4 Garden Design Ideas Your Bound to Love

Finding a garden design that is unique and will suit the shape of your garden is not a simple task to get right. Proper planning can really make you create a paradise and with summer approaching you will be able to be out there all summer long. An awkward shaped or small garden can be changed into a really beautiful garden. Covering the garden with originality can really help in hiding the weak points of it though some small amount of labour is required.

 

First, before designing a garden, you need to clarify the purpose of the garden if it is for decoration, functional or a mixture. Look at the size and area of the garden you want to design, who will be using the area most and understand the nature of the soil and the climate in your area. Landscaping should follow some rules that are, the layout should include sitting areas, paths, play area if you have children and plants themselves. With children and a small garden, it can be a challenge in itself knowing where to start hanging flower baskets are a really great solution, they spruce up the garden whilst not getting trampled all over. A really fun idea is creating a fairy garden, get a small flower pot to add some flowers a small birdhouse and some rustic stones this could be really fun to make with children and give a magical feel to your garden.

 

Awkwardly shaped garden? Here are some design tips for you.

 

Sloping garden

A sloped garden can be made really pretty by putting on some stones steps that are curved all the way down to a small play area for the kids or a little shed used as a garden room. The lawn does not need much maintenance all you have to do is water it frequently. Flower plants can be planted on the steps like a boundary or if the maintenance of the flower becomes hard then green fern can be an alternative.

 

L-shaped garden

An L-shaped garden is another awkward garden. In this, you can make one side of the garden as a play for the kids or you can also make a greenhouse on the other side.

People who have small gardens can also create a garden of their dreams. Since space is a constraint you make it be curvy in order to make it look bigger. Instead of planting in the underground they can do in containers and that will allow much more space.  

 

Use leftover space effectively

There is a beauty in awkwardly shaped gardens, but you can be left with odd bits of empty space. You could maybe add a curing path so you can use all the space around the path and no awkward spaces should be empty. The path again will draw the eye to it so if any spaces are left they will go unnoticed.

 

Distract with height

Adding trees and archways with flowers can be a really great feature to an awkward shaped garden as it will draw the eye away from the small garden also this will make the garden seem a lot bigger due to the height of the garden. Having a strong focal point in the garden will draw the attention away from the awkward shaped or small garden.

 

We hope that this has helped you in designing your garden, or if you feel like you still need assistance don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01344 886 331 or head over to our website for more information to see how we could help you transform your garden.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/4-garden-design-ideas-your-bound-to-love/

Thinking Ahead | Get Your Garden Ready for Those Summer Parties

Summer’s fast approaching, and with bank holiday weekends, longer evenings, and (hopefully) better weather, it’s time to start thinking about BBQs and summer parties. Here are our tips for preparing your garden for summer.

Keep insects under control

Before the problem gets out of control, watch out for insects like aphids or whiteflies whose populations become more numerous as our plants grow larger and less air circulates between them.

Remember to spray both the upper and lower leaves of your plants with low impact products (or most likely you will only make the situation worse sooner or later by killing entire biospheres of useful organisms), or soft soap or pepper spray / chili repellent in cycles of 7-10 days, so as not to kill some useful insects – such as ladybugs – that help keep these insects across the landscape under control.

Prune responsibly, do not overdo it

Trim the roses to give them a new lease of life and continue to pinch all the perennials and annuals by removing the faded or dead leaves to keep them thick and healthy and allow them to flourish again, increasing their flowering time. Pay particular attention to flowers that reproduce as easily as weeds once they have faded so as to maintain control over where they spread in our landscape or garden. If you want to propagate some plants, remember instead to save some faded heads to collect the seeds later.

Water well

Don’t forget to keep up with the watering; if the earth does not receive enough water, the roots remain close to the surface, which makes them even more exposed to heat. Watering deep, to allow the roots to dig deep, is a golden rule, so don’t just spray.

Along with summer comes high humidity. The high humidity can cause a lot of fungal problems: don’t water in the evening! Try to make sure your plants and your lawn are dry for the night and you can reduce the chance of fungus.

