patio

Are you looking to bring a little structure to your garden this spring? There are many ways of sprucing up the look of your private garden but it must be done with a lot of care and detailed planning.

You can start off with a wooden garden arch to add a touch of rustic charm to your garden. They can also be used to create a pathway between two areas of your garden you want to demarcate. Garden arches made of top quality timber will give you a feature that will last for years to come.

Garden swing seats of various shapes and designs are also great garden accessories to give your garden that dramatic change in looks. You must remember that buying hand crafted seats or swing seats takes time and consideration so don’t rush into the job. You must have a closer look at the shape for it is important to feel absolutely comfortable and relaxed. After all that is the reason why you are looking to invest in exclusive garden furniture.

Another great way to make your garden look graceful and attractive is to add a garden pergola. They can be a useful way to add structure to your garden. More often than not, these pergolas capture the attention of visitors for their beauty and style. It can be a natural focus point of your garden and can be used either as a decorative material for screens or to support climbing plants.

There are other ways of bringing a little structure to your garden this spring. A wooden planter will not only help you create a bed to grow your favourite plants but will also enhance the looks of your garden space significantly. They can fit in any corner and comes in a variety of sizes and shapes. Most of them are made of pressure treated wood and are hence durable and fit to endure rough climes and conditions.

You can protect the wood by lining the inside of the planters with plastic and securing it in place with small nails. Don’t forget to make provisions for adequate drainage before filling it with soil and compost.

A garden arbour is another fantastic way to enhance the aesthetic appearance of your garden. Arbors can draw immediate and admiring attention from visitors to your place. They allow creepers and vines to gradually wrap around them, creating a look that can improve the look of your garden by several notches.

You can consult landscaping or gardening experts to get more input if you want to bring a little structure to your garden this spring. 

UK Water Features offers more than just water features with a wide range of garden ornaments, barbecues, garden furniture, garden lighting, wild bird feed and electronic pest control products.  

A quick note for everyone who wasn't aware, the clocks do go forward an hour this Sunday the 27 of March 2011. Which is good news, we do lose an hour of sleep... however we will be able to spend that much longer in our gardens in the evening. With the warmer weather sweeping in through out the day the evenings still tend to be a little on the chilly side. If you are unfortunately  sat in an office all day and do not get a chance to enjoy this lovely weather because by the time you get home from work, the weather has cooled and is now a little to chilly to sit outside to enjoy the remainder of your evening with a glass of wine and a home cooked meal. Fear not friends, a simple yet very effective garden feature such as a Chiminea will keep your garden cozy so you can enjoy a toasty relaxing evening on your deck or patio area long into the night. Now if you are wondering what on earth is a chiminea? here is a little history behind this fascinating garden heater.  

History Behind The Clay:

A Chiminea; is a freestanding front-loading fireplace or oven with a bulbous body and usually a vertical smoke vent or chimney. 

Originally, the clay open fire garden heaters that were sent to the U.S.A. from Mexico were known as Chiminea's. According to the ancient story, Chiminea's originated hundreds if not thousands of years ago by Mexican tribesmen who developed the Chiminea's as a means of providing heat for their family as well as a vessel for cooking and baking. The very frist Chiminea was designed to keep the rain off the fire and the family warm using merely a couple of sticks.

Over the past few years Chiminea's have become a popular backyard and deck accessory in both the U.S.A. and the U.K. where they are often acquired as general garden ornaments. Commonly, pinonwood is burned for its aromatic scent and its bug repellent qualities. Fires tends to start very quickly and very simply in chimineas and after initial ignition with some papers and small pieces of wood and in full burn after only 15 minutes, they will give off tremendous heat due to their design which allows much more air to be drawn in than, for example, a fire basket.

The best selling and most popular chimeneas tend to be made from cast iron however there are several  aluminum versions available. Missing out on the great weather in the day is no longer a problem and is a thing off the past, including a chiminea in your back garden or patio area will surly keep you warm and cozy outside this spring.

If you are looking for something to keep you warm in the evenings that is a little more modern, then adding a Eco friendly outdoor patio heater maybe something that you could consider.  Outdoor patio heaters are a great simple to set up, Eco friendly addition to any garden.

Creating a wetland area in your garden is a brilliant solution to dealing with waterlogged soil. Instead of abandoning these boggy areas of your garden, plant a wetland are and enjoy the many beautifully coloured birds and butterflies that it attracts. Many plants thrive in wetland conditions, including grasses, hostas, marsh marigolds, petunias, irises and lillies. It is advisable to use a diverse selection of plants in order to attract the widest variety of wildlife to your wetland garden. So long as the plants have similar flooding needs they may be planted together in a wetland area.

If you desire a wetland garden but have no naturally boggy areas, you can create such a garden by digging a wide, sloping, shallow hole and lining it with a pond liner, alternatively use a preformed pond. Punch holes in the plastic to prevent stagnation, and then refill with the dirt removed when you dug the hole. Saturate the dirt with water and maintain saturation by using soaking hoses. You may then plant your wetland garden as you wish, using plants with similar flooding requirements.

