Decking Trends for the New Year

Are you thinking of giving your garden a little bit of a makeover in 2021? Once the winter’s been and gone, we could hardly blame you if you wanted to do a bit of a spring clean. But it might be an even better idea to simply upgrade your outdoor space altogether!

Therefore, now might be a great time to start looking at the decking trends likely to start becoming popular as 2021 pulls into view.

What might decking have in store for us over the next 12 months? Is styled decking going to take on a whole new form? What about decking lighting? Let’s explore a quick round-up of looks and styles that are going to be massive trends heading into the New Year.

Deck Lighting is a Must

Ok – so, let’s start with deck lighting. Installing spotlights in your decking is nothing new, but it’s likely to be even more popular in 2021, as more and more people start thinking about hosting garden parties and barbecues again.

2020 has been a strange year for us all, meaning that a lot of us are looking forward to welcoming friends and family back over to our gardens again. Spotlights in your decking will illuminate your outdoor social areas in dark and low light conditions, meaning that if you do want to host people into the wee hours of the morning, you will have more than enough visibility to do so.

Is Coloured Decking ‘Out’?

While grey decking has come into its own in the past few years, there is still going to be plenty of room for creative deck installations and designs for the year ahead. For some people, this might mean vivid colours and unique shapes, and for others, it might simply mean setting up something bespoke.

The fact is, 2021 is shaping up to be the year that we all do decking ‘our way’. After the year we’ve all had during 2020, it makes sense that the best trends you can follow for 2021 should be your own! Don’t always be so ready to follow the pack when it comes to garden design!

Covered Decking

However, one final styled decking trend we think will become even more popular in the long run will be covered decking. This is where you blend a decking style with an artificial lawn! We think that artificial grass has come a long way since the early days of AstroTurf, meaning that it’s now perfectly possible to set up a great-looking, low-maintenance covered deck without having to worry about the aesthetic or the price.

These are some of the garden decking trends we think you’ll see in 2021. If you want to transform the outdoor space around your home, give your garden the makeover and TLC it deserves with new decking.

Contact us 

If you would like to find out about the garden decking we offer, get in touch today on 01344 886 331 or head over to our contact page for more details.

The post Decking Trends for the New Year first appeared on Kite Landscapes.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/decking-trends-for-the-new-year/

Tips for winter-proofing your garden.

It’s safe to say that once the cold weather starts rolling in, we are going to be spending less and less time in the garden. However, that doesn’t mean you have let things go to seed across the winter months! There are plenty of ways for you to care for your garden so that it looks its best heading into the spring, and so that your plants, grass, and flowers are fully protected in the months to come. After all, frost and snow can seriously damage your greenery!

Here are some great tips for garden care in winter which are well worth remembering in the months to come. Don’t let your garden down – even if the warm months are sadly far behind us now!

Consider Bringing Sensitive Plants In

It’s well worth looking into which plants and growths are likely to need the most help across the winter months. If you have space inside your home, it is well worth potting or planting some of the more fragile plants in the warm until the weather gets better. Otherwise, you run the risk of your greenery taking a real hit in the months to come.

Prepare for Spring

One of the best winter garden care tips we share with you is that you should generally be thinking about preparing and preserving for spring. There’s not that much you will be able to do in terms of growing and planting in winter, so take this time to make sure that your planters, fencing and even your garden tools are ready to go for March.

Snow Isn’t a Problem – Normally

Those gardeners who spend too much time getting snow off just about everything might actually be wasting their time. While Britain might not normally see too much snow over the winter months, it’s good to know what to do should your garden get covered in the white stuff! Snow is actually a great protector for your soil, though if you do see it start to clump up on tree branches, you’re going to want to relieve them by knocking it off.

Keep Vigilant

As mentioned, the gardening season is pretty much over and done with by the time the cold weather starts drifting in, but on the whole, you should be keeping the new year in mind. Otherwise, when it comes to March, you might just have a mess of dead plants and greenery which could have been better protected.

