What is Tree Surgery?

The term tree surgery refers to the repair of trees that are damaged. This includes the removal of diseased parts of the tree, filling tree cavities, as well as preventing any further decay of the tree. Tree surgery also involves the strengthening of tree branches using braces. The profession entails planting, pruning and general treatment as well as care and maintenance of the trees. The specialist in this field is known as a tree surgeon that has numerous responsibilities regarding trees. 

What is a tree surgeon and what are their responsibilities? 

The job description is of great service but involves a person being exposed to a lot of danger. In fact, tree surgery is one of the most dangerous professions in the world. A tree surgeon is an occupation that’s highly specialised with so many responsibilities and duties. These professionals are involved in the care of a tree at every stage of the growth and development of the tree. This means that the tree surgeon is part of the planting of the tree up to the time it’s removed if it’s necessary. All the steps of maintenance of the tree throughout the life of the tree are the responsibility of the tree surgeon. The trees need to be properly maintained because it prevents any damages that could be inflicted on the tree. It also prevents the tree from posing any danger to humans and animals through falling branches and snapping. 

The tree surgeon is also known as an arborist and can make identification of dead branches which have become a safety risk. The professionals are trained on how to use some special safety equipment which is useful for the removal of tree limbs that are dangerous in a safe manner. However, it isn’t only the maintenance and it involves a lot of other tasks. 

There are various duties associated with being a tree surgeon. They may be rather interesting to know but serve a very vital purpose in the life of trees and that of humans. The top duties include tree felling, pruning, log splitting, planting and tree removal. This professional can also serve as a landscape gardener who has the capacity to advise on the right tree kind to be planted in a garden and in what area. They’re also able to recommend the right kind of soil you can use to plant the trees in. 

Why it’s important to ask for tree surgery services

We all love to have trees in our gardens. However, we may lack the right knowledge of where, when and how to plant the trees. Tree surgeons have the right knowledge on how the trees are to be taken care of from the time they’re planted to the time they die. 
At times, a tree may have died and needs to be removed for various reasons. A specialist in tree surgery knows how to bring the tree down in a controlled and safe manner. The removal of the tree shouldn’t be left to be done naturally through gravity as this can be catastrophic, depending on where it’s located. The process of felling a tree is not just cutting it down but involves a lot of technical steps. Otherwise, it can be a very dangerous activity. 

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/what-is-tree-surgery/

What are Arid Gardens?

People live in various geographical zones which experience different climatic and weather conditions. Despite this, we all love to have some garden within our compounds to bring about the feel of nature home. As a result, people have looked for various ways to ensure that, no matter the climatic conditions or geographical locations, every person has a way of ensuring they have gardens. So, botanists have made advancements in their research and have made it possible for people living in desert or arid places to also be able to grow their gardens of their own. This has resulted in the existence of arid gardens. Let’s look at some facts about the arid gardens:

 

Definition of an Arid Garden

 

An arid garden is a garden that’s made to only grow a collection of arid or desert plants which may go extinct due to climatic changes or harsh weather conditions in the areas of origin. The gardens are used for growing and managing plants that are hardy and as such don’t need to be watered as much as the normal regular plants grown in an average garden. These plants are chosen for their ability to flower and thrive even in seasons that are harsh to the average normal climate plant. They don’t need much watering and care; making them suited for most areas which aren’t considered to have enough rainfall or water. They also help save the grower’s water bills as they won’t have to regularly find a way of ensuring that they’re constantly sprinkled with water.

 

The Key Plants Grown on Arid Gardens

 

The most common plants that are usually planted in arid gardens include Old-man Saltbush. This plant belongs to a group of plants known as Saltbush. It’s capable of achieving a height of over 3 meters when fully grown. Old-man Saltbush is an extremely hardy plant that has the ability to tolerate soils that are very dry for long periods. The best condition for this plant is full sun. For the garden, it’s a great plant for hedging and has very striking silver foliage. To keep it from getting woody, the plant responds rather well if regularly pruned.

