage, a seating area, and other garden furniture around it. You want to be able to sit out there in your garden and admire the water feature.

The surroundings of your feature are important to its upkeep too. If you’re thinking of placing your water feature under a load of trees or next to any foliage, it’s more likely to grow algae and you’re probably going to see a ton of bird poop floating in there too. It’s great for the local wildlife, but it might not look the best. Try to keep on top of leaves and dirt that falls into the water.

The Style Of Your Garden

What type of garden do you have? Is it modern and metallic? A Japanese paradise or a honeysuckle cottage? Always ensure you select a garden water feature in keeping with your style. If you have a cottage, perhaps a stone basin will work best, or if you have a modern home, perhaps a metallic structure may fit in with your style.

Sound The Water Feature Makes

Always ensure you like the sound of your water feature. It seems odd, but if you don’t like how the water sounds when it trickles through, it’ll put you off sitting outside. If it’s just a trickle, it might get a little annoying, but if it’s gushing like a tap, it’s not relaxing at all. Aim for somewhere in the middle.

Cleaning The Water Feature

Before you commit to the setup of your water feature, make sure you’ve considered how to clean it. A water feature will need a thorough clean every few months, so make sure it’s easy to drain the water and get it back in there afterwards too.

Water features are beautiful, but most of the time they’re quite technical pieces of equipment. You should always ensure a perfect cycle of clean water through the system. If you’re looking to have a water feature placed in your garden then get in touch with us at Kite Landscapes and let us help transform your garden.

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5 Key Tips to Maintaining your Garden this Summer

When spring finally hits, if your garden has been neglected all summer, it can leave you wondering why you should bother fixing it up. However, there are plenty of simple solutions at hand that can help get your garden back in prime health for the warmer months. 

The last twelve months have been particularly isolating for everyone, so creating an inviting garden this summer is a great idea for hosting your family and friends. This blog will share some top tips for getting your garden back in shape in time for summer.

5 Tips To Help Maintain A Garden In Summer

1. Mow the Lawn

Maybe your lawn hasn’t been cut since the end of last summer. Although this is completely fine, getting that first cut in as soon as the temperatures begin to rise above 10 degrees is a great idea. The sooner you get that initial cut done, the sooner your grass will start to grow again, letting through fresh new blades of grass to create a thriving lawn.

You will want to consider cutting your lawn each week to ensure it doesn’t become overgrown in the summer months. By creating this weekly habit of lawn care, you will prevent your lawn from becoming overgrown, which can attract pests and generally become harder to maintain.

2. Stain Or Paint Your Shed

The sun’s harmful rays have a damaging impact on your garden’s timber features. You may not notice it, but your garden fences and sheds will fade over time due to UV exposure and can dry out and become brittle. By staining or painting your timber each year, you add a layer of protection to prevent the wood from becoming damaged by the sun. Think of it as applying sun cream to your timber each year. Not only does staining prevent UV damage, but it also helps timber to become more water-resistant and therefore less prone to wood rot.

3. Tidy your Flower Beds

Ensuring your flower beds are tidy is one of the simplest things to do for your garden that will see a substantial benefit to its look. You could have the most glorious garden in your neighbourhood, but if your borders are letting you down, then it brings down the garden as a whole. Tidy up the edges by pulling out any weeds and planting fresh summer flowers that will stay in bloom all season. An easy way of neatening your borders is to use bamboo edging to separate your flower beds from pathways.

4. Utilise a Water Butt

By investing in a water butt for your garden, you can collect and store rainwater to use in your garden. This has a positive effect on the environment and is generally better for your plants as the PH levels of tap water in some areas can be damaging for plants. It also means you can beat any hosepipe bans by having a natural storage of rainwater to use for watering your garden.

5. Start a Compost Heap

A compost heap has many positives for both your garden and the environment. You should start one straight away to help maintain your garden this summer. A compost heap can be made in any large container. Instead of throwing away garden waste, add it to the compost pile to decompose naturally and enrich your soil. You can even go a step further and add all your vegetable and fruit peelings to the compost for maximum effect. By doing this, you are throwing less in the bin and contributing to the overall health of your garden.

If you would like to find out more about our Gardening Services get in contact with us today on 01344 886331. Alternatively, visit our contact page to send a message.

The post 5 Key Tips to Maintaining your Garden this Summer first appeared on Kite Landscapes.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/5-key-tips-to-maintaining-your-garden-this-summer/