Make sure to research the plants and flowers you have in your garden and set time aside to care for them. Ultimately, you’re going to need to keep your eyes peeled for any greens which are going to need a bit of extra help surviving the cold snap.

Don’t be afraid to strap those wellies on and to dig out the odd fork and spade! There’s still plenty you can be doing as the cold months roll on. As a responsible gardener, it makes sense to keep on top of your game. 

Get in touch today 

If you have any questions or would like our professional advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 01344 886 331 or head over to our contact page to fill in our online enquiry form. 

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/tips-for-winter-proofing-your-garden/

Reasons To Purchase Decking In Your Garden This Summer!

We’ve probably never spent as much time in our homes and gardens as we did in 2020. With a global pandemic leading to a lockdown for almost all of us, our homes became our castle, our safe place and our prison (although the food was probably better).

Spending so long looking at the same four walls was only helped by being able to go out into the garden for some respite and fresh air, but I bet it was missing something. The number of people decorating rooms will have gone through the roof, and probably through some walls as well, but the garden is one area where you can really go to town, even when you’re locked in. 

If you’ve been looking at your lawn and dreaming of more, staring at that drab patio and imagining something better, then garden decking is going to be a perfect addition to any garden.

The Benefits of Garden Decking

Garden decking, in case you don’t know, is an outdoor, wooden flat surface elevated from the ground, usually (but not always) connected to your home. From a solid base of load-bearing timbers, decking boards are placed across them to create a deck on which you can safely add garden furniture, BBQs and dining tables. Decking gives you an incredibly versatile space that you can colour, stain or paint any colour you want and gives your garden a real focal point on which to expand upon. With the right decking design plan, you can transform your garden.

Having a deck, regardless of size, increases the available living space of your home. If you have a patio or folding doors, then decking helps to bring the inside out. Fling open your doors and feel the benefit of expanding the space you and your family can enjoy. Once you get to invite extended family and friends over, then you’ll all feel the benefit and can relax in comfort.

Another reason why you should invest in decking is simply because of the natural aesthetic appeal it offers. Wooden decking boards, whether coloured or not, look so much better than slabs of patio flagstones. It will blend much more with the rest of your garden. Because of the versatility of wood, you can stain it to match your window shutters (if you have them), the colours of your doors or the bricks in your home or the grass in the lawn. The possibilities are endless and they’ll all look amazing.

For what decking offers, it’s one of the most cost-effective improvements you can make to your home. It’s relatively inexpensive to build, increases the value of your home and is one of the most sought-after features that people look for when buying a home. The added space a deck gives you will pay for itself when it comes to selling your home if you ever do. If not, you get to enjoy it for even longer.

Decking is (or should be) made of hardwood, whether it’s cypress, redwood or cedar. These types of wood are used because of their resistance to mould, extreme weathers and insects. It’s the reason a well-made deck will last for so long. Of course, it’s made of natural materials, so it won’t be 100% maintenance-free, but if you give it a little time once or twice a year to refresh the protective cover of paint, varnish or stain, you’ll feel the benefit of it for a very long time.

To find your perfect garden decking, get in touch with Kite Landscapes today. Give us a call on 01344 886 331 or 07860 231 389 or please feel free to fill in the enquiry form on our contact page today.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/reasons-to-purchase-decking-in-your-garden-this-summer/

Garden Features Are The New Trend This Summer

Summer is well underway, which means that more and more of us are spending time in our gardens. And why not? A garden can be a truly beautiful thing if you put in plenty of time and effort to look after it. However, you might also want to consider ways in which you can set up a great looking garden using some incredible garden features. As all good gardeners know, plenty of colourful flowers and plants will often be enough. But have you ever thought about setting up your own water feature?

A garden water feature is likely to be a popular choice with many landscape gardeners for plenty of different reasons. We don’t just mean traditional ponds or pools of water, or even traditional birdbaths! You could set up stunning fountains and sprinkler systems built into topiary, amazing statues or set pieces which spout and recycle water again and again.