The other plant is Eremophila ssp. Eremophila is a genus containing 200 species of plants. Most of these plant species occur in semi-arid and arid areas in Australia.

 

Maireana Oppositiolia is another arid garden plant that is small in size. It has leaves that are silky-haired which are packed very tightly, narrow and greyish. The fruits of this plant are small and pinkish or greenish cream. For architectural purposes, this plant is great for most gardens. It has foliage that’s fantastic, grey and contrasts.

 

The Weeping Myall or Acacia Pendula is the fourth plant suitable for the arid garden. This attractive weeping wattle that’s very attractive and it has grey foliage. In the arid garden, it represents sparse tree-scape which is found in the semi-arid and arid areas of a country like Australia. It’s mostly suited for sunny dry locations but is tolerant to wide ranges of climatic conditions. In such areas, it can achieve a tree of medium size.

 

Conclusion

 

Arid gardens are a very good option for those who want to have the beauty of the arid and semi-arid plants around their homes. They have the best views all through the four seasons of the year i.e. winter, summer, spring and autumn.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/what-are-arid-gardens/

How to clean decking

When it comes to aesthetically pleasing architectural works, wood has become the preferred choice because of its affordability and design. One such work or platform is the decking. Your own decking will be the heart and foundation for social gatherings, from the usual Sunday family brunches to special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings.

And with social gatherings come the unpredictability of human interaction: desegregated trash, spills of various liquids, the inevitable wear and tear of the wood itself (not to mention the pesky termites), etc. With all these external factors that could ruin your beautiful and memorable gathering spot, maintaining and cleaning your decking is a must.

One may think that the good ol’ soap and scrub method could solve every cleaning issue. However, a decking is more sensitive and complicated than you think. Below are the materials and steps to properly clean a deck.

Materials:

Gloves

You’ll need to suit up your hands with gloves to give you a good grip when doing the cleaning. They’ll also provide protection from blisters and wounds.

Broom

You have to make sure that the smallest of dust bunnies and the bigger piles of leftovers are swept away before you do any scrubbing.

Bucket

This makes a good container for water and soap cleaners.

Mask

You don’t need to get a gas mask; just get one that’ll protect you from allergens so as not to awaken that roaring rhinitis.

Hose/Spray

A bucket is helpful, but for a wide decking, making sure to rid it off of soap requires a lot of water.

Assorted Brushes

Opt for those with stiff bristles to effectively remove hard-etched stains.

Deck Cleaner Chemicals

You just need to get oxygen/household bleach.

Steps:

1. Declutter your decking

Stowaway prized possessions and delicate objects to protect them from being damaged. Segregate and separate the trash.

But before starting cleanup duty, gear up first by putting on the mask and gloves.

2. Scrape and sweep

Sweep off dirt on the flooring using the broom or let your vacuum cleaner do the job. Look for any traces of moss and mould and carefully scrape off, especially on hard-to-see areas. Do another sweep again to remove excess dirt from the brushing and scraping.

3. Rub and scrub

With your bucket, you can now mix a cleaning solution that could help clean the decking thoroughly. Oxygen bleach with sodium bicarbonate is advisable for wood decking, due to its effective formula for organic stains and mould.

Organic laundry detergent works well, too. Avoid using chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) as it could pose health risks such as skin, eye, and lung irritation.

With the solution and the brush, scrub the top part, going down in intervals. Rinse thoroughly after each scrub. The water hose works perfectly and efficiently for faster rinsing.

4. Let dry for a day or two (or more)

Leave your deck after cleaning it for a day to make sure it dries. See if there are any areas you have missed with your scrubbing. If you’re pleased with the results, let it dry for 3 days to 1 week.

 

To preserve the overall lifespan and quality of your decking, make sure to clean it at least twice a year. Make sure the drying time is long enough to leave a natural look for the wood.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/how-to-clean-decking/

Ideas for Flower Garden Designs and Flower Beds

A flower garden looks and grows better if each bed is well-planned and carefully designed. So, before planting that first bulb or seedling, consider how it will look like once fully grown.

