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-tips-to-maintaining-your-garden-summer/

How Often Should You Cut Your Lawn?

As the weather begins to turn for the better, you can start to think about your lawn’s first cut of the season. Typically this would be in the springtime, but realistically you can begin to think about mowing the lawn when the outside temperature rises above 10 degrees Celsius.

Try to hold off cutting your lawn until the grass is dry, as a wet cut can lead to grass disease, which you will want to avoid at this early stage in the season. The sooner you can get that first cut in, the better. Cutting your lawn for the first time at the beginning of spring will remove the grass’s dead ends and promote new growth.

How Often Should You Mow The Lawn?

This depends on how quickly your lawn is growing. You might find that the grass is off to a slow start at the beginning of the season and therefore does not need weekly maintenance. However, as the weather gets warmer, you might find that the grass starts to grow a little faster each week. If so, then a weekly cut might be more appropriate to maintain the health of your lawn. 

As a general rule, you should only endeavour to cut one-third of the lawn’s length on each cut. Cutting any more than this can cause issues with the lawn and may stunt its growth. Your grass depends on a good length blade to photosynthesise, so ensuring that you are not over mowing is essential to maintaining the lawn’s health. Paying close attention to the lawn’s growth weekly will give you a good idea of how often it will need to be mowed.

Mowing Tips

A great starting point for any aspiring gardener is to ensure that your lawnmower is in good standing. Getting your mower serviced annually ensures that the mower is in tip-top form. After all, having a healthy lawn starts with healthy equipment. Getting a professional to service your mower each season will also ensure that your blades remain sharp, which will prevent your grass from bruising, leading to diebacks at the tip of the grass blades.

Many lawns are likely to have bald patches coming into a new season and need to be reseeded. Try to avoid mowing over these newly sowed patches of grass and leave them alone until they are around 4cm in height, at which point you can begin to trim them along with the rest of the lawn.

It might also be a good idea for the gardening perfectionist to have a strimmer handy for the edges of your lawn. A strimmer is much better at getting any long tufts of grass at the edges or in awkward corners of the garden. Having perfectly trimmed edges will go a long way to giving your garden a healthy aesthetic look and add more beauty to your garden landscaping.

Hire A Professional Gardener

Hiring a gardener to do the work for you might be a great idea if you want to guarantee your lawn’s health throughout the summer months. Gardening can often be a laborious task, and if you find that you cannot commit to weekly garden maintenance, perhaps this is a good move for your garden. 

Not only will your garden be mowed correctly, but a professional gardener will also be able to give you advice about how to keep your lawn healthy between cuts as well as offering other gardening services to spruce up your garden.

If you would like to find out more about garden maintenance services or landscape gardening services get in contact with us today on 01344 886331. Alternatively, visit our contact page to send a message.

The post How Often Should You Cut Your Lawn? first appeared on Kite Landscapes.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/how-often-should-you-cut-your-lawn/

Rock Garden Design Ideas

Rock designs and patterns are some of the best garden ideas to enhance the look of your outdoor space. Rock garden design helps to create a wonderful focal piece with minimal effort. As any garden planner may tell you, there are multiple ways for you to set up rock gardens., you’re sure to find a garden design that matches your ideal style.

Therefore, let’s take a look at a handful of rock garden ideas now and see if there are any contemporary styles and looks that stand out to you.

Choose A Theme

An effective rock garden design can have a specific theme or look to it. For example, a garden design could be inspired by a specific form of architecture. Chinese rock gardens feature limestone rocks sculpted by erosion and often incorporate vines and flowing water.

The best thing to do with any rock garden you set up is to try and tie it in with your existing outdoor space. This way, you can ensure that it offers seamless style and quality – why not go for a peaceful look or look for garden design inspiration online.

Keep Things In Balance

One thing that can be tricky when setting up your rock garden design is balancing size and weight. It’s tempting to have a large rock sculpture on one side of the garden and nothing opposite, for example. However, when it comes to the most effective and most striking garden design choices, you should always consider symmetry.

Why not balance your rock garden composition? A garden planner may advise trying to offset a large stack of rocks with a similarly striking design choice but in a different style. Balancing your rock garden is important, as it enhances the design and installation.

Introduce Plants

It’s tempting to just pile rocks up when setting up your rock garden for the first time. However, it does make sense to try and make room for greenery, too. We don’t just mean grass! You should leave plenty of soil gaps and spaces between the rocks for plants and flowers to shoot up.

You can be creative with the plants and flowers you pick for your rockery. You could create a mosaic of rocks and stones with colourful flowers and green splashes bursting through. This will help to add a little more character to your rock garden.

Of course, you should make sure that you research and plan which plants you’d like to grow in your rock garden carefully. Some will not cope well in tiny spaces between rocks, which is why it’s a good idea to carefully consider those that are robust and resilient. If you’re unsure which plants or flowers are going to work best for you, why not ask for help from a rock garden designer?

Planning your rock garden doesn’t have to be a long or awkward affair. Providing you give your rockery plenty of balance, charm, and colour, you’re on the path towards a garden design you will love.

If you would like to find out more about how we can help you, please feel free to get in touch with our friendly team on 01344 886 331 or head over to our contact page for more details.

The post Rock Garden Design Ideas first appeared on Kite Landscapes.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/rock-garden-design-ideas/

Winter gardening ideas

In the modern world of lockdowns and restrictions, the garden can be a wonderful little escape from the monotony of daily life. While you might think of gardening as a summer hobby there are many wonderful ways that you can make your garden look appealing and exciting through the colder months of the year. You can also help prepare it for the coming summer so it’s in the best shape possible when the sun finally does hit. These ideas will inspire you to continue caring for your garden throughout the winter so you have less work to do in the spring.

Plants will be the main focus of your garden and luckily there are several things you can do to ensure a colourful winter and good spring and summer. The first is to plant some flowers that can survive our wintry weather. For example, plants such as pansies, cyclamen, and evergreens will add colour to your garden all year round. Once you’ve planted some winter flowers take the time to think of plants that you will want to see in the spring and summer. Spring flowers such as daffodils and tulips need to be planted in the autumn ready for a spring bloom, so pick spots and get them in the ground nice and early.

The winter will be too early to plant summer bloomers but if you had a lovely garden last summer and want to continue with the same colours next year consider digging up and storing the bulbs through the winter so you can replant them in the spring without having to go and buy new plants. Any existing plants you have that will survive the winter also need to be protected so prune them to remove any dead leaves or stems and consider using horticultural fleeces (bubble wrap works too!) around plants that are susceptible to the weather to help them survive the winter.

Now that the plants are done it’s time to think about the grass. Rake it as often as you can to promote drainage and remove any moss and leaf litter. Be sure to save the leaves you rake up and use them effectively by placing them in a bag and letting them rot. After a year or two they’ll become a great compost base ready for the summer. Once the lawn is clear consider if the grass will still need cutting. Depending on where you live you might find it grows well into the autumn. Also, be sure to repair any damage to the lawn with a grass feed to promote winter growth.

Finally, it’s time to consider your tools and miscellaneous items such as a BBQ. Always make sure everything is cleaned properly before it’s stored, and consider purchasing breathable covers for items like outdoor furniture or the BBQ to make sure it’s properly protected if you can’t place them in a shed. If you have a gazebo or large umbrellas be sure to remove them before the winter weather becomes too bad as they will become a pretty big hazard in windy conditions.

Now you’re armed with some winter gardening tips it’s time to get out there and make sure your garden is perfect all year round.

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 Winter gardening ideas first appeared on Kite Landscapes.

source http://www.kitelandscapes.co.uk/winter-gardening-ideas/

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/