Here are a few reasons why you might wish to think about setting up your own garden water feature:

It’ll Tie Your Garden Together

Many people employ gardeners and landscape gardeners to try and make a sense of tying a lawn or flowering space together. One of the best ways you can do this is to set up a brilliant water feature as a central focal point. This means that the focus of your garden could be a wonderful, natural water spout, delicately shooting into the air and recycling again.

The fact is, there are many different types and forms of water features out there, which means it’s a great way to get really creative. Why not set up a water feature that works together with the natural greenery in your garden?

It’s Refreshing on Summer Days

We probably wouldn’t recommend you ever drink out of a water feature directly – if at all – but on warm, sunny days, it’s always nice to sit out and watch water delicately splash around. A fantastic water feature could be just what you need to cool down.

Think about how relaxing it could be to sit out in the shade, in the summer sunshine, watching a water feature or two in action.

Theme Your Garden

A great reason for setting up a water feature or two is for the fact that you can tie it in with a theme or two. As mentioned, there are some seriously creative water feature designs out there, which means that there should be near endless opportunities for you to create a stunning look and theme for your garden.

The only limit is your imagination – and themed gardens really do look appealing. Not only will they astound your guests, they will potentially add a bit of value to your property, too.

Thinking of setting up a water feature in your garden? Why not get in touch with landscape gardeners to set up a plan of action unique to your wants and needs?

Contact Us Today

Give us a call on 07860 231 389 or please feel free to fill in the enquiry form on our contact page today.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/garden-features-are-the-new-trend-this-summer/

Decking Design Ideas For Socialising in The Garden

Per government guidelines, we’re allowed to meet friends and family in a garden other than our own! Although we still have to socially distance at least it allows us to visit other friends and family and enjoy some quality time with them in the garden. This may mean that you have people on their way to your garden, and if that’s the case you will likely want to have your garden in tip-top condition. Decking looks great and offers some very nice social benefits which include:

• Creating a great surface for your guests to walk on, and if you have a particularly comfortable decking design, a nice surface for your guests to sit or lay on!
• Decking can help create an incredible ambience perfect for these warm and bright summer evenings.
• Decking can help hide areas you may prefer your guests to not see such as drains and inspection covers.

You might not have thought of how decking adds to garden design. It can make such a difference to the overall look of a home and its garden. But one decking design is not the same as another, so you will need to find one that suits your garden.

So what types of decking do you have to choose from? Let’s explore some decking design ideas:

Cedar Decking

Cedar is a nice, durable wood which is resistant to rot and decay as well as insect attacks. Another benefit is that it resists moisture absorption. Cedar decking tends to be long-lasting and requires less maintenance than some of the other options.

Composite Decking

Perhaps one of the most attractive reasons for choosing this form of decking is that it’s environmentally friendly. Another good point about composite decking is its versatility. It has many different styles, meaning it can look great in more types of gardens. It’s also a very low maintenance form of decking.

Ipe

Here is your main reason for selecting Ipe as your decking choice: its durability (in fact people call it ‘ironwood’!) If you have a garden where you expect a lot of foot traffic to be going up and down your decking, Ipe could be your best bet. It has a nice premium look to it too.

Vinyl Decking

Some people may confuse composite with vinyl decking but there are differences. For example, vinyl decking has quite a different look and will provide a different style for your decking design. Whereas, while composite decking closely resembles wood, vinyl may look a little more ‘plastic’. You may think that it’s a type of decking that will not last as long as some of the other options but many manufacturers often guarantee it will last for 20 years.

Hopefully soon, you can enjoy your new fully decked out garden with friends and family in no time! To find out more unique decking design ideas, get in touch today:

Contact Us Today

Give us a call on 07860 231 389 or please feel free to fill in the enquiry form on our contact page today.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/decking-design-ideas-for-socialising-in-the-garden/

Tips and Tricks for Garden Maintenance

Good weather is rolling around again, and that means it’s time to start thinking about making the most of your garden. Your garden is going to be a fabulous space for entertaining and relaxing in! Why not consider taking on a few of the following tips the next time you head outside to get a bit green-fingered?