Designing the flower garden and the beds is not just for aesthetic results. It is also for efficient growth and easy maintenance.

To get started, consider these flower garden designs and flower beds ideas.  

Flower Garden Designs

There are endless options for garden designs. The key is to diversify the plants, mixing blooming plants, hedges, small bushes, and some decorative non-flowering plants.

Two major flower designs are annual flower garden and perennial flower garden.

• Annual Flower Garden

This type of garden design requires replanting after a season since annual plants tend to die after they bloom. The main attractive feature of an annual flower garden design is the brilliance of the colours. Annuals tend to have brighter hues and more attractive, elaborate flowers, which means they need to maximize attracting pollinators before they die at the end of the season.

To create a visually stunning effect, plant annuals in rows or in geometric patterns. Some popular designs are planting alternating beds in an oval, rectangular, or circular manner. The blooms tend to appear all at the same time. Planting them in this manner creates an arresting sight of alternating contrasting hues or the same colour but in different gradients. 

• Perennial Flower Garden

This garden design showcases plants that thrive for years. Perennials are plants that do not grow in one season and die the next. Just plant them once, trim and fertilize them every now and then, and watch them grow and bloom.

Perennial gardens require only the most basic care. This includes pruning back a few growths to keep the design, removing dead branches and withered leaves, mulching, and other similar maintenance steps.  

Most gardeners prefer to plant drought-resistant perennials as these can withstand the heat of the summer season. Some examples are Russian sage, yarrow, lavender, catmint, and santolina.

To tie together the flowering plants, add some silvery grey foliage. These will complement the colours and add a break in the visual impact of the flowers’ hues.

Since most perennials bloom around the same time, plant them in clusters or masses. For example, plant a large bed of pure salvia and then plant a full bed of coneflowers next to it. They will look more stunning this way.

Full beds are recommended for perennial flower gardens. Plant enough to create a full bed but take care that the beds do not become crowded.

Flower Beds

Flower beds are simply designated areas in the garden where flowering plants are cultivated. There are many flower beds designs to choose from, depending on the impact it is meant to give.

• Tree base flower beds

In this design, flowers are planted around the base of a tree. To highlight this flower bed, place cobblestones or rocks around the perimeter of the flowers.

For this design, brightly coloured flowers with a few non-flowering foliages in between creating harmony.

• Side yard flower bed

This type is used when planting blooms around the house. A raised flower box might be good. An alternative is to plant blooms and then border them with some bricks or stones.

• Raised block flower bed

For this type, an island is formed and flowers are planted in the middle of it. Stones, bricks, or logs create the border of the island. The inside is then filled with soil to elevate the plants and make the flowers look more prominent in the garden.

Well-planned flower garden designs and flower beds ideas separate a beautiful, healthy, thriving garden from an overgrown yard. The placement of the plants should form a harmonious visual effect to make your garden look stunning. Take these design ideas for your garden to turn it into a beautiful landscape.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/ideas-for-flower-garden-designs-and-flower-beds/

How to design your dream garden

Garden design doesn’t have to be a complicated task for anyone. It’s not very difficult to come up with a garden layout that will make people comfortable and happy. Make it feel and look good and you’ll be halfway to the point of designing your perfect garden.

Basically, you can begin by going out into the yard area and simply sketch out the available area for planting your garden. After sketching the layout, you can include planters, flower beds, raised beds plus everything else you’d like to include in your garden. When it comes to the time you want to add plants, furniture etc in your garden, be sure to refer to your garden sketch.   

Alternatively, you can use a garden design software to come up with the layout of your garden. Examples of this software include Garden Planter 3 and Garden Puzzle. With the latter, you’ll be able to visualize your intended plants and the spacing.

After coming up with a rough sketch of the garden you need, you can design other features using the following tips: 

 

1.  Use the right Width of the Pathways 

For the pathways to offer comfortable passages, they need to be wide enough. The main thoroughfares should allow for the passage of not less than two people. This means that the width of such must be 5 feet or more. For the paths that are considered secondary, you should ensure that they are at least 3 feet wide.  