Don’t water the lawn as much as you think

The lawn highlights what is around us, but the lawns may need an enormous amount of water, which can be extremely expensive (as well as anti-ecological). What can be done is reducing watering to a minimum, mow less often and with the highest blades during dry periods. The lawn may turn yellow, but it will come back in autumn.

Keep weeds under control

You probably don’t even want to think about extracting another weed, but remember this: a weed that is allowed to spread is much more annoying. Do your best to get rid of weeds before they scatter their seeds throughout your garden for next spring. Most weed seeds will be killed by a compost pile that is properly hot, but if you are not sure, discard them to avoid putting them back in the garden!

The best time to pull the weeds is immediately after rain when they can be easily extracted.

Weeding is particularly important for the vegetable garden as any weed will compete with crops for moisture and essential nutrients.

Fertilize

There is always the temptation to fertilize excessively, but this translates only into poor growth that is vulnerable to pests and diseases. So why waste money on useless fertilizers (except for obvious deficiencies that are a symptom of a mistake upstream). Instead, prepare the soil well before planting, most plants will not need any additional nutrition. Reduce or eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers; with compost, mulch and manure instead.

If you have any more questions about garden maintenance or upkeep, or would like to completely revamp your garden ready for summer, please feel free to get in touch via our contact page or call us on 01344 886 331.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/garden-ready-for-summer-parties/

Fabulous Ways to Decorate Your Garden with Rocks

Natural and rustic resources should be everybody’s initial choice when beautifying the outdoors, and after reading our blog having a rock garden will certainly be on your wishlist this summer for an enjoyable place to be while the sun is shining. Use rocks to transform a basic and dull back garden into a relaxing space. Why go for a rock garden? Rock gardens are incredibly low maintenance and are in season all year round. Rock gardens are actually gaining popularity as they can bring a modern stylish element to landscaping.

Landscaping with Rocks

Rocks are very decorative and popular with many people. Maybe you don’t want to create a definite rock garden but you like the sound of combining the stone with plants and other elements in your garden to border and structure space in a way that suits your styles. Pebbles are not only a great way to make garden paths but also prevent weeds, they also won’t restrict trees and bushes.

One of the most common natural resources that are used by so many is rock, there are so many different types of rock and even more different possibilities of using the rock. Here are some fabulous ways to incorporate rocks within your garden:

Large slabs

These can be made into steps to make a unique outdoor staircase, this is ideal if you have a sloping back garden. For a more natural rigid look vary the sizes of the rock and the shapes.

Use a combination

Swap between different colours and sizes of rocks on the same trail to make visual interest and landscaping depth.

Triple threat

Beautiful river rocks form a “three-layered threat” in the back garden, designing an intuitive walkway and contrasting nicely against the wood fence and grass.

Walkways

Rock pathways and patios are hard-wearing and easy to preserve, plus they add so much natural beauty to the back garden. The walkway could lead to a nice seated area for the summer.

Water features

Create a rock garden with or without a water feature, rock gardens are a beautiful way to transform that useless, troublesome back garden corner into a focal point.

Painted rock markers

Painting rocks to make these stone gardens markers a fun art project to do for children and they are also helpful. If you have a vegetable patch this could be extremely helpful as you could write what veg is located where on the rocks.

 

Garden pebbles have the advantage of being very versatile and can be used for decorative objects which can be used to improve the look of the ground, walls and even garden furniture. Instead of buying a modern garden table why not create one, for this you’ll only need a glass table top a good amount of pebbles and stones and some mesh for the base of the table.

 

We hope our blog has given you some ideas for your stone garden. If you’d like more garden design and landscaping advice or would like to find out how we can transform your garden, please feel free to get in touch.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/fabulous-ways-to-decorate-your-garden-with-rocks/

How To Increase The Value Of Your Home With Your Green Space

There are endless films that have referenced New York City’s Central Park, that utopia of green spaces, cultivated and aesthetically pleasing. But sometimes a walk to the park requires more energy than needed. The allure of a small homegrown hedge is enough to remove the stress of a bad day. You get home, reach for the glass of wine and have it on your patio which you have surrounded with your favourite flowers and grass. You take your shoes off and unwind, an ideal evening. For those lucky enough to have space, those not in small flats, it can be a point of pride to design your green space. In fact, a lovely garden or backyard can not only improve your daily life, but can increase the financial value of your home. According to the Independent, having a well looked after garden or balcony could increase the value of your property by up to twenty per cent. If you have been considering some home improvement tips, look no further and discover how to elevate your house, either for yourself or any potential buyers, simply by paying a little bit more attention to the nature in your home.