Alternatively, if you are looking for garden maintenance services, or a gardener maintenance specialist who can help to transform the way you look after and care for your garden space, we will only be too happy to help!

Water Your Plants at Least Twice a Week

During the warmer seasons, it’s always a good idea to set up a watering schedule. In the warmer weather, it’s unlikely that you are going to get as much rainfall. Therefore, do always be ready to give your flowers and plants a good sprinkle whenever you can.

However, Don’t Water Everything

One top tip all good garden maintenance services will tell you is to avoid watering leaves and flowers directly. This might actually cause more harm than good. Therefore, try and water the soil, making sure that the roots of the plants you care for getting access to water directly and can take on a nice, long drink or two.

Get to the Root of Garden Problems

Sticking with roots, one of the best garden maintenance tips we can offer is that you make sure to uproot weeds as deeply as you can. Unfortunately, pesky weeds and perennials are only going to keep coming back if you give them an inch or two!

Therefore, the best thing you can possibly do is to dig down deep and get those roots pulling up. Otherwise, you’re going to be welcoming those choking, ugly pests time and time again. Grab that trowel and get twisting.

Get Composting

One of the most responsible, sustainable things you can do is make sure that you are disposing of garden and household waste responsibly. Instead of sending everything to landfill, you should make sure to start composting natural waste. This not only helps with garden maintenance in the sense that it carefully and quickly gets rid of any build-up, but it also makes sure you have a great stock of fertiliser useful from season to season. 

Get Rid of Unfun Fungi

Fungi and mushrooms are some of the biggest nuisances gardens are likely to face. Therefore, instead of leaving them to fester, you should be ready to get them up and moving as soon as you spot them.

This means setting up a gentle pesticide or spray which will protect your existing plants while killing off anything likely to poison your greenery.

If you need help from garden maintenance services, it’s time to get in touch with experts. However, make a great start on your garden with the above tips, and you’ll be halfway to cutting through the undergrowth! Gardens take a lot of care and attention – but ultimately, they are always worth it!

Contact Us Today

Give us a call on 01344 886 331 or 07860 231 389 or please feel free to fill in the enquiry form on our contact page today.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/tips-and-tricks-for-garden-maintenance/

Garden Designer – Ready…Steady…Garden!

Most people wouldn’t think twice about employing a builder or an architect if you were looking to extend or refurbish your home. We wouldn’t give a second thought to someone to help plan other important parts of our lives. So why do gardens get neglected? Here is why you should consider hiring a garden planner:

Garden Design

While we spend lots of time and money on making the inside of our homes look their best, our gardens deserve the same. Creating our oasis of tranquillity in our outdoor spaces is vital, especially with all the stresses of modern life. If you’re not the most green-fingered person, don’t give up hope. Hiring a garden designer might be the thing you’ve always needed, without even knowing it.

It’s important to stress right away that when we talk about a garden designer, we’re not talking about a builder, nor do we mean a gardener. Whilst these two will have the skills that a garden needs, neither will be able to professionally design a garden.

Garden Designer

Garden designers, like designers in any sector, will have qualifications that are based on key design elements that come together to bring an idea to life. These can include spatial understanding as well as computer-aided design. When it comes to your home’s garden, they’ll also know plants and aggregates.

If you’re looking out at your garden and feel a sense of sadness, then it might be time to get yourself some design help, but what do they do and what can you expect from them?

Most garden designers tend to work on a design-only basis. In other words, they will take responsibility for the layout, the specifications of materials and sometimes work with you to find the appropriate contractors to carry out the work. They will also act on your behalf when it comes to technicalities of the design, but they won’t be ones doing the work.