2.  Take the Steps into Account  

To avoid making the stairways and steps appear daunting, ensure that they are gently ascending. For optimum comfortability make your steps not to be more than 6 inches.  

3.  Allow for enough outdoor Room  

There are no better outdoor entertainment areas like patios and decks. In your garden design, take mingling and dining into account. To do this, you must take a rough guess at the number of guests you’re likely to have on a regular basis. After that, leave a four-square-foot for each person.   

4.  Avoid Loosely set pavers and slick surfaces 

The paving in your garden must be able to provide a footing that’s secure. Loosely set pavers or slick surfaces that wobble are likely to cause accidents. Therefore, avoid materials that are not able to offer enough traction during winter and rainy seasons.  

5.  Leave enough space above the head 

Under the pergolas, archways and arbours, there should be enough room for the head. Ideally, there should be a minimum of 7 feet. This ensures that no head accidents occur as a result of butting of heads.  

6.  Leave room for the growth of plants 

You should ensure that there’s enough room for your plants to grow. You can plant some plants that can be replaced after maturing or those that are quick-growing and therefore can be removed once they mature up.  

7.  Make use of Turf 

Though a lawn can be very costly and quite intensive in terms of labour, no other surface has the same it offers. It’s good for playing, comfortable and very yielding. So make use of it wisely in your garden.   

With this information and these tips, you should be able to come up with a great garden design for your home. Add a personal touch to whatever you bring as a feature in your newly designed garden and use it to reflect your personality soar the image of your home. For more garden designing advice and to get more complex garden designs installed, talk to the specialists here at Kite Landscapes on 01344 886 331.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/how-to-design-your-dream-garden/

Vegetable garden tips

Do you believe that even in just a small piece of space you can harvest enough tomatoes for your family and still have some surplus? Well, if you didn’t, you need to be aware that with the best kind of farming practices, this is more than possible. You may be asking yourself how this is possible and this can only be done by magical methods!

The good news is that there’s totally no magic needed. You just need to do the right things in the right way and you’re good to go. Here, we want to give you some of the top vegetable gardening tips you can practice to get higher yields, and is apart of garden maintenance to make sure that you will have the perfect backyard that you’ve always wanted. They are as follows:

1. Use Rich Soil and Plant on Raised Beds

According to experts, the one most important factor in getting higher yields is by using rich and quality soil. Soils that are deep and rich in organic matter make roots to grow healthy and extensive enough to reach more water and nutrients. The quickest way to obtain a deep soil layer is by making raised beds.

It’s been found out that the beds have the ability to produce four times higher than rows for the same amount of space. It makes spacing more efficient and this allows for more vegetables. Raised beds also save you a lot of time as plants grow close enough together making it difficult for weeds to survive. This means that you won’t need to make time for weeding.

2. Ensure that you round out the soil in the beds

Making the soil on the beds to take around shapes is another top tip to increase yields in your vegetable garden. When the soil on the beds is rounded gently to form an arc, this helps you use the space efficiently too. By doing this, you can gain up to 20% of the space that you use for planting. On these rounded beds, crops such as spinach, lettuce, and other greens can be planted perfectly. 

3. Plant in triangles instead of rows

Paying attention to how you arrange the crops on each bed also helps in getting maximum yield. Planting in rows and square patterns isn’t the best method for proper utilization of space. The better way of planting is in triangular patterns as it allows you to plant 10-14 more vegetables in a single bed.

4. Interplant crops that are compatible

Compatible crops planted on the same vegetable garden are also helpful for saving space. 

5. Cover the beds to stretch the season

At the end of every season, you can add a few weeks so that you get to plant another succession crop. To do this, you need to ensure that you keep the air around the crops warm by using cloches, mulches, cold frames, and row covers. 

6. Grow Climbers for proper space utilization

Going vertical is a great way to grow more crops irrespective of the how small your garden is. These climbers include tomatoes, squash, pole beans, melons, tomatoes and cukes. The crops should then be supported by stakes, cages, fences and trellises. The climbers also help to save time because when harvesting and carrying out maintenance, you can go faster as you are able to see the location of the fruits and vegetables. Climbers also are less likely to be affected by the fungus as air circulation is improved around the leaves. 