Don’t forget the Grass

An often overlooked responsibility, caring for grass is just as important as caring for the other kinds of plants in your green space. Don’t forget to trim and prune as needed, particularly when pesky weeds begin to spring up and attempt to ruin your batch of roses or peonies. And most importantly, add a sprinkler system so your lawn stays looking good.  

Pick the Right Flowers

Find yourself residing somewhere with a heat wave of negative degree temperatures, you might want to consider something more friendly to your climate. Picking the right flowers also make it easy for you to maintain. Adding flowers to your garden will add lots of colour, this will brighten up your garden and instantly improve the space.     

Don’t be Afraid of a Little Risk

While green spaces are technically created to showcase nature’s benefits, it doesn’t hurt to spruce up your space with a little architecture. Add some complimentary small furniture in your back garden, and watch it transform into the hottest spot in the area for post-dinner drinks and conversation. You could even add an undercover area so you could get the benefits of it all year round.

Treat your Soil Right, Foundations are Important

Nourishing the soil will lead to an excellent garden bloom. You can head to a supermarket to get some manure, make a compost pile from your old coffee grounds, filters and dryer lint and leftover food. 

And there we have it. If you’ve walked past that house with the enviable garden or visited your friend who has the most incredible back garden, now you know you can have the same. To find out how we can help transform your garden, feel free to get in touch.

 

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/how-to-increase-the-value-of-your-home-with-your-green-space/

Why you should have a water feature in your garden

There are various reasons why many people have water features in their garden, some to list are positive health benefits primarily dropping blood pressure and stress levels as well as improving physical and mental health. Today’s world is full of technology sometimes you may need to just escape that, and the soothing sound of a water feature might just do the trick.

Water features are easy to clean

Cleaning a water feature or fountain is very easy but they will need to be cleaned out regularly to reduce the risk of algae building up, it will also prevent any other blockages. If the pond has stones or gravel in these will also be taken out and cleaned. As this activity is so easy to do many do find it very satisfying and enjoyable also it comes with a very low cost.

You can match the feature with your garden style

There are so many different designs of water features that will compliment your garden, there are three styles that are more commonly known these are modern, classic and old English. Modern gardens that are a lot simpler look very nice with Asian inspired water features made from natural substances. For the old English look, a more antique water feature would be suitable. If you only have a patio or balcony but still want to make it decorative and aesthetically pleasing the classic look would be very ideal these are made up of concentric vases, which are very effective in a small space.

Make use of natural sunlight

The most beautiful thing about water features is when the sunlight is shining through the water streams. It gives the impression that you are boding with nature, birds and frogs are more likely to visit your garden. To encourage more wildlife of course you can’t just have a water feature but if you have trees and other plants in your garden this is sure to happen.

Cost-effective

The initial cost of filling up a pond can be costly but, after this, it does require minimal maintenance after this point. Purchasing a water feature is even cheaper as it only needs a little bit of water to keep going and in the winter months, they are very convenient as they can be emptied and stored safely during the colder times to ensure the water doesn’t freeze the pipework of the feature.

Water can cool the garden down

Imagine on a hot summer’s day, having the running water to cool the garden down and make it a pleasant place to enjoy with the family. It also enables you to have aquatic and semi-aquatic plants growing in the garden. But remember in order to have this cooling delightful effect, the water used in fountains and ponds needs to be crystal clear and fresh, so the maintenance process applies here also.

Water makes the garden look bigger

The reflective properties of water mean it can make some spaces look a lot bigger. For maximum reflection, you should use dark material or dark marble for the water feature. If you really want to make the most of your new feature you can add underwater lighting for the night time. To make sure that the cost isn’t going to be too high you can also use eco lights that charge from the sunlight during the day.

Conclusion

A fountain can create a peaceful sound which can be ideal if you live in a noisy neighbourhood or city as this can be a great way to sit back and relax.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/why-you-should-have-a-water-feature-in-your-garden/

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/