Landscape Gardeners

The first meeting will be to help the designer understand your ideas and any concepts you might have. They will need to see the garden in its current state, your budget, and understand any limitations you might not realise are there, i.e. pipes. The initial consultation will look at many factors, some of which you may not be aware of. For example, the direction of the sun will play a part if you’re wanting an area for some sun-worship or where the drains are located.

This site survey will see the transformation from the initial simple sketches to a detailed plan for scale. As the customer, you will be asked to comment, and it will start to bring your ideas to life before a master plan is produced. Once approved, the ball can start to roll on creating the garden of your dreams.

Back Garden Design

Depending on how complex your design is, there may be some work needed on creating any tender documents if you’re working on larger projects that require multiple contractors. 

A good garden designer will do so much more than just design your garden on a piece of paper. They will interpret your ideas, however vague, into a tangible space you’ll be proud to own. They offer fresh ideas, specialist knowledge, and experience in a whole manner of garden-related factors. With the weather warming up, there’s never been a better time to create a garden that will inspire you, and a garden designer is just a phone call away.

 

To find out more about any of our products or services, get in touch today on 01344 886 331 or please feel free to fill in the enquiry form on our contact page for more information.

 

 

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/garden-designer-readysteadygarden/

Top 11 Tips for Gardening in the Spring

The cold weather slowly begins to warm up, thoughts turn to sunshine and lazy days in the garden. Spring is on its way, so it’s time to get in the garden and vanquish the winter and get it ready for the year ahead. If you’re chomping at the bit to get outside, we’ve got 11 top tips for getting your outdoor spaces ready for spring. A garden designer would be a great place to start to get your garden in tip-top condition again. 

Tips for gardening in spring

Repaint

The winter weather can be harsh on the garden. Being outside in all weather is going to impact on painted surfaces. The shed, the fences, external doors and brickwork will undoubtedly show the realities of the winter weather. To bring them back to their best, sand them down or grab a steel-wool brush and prepare them for a makeover. Repainting is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to rejuvenate your garden, especially if you add a splash of vibrant colour.

Borderline Beauty

You’ll probably find the borders of your garden and paving won’t look as tidy as they did the last time you enjoyed the garden. Weeds and other vegetation will have grown over the winter months making your borders look very untidy. Grab your hoe and blitz your edgings to remove weeds and they’ll be back to their best in no time.

Back To Bed

One of the easiest ways to make your garden look great again is to tidy up the flowerbeds that you already have. Getting rid of weeds, debris, litter and fallen leaves are quick and simple to do but creates a fantastic impression without adding anything extra.

Greenhouse Glasses

If you’ve got a greenhouse, then chances are it is going to need a little love too. The harsh winter weather will have taken its toll on the glass, so washing the outside with disinfectant or detergent will remove any algae, grime and moss that has accumulated. Inside, it will probably need a little love to remove weeds that have overgrown and to get it ready for your new seedlings.

Pest-A-Side

Even if you haven’t been enjoying your garden over the winter, there will be bugs, insects and pests that have been. Getting rid of them early will mean a lot less work for you in the summer. Check for slugs, snails and aphids that have set up home and use the necessary chemicals to remove them. Look for larvae in and around any compost pots you have as they feed on plant roots.

Compost Yourself

If you don’t have a compost area in your garden, and the last section inspired you to start one, then it’s a great way to recycle your organic waste. Once it’s broken down, you’ll have a supply of high-quality compost soil to use as you plant new flowers, shrubs and trees to brighten your garden.

Take A Fence (or wall)

Another victim of the colder temperatures will be the garden fence (or wall). Check if any of the panels need replacing or refitting, or if it’s a wall, check for loose coping stones or brickwork. It’s also a great idea to give your fence or wall a lick of paint (or stain) to preserve it for the year.

 I Like Big (water) Butts

In the UK, we have more than our fair share of rainfall. Rather than simply flooding your garden, installing a water-butt allows you to have a steady supply of free water. Rather than connecting a hose to your mains water supply, harvesting in a specific container is not only environmentally friendly but gives you a supply in the summer when (hopefully) water is at a premium.