7. Carry out timely planting

By successively planting crops, you can grow more crops than one in a space during the season of growth. In this way, you can harvest 3 or 4 crops in one area. 

These are the top 7 tips for more efficient growing crops in your vegetable garden and be able to the methods of planting. 

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/vegetable-garden-tips/

The Most Beautiful Flowers to Plant in Your Garden

Flowers have always had an irreplaceable part in people’s lives when it comes to garden maintenance. They exist to beautify the natural world, symbolize values and traits, and take part in the cycle of life itself. People, for the most part, value flowers because of their unique blooms and their ability to give colour and vibrancy to places of interest like gardens.

While there are many garden flowers that can take root in the comfort of one’s home, there are also a noted few that upon reaching full maturity are simply breathtaking and entrancing to look at. These are the most beautiful flowers for your garden and planting them will be a cinch once you understand the ways of tending to them.

Blanket Flower

One is the Blanket Flower. From the family of sunflowers, this wildflower is a perennial. They are also drought-resistant and heat-tolerant, which makes them ideal to be planted during summer. The flower comes in gold, brown, and red, and the 3-inch petals have a lot in common with daisies. They are quite short-lived, but they are said to bloom too much and are easy to grow again as long as pollinators are encouraged, and old blooms remain.

Veronica

Next is the Veronica. The flowers are distinguishable by the spiked cluster of blue, white, or red blooms that change from early summer and into the fall. Depending on where they are planted, they may either favour heat or thrive better under shade. Varieties of this flower are well-received and favoured by beginner and expert gardeners alike.

Phlox

Third is the Phlox. Growing 3-4 feet tall, they bear lightly fragrant flowers of assorted colours ranging from purple, white, and pink to red. They can be potted and are extremely low-maintenance.

Peonies

Peonies are also a viable choice. They are long-lived perennial flowers. They form 2-4 feet clumps of shrub-like branches that bear a rich tapestry of coloured blooms. They are tough, which means they are able to come back into their full colour every year. Peonies come in two types: the commonly-grown herbaceous or garden peony, and the tree peony that grows slowly but has a wooden-based trunk and is, therefore, tougher than the other.

Daffodil

One other recommendation is the Daffodil. Dependable and perennial, their bulbs bloom in spring. Their flowers have the appearance of a trumpet surrounded by a perianth, or a collar of petals. The perianth’s colours vary; it can be yellow, red, orange, peach, or plain white. There are many types and varieties of the flower, and all of these are appreciated and planted in special areas to provide a feeling of solace just by looking at them.

Of course, there are a lot more garden flowers to choose from. Some are simple and easy to care for; others are a bit more challenging. Like any other blooms, though, what requires for them to grow is attention and time from the person who planted them. Just exert a little bit of hard work and dedication, and in no time, these flowers will be the crowning glory of your very own patch of beauty.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/the-most-beautiful-flowers/

Why consider a summer garden party for your visitors.

Are you wondering what you should treat your guest to this summer? Do you have a garden at your home? Then you should know the garden can be very important during these hot summers and this is the place that you should consider for your summer garden party. Give your guests the surprise of the year by throwing an amazing summer garden party. Whether the event is planned to take place during the day or in the evening, you can always create the perfect venue in your garden.

Summer is known for its hot weather, this makes it the best time for a garden party. With garden design and a perfect preparation, your summer garden party can be very relaxing and the best place to have an outdoor event. During this time, you should set up an outside venue just to ensure each moment is controlled and the best is achieved. The venue for a summer garden party just as the name suggests, you can have it in your garden or at the nearest facility where you can get one for the event. Parks have, in most cases also proved to be best sites since you can easily fit more activities in with the extra space. 

When you are planning to host a garden party during the summers for your guests, surprises are in orders and keeping the venue secrete adds even more fun to the whole idea. You should consider the natural shades created by the trees and the free flow of air, with this shade and cool air every bit of the party will be made more interesting. 