Lawn and Order

If you have a lawn, either in the front or back garden, then the spring is a crucial time for some groundwork. The work you do now will pay dividends later when it comes to the lawn. Once the grass is dry and thawed, rake it to remove thatch and dead blades of grass. Once done, any new seeds or fertiliser can penetrate the surface properly. Bear in mind, the type of grass seed you use can depend on how you use your lawn, so think about that when buying them.

Sowing the Seeds

Wouldn’t it be great if you could just have a wonderfully colourful garden instantly? Sadly, it’s not that easy. Plants need time to grow, but some flowers like geraniums and begonias need a longer germination period than others. If they are your flower of choice, it’s time to start potting those seeds now so you can enjoy them when the spring and summer come around.

The Sharpest Tool in the Shed

One aspect of your garden that is easy to overlook is probably locked away in your shed or garage (which is why it gets overlooked I guess). The tools you need to help you bring your garden back to life will need some TLC. If you don’t bother cleaning them after use, then it’s time to use some strong detergent, hot water, elbow grease and a scourer to bring them back to their best. For those that might need sharpening, applying some oil or WD40 afterwards will keep them in tiptop condition.

We hope that our blog has been informative and helpful if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01344 886 331 or alternatively drop us an email and one of our friendly members of staff will get back to you as soon as possible. 

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/top-11-tips-for-gardening-in-the-spring/

Can You Hoover Artificial Grass?

More and more people are having artificial grass laid in their gardens. There are plenty of great reasons for this! One reason is an artificial garden won’t need nearly as much looking after as a full grass lawn. There’s no need for you to cut or trim an artificial lawn. This means that the grass fibres you install will last years and years without you ever having to bring out a mower or a pair of clippers.

 

A roll of grass is not only easy to set up – it’s very easy to maintain!

 

That being said, there are also plenty of questions people ask when it comes to artificial grass.  For example, how do you actually look after a faux lawn? Do you need to keep it clean and tidy? Do you need to give it a wipe down?  Above all – and this might sound a bit strange – can you hoover artificial grass, or vacuum it regularly?

Artificial Grass Maintenance

Yes – as you can imagine, artificial grass can build up a lot of dirt and debris. Just the same as any natural lawn might, in fact! Therefore, it’s probably really tempting to take your household hoover to it to keep it looking great. However, you should never take a hoover to your artificial grass or grass fibres. 

 

Vacuums that you can use inside the home are often very intense in terms of suction. They are probably more powerful than you give them credit for! Imagine what could happen to your lawn if you take a hoover to it. You could start sucking grass fibres out of the ground or potentially ruin the strands of grass. To avoid damaging your artificial grass, you should always make sure to take an alternative approach to keeping your artificial grass clean:

Brush Instead

If you want to keep your artificial grass looking spectacular, you’re going to need to start cleaning it up by hand. This means investing in a tough brush, for example. You can easily brush dirt, debris, and leaves clean and clear of your lawn without it causing any damage. This is great news for anyone who might otherwise struggle to keep their grass looking clean.

 

What you can also use, of course, is a leaf blower. Leaf blowers and garden vacuums are built for this purpose. That means you can use them to clear away leaves and dirt as you wish, without fear of anything getting damaged along the way. It might be well worth the investment!

artificial rolled green grass; closeup

Get specialist equipment

So – can you hoover artificial grass? Only with a specialist vacuum! If you use a household vacuum cleaner, you are going to risk doing some serious damage to the artificial grass.  Instead, get some garden kit in the form of a leaf blower or garden vacuum. 

 

We hope that our blog has helped you to keep your artificial grass clean and looking brand new. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call us on 01344 886 331 or alternatively head over to our contact page to fill in the online enquiry form and one of our friendly team will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/can-you-hoover-artificial-grass/