The factors you should consider when having a garden designed:

When the event is planned, and the colour scheme is settled to control the day, early arrangements and setting up decorations in place is very important. You should check to see if the natural flowers in your garden match the theme of the day. Should you get few colourful flowers, with additional artificial flowers on the lower branches of the trees easily completes the theme in a perfect way. 

If the summer garden party extends late into the evening or in the night, the design can be perfected by adding lights and testing them out. This can set a theme that will accommodate all times and will surprise your guests with a beautiful outdoor scene.

 
Such preparations will make all the moments during the party interesting and fulfilling. When the garden has a shortage of trees you can always consider creating natural tents using light sheets and with very natural supporting pillars. Position all the cameras in different strategic positions to ensure all the moments are captured as the party is on.

We hope this article gave you some great ideas for planning a summer garden party. Here at Kite Landscapes, we can help you design your garden to your exact vision. If you have any more questions you can find out contact information here.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/why-consider-a-summer-garden-party-for-your-visitors/

10 Funky Garden Accessories You Should Have

When you think of an attractive garden there are certain things you associate with most gardens. Most people go for the normal garden accessories, but you don’t want your garden fitting in do you? No, you want to stand out, it’s okay to be quirky. When it comes to garden designing, all these garden accessories will grab your guest’s attention.

A metal ostrich planter

Now you may be thinking to yourself, “why would I ever need a metal ostrich planter?” But the question you should be asking is, “why don’t I have one?” it’s so ridiculous that it’s a necessity to any garden. Make sure your plants have a great home… a home in the back of a metal ostrich.

Glass jellyfish chimes

Come on hands up who likes jellyfish, see we all love jellyfish here. They’re such elegant creatures just floating endlessly throughout the ocean, they’re so peaceful. So why not enrich your garden with these majestic creatures.

Multi-coloured mushrooms

Okay yes mushrooms are a fungus and you actively try to keep them out of your garden, but these little guys are adorable and add some colour to your garden. These fairy-tale themed garden ornaments look amazing in any garden. 

Pink flamingos

Yes, we know these are a stereotype, but don’t lie to me and say you haven’t been wanting one of these for the longest time. There’s a reason why they’re such a stereotype, it’s because they’re amazing! Place them near a pond and add some extra colour to your garden with these beautiful creatures.

Copper tree fountain

“A copper tree fountain?” You might ask. Yes, you heard me right, this piece of art will turn any garden into a work of art. Water fountains already look very beautiful, but this knocks it out of the park.

Golf ball terrarium

This is for all you golf lovers, it’s golf theme Terrarium which you can construct yourself. It’s very elegant. You can customize it any way you want making this a great idea for a unique garden ornament.

Vortex water fountain

You may have seen these before, if not you’re missing out. These water fountains look amazing and are so unusual. Having a vortex as a water feature is something every garden needs. This water feature will draw anyone’s attention no questions asked, where else have you seen something like this?

Octopus garden sculpture

This is unusual I know but why wouldn’t you want it to look like an octopus is bursting out of your garden, this is sure to attract attention. I know I’d love to have an octopus bursting out of my garden. If you have guests over, they’ll instantly be looking and you can easily strike up a conversation about it.

Fishing bear sculpture

This bear sculpture is a great addition to any garden, if you have a pond then you need this hungry bear at its side. This hand-cast bear is made from real crushed stone and hand painted so they’re hard to come across, but if you can get one you should, otherwise I might beat you to it.

Digging dog ornament

This might seem a little weird, but it’ll make your garden unique. Will your neighbours have this? No of course not.  He’s a great addition to any garden, no questions asked. It’s a very cute addition to any garden. Is he hiding a bone? Is he just making a mess? We’ll never know but he’s clearly enjoying himself.

 

I hope you found this guide helpful in finding some new garden ornaments which are unique, to say the least. We have other blogs on our site which you can find here: http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/landscaping-news/. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions and contact us today.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/10-funky-garden-accessories-you-should-have/