It is also possible to maintain a wetland garden without constant flooding if you select plants such as cardinal flower, bulrushes, jewelweed, as these plants require alternating wet and dry periods to thrive. In summary, a wetland area is a simple and lovely addition to any garden.

UK Water features offer a range of pond pumps, liners and accessories

It does not matter if you are working with a stretch of ground around your country home or a small area within your walled off garden area, the choices you make on how your garden appears should only matter to you and nobody else.

If you like the idea of having a little bit of green space to relax in on the weekends but you are also practical and know that you do not have a great deal of time or money to spend you should consider using materials that are durable and require low maintenance. This can be achieved by using stepping stones or a paved walkway. By creating a permanent path, such as with gravel, within your garden you remove a portion of ground that requires extensive maintenance and at the same time implies sophistication in the execution. Another option is simple decking which can be added around even the lowest profile areas of a home.

A flagstone walkway, pebbles or even short paved path can lead you away from your home and pull you into the private space you are seeking. Items such as these are not only low maintenance but also low profile. There is nothing to be knocked over and broken by your neighbour’s dog. There is nothing that requires watering or can fall victim to pest of all types.

UK Water Features - For a range of water features, aggregates and garden buildings.

Adding paved areas to your garden area will enhance its appearance and reduce maintenance. The paved area will not need to be weeded and watered, just swept as needed. If the paved area installation is well done, you will not need to repair or replace it for twenty or thirty years.

The size of your garden and how you want to use it will guide your decisions. Do you want a paved path meandering through the garden, a paved patio area for entertaining or perhaps, you would like to pave the whole area, very low maintenance, and add large container gardens for color.

Once you have decided on the use, you will find paving materials and aggregates in many different colours and shapes available in concrete, cobbles, brick and natural stone. Concrete is the least expensive choice; stone the best choice for a natural look.

Material chosen; plan your design. A small garden with a pond or fountain as a focal point, small areas devoted to greenery and flowers and a patio covering the rest of the space, with perhaps a garden table and chairs and some pots filled with seasonal flowers placed about, would be lovely.

A large garden could be divided into different areas; an entertaining area, children play area, lawn and flower gardens and a kitchen garden, all with a unifying theme, are a few suggestions.

Many people enjoy the exercise and fresh air that an outdoor garden affords. And the rewards for such efforts are the peaceful greens of foliage and the myriad pleasing colours of flowers. But whether you have acres of garden or a tiny cottage patch of flowers, there are always those pesky weeds with which to contend. Rock aggregates are the perfect way to keep weeds down and accent your favourite garden plants at the same time.

While there are many types of mulches available on the market, rock aggregates are becoming more and more popular with gardeners these days. Small stones, pebbles, gravel for walkways and larger stones are available, as well, for accent pieces in and around the garden pond. Every colour of rock is available to enhance the colour of the plants you have chosen for your plantings. Rock aggregates can also be used as paving stones as edging for flower beds or as paving stones for pathways. And crushed rock and crushed glass of many colours will add a touch of class to your outdoor garden scheme. Unlike mulch, rock aggregate materials do not need to be replaced as often, and do not biodegrade as quickly as mulch.

Nothing beats rock aggregate for a low maintenance garden as a mulch, path or basis for a garden pond.

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Rock salt is considered another form of table salt. The main difference between the table brand of salt and rock salt is the size. Rock salt is much bigger in size and weight. Rock salt is actually a very valuable commodity to gardeners and homeowners in the winter months.

Rock salt is sprinkled on major roadways during the winter months across the country because it lowers the freezing point of water and makes it much easier for drivers to manoeuvre safely over slippery roads. Rock salt is also great at melting ice build-up on driveways and paths.

Every home owner should stock up on rock salt during the winter months to be on the safe side. This is a good idea because if a snow emergency strikes the home owner will be prepared.

Another surprising use for rock salt is making ice cream. Do not be alarmed. The rock salt is not added to the ice cream mixture. The rock salt is used to melt the ice that is around the ice cream container. This was the process used to make ice cream for many years before modern technology introduced new freezing methods.

Rock salt is generally found at local grocery stores, supermarkets, and hardware stores. Many gardening centres also carry the product in bulk. Rock salt is available in large bags of about ten pounds and up.

In the winter of 2009, it was one of the coldest to hit the UK for decades and the cold winter snap not only made commuting to work and going to the shops difficult but for some people it made it impossible. Even simple things like going to take the rubbish out proved too much as the snow on the drive ways and paths made it treacherous on foot. Some good samaritans did help out the vulnerable people but often found themselves short on tools such as snow shovels and rock salt (which even the UK government seemed to have trouble in getting their hands on).

This year at UK Water Features we have more winter provisions from rock salt to help to grit your paths and driveways, to snow shovels and even sledges to have fun if the snow comes again. So don't wait until the snow and cold front hits, order now and avoid the panic buying of last year and be ready for when the snow hits this winter!

Perhaps, the first thing that will come into your mind when you hear the words “garden shed” is storage. Traditionally, garden sheds are indeed just storage. A outdoor garden building is commonly built to store the lawnmower, children's inflatable pool, ladder, and other items that are considered as clutter. The extra items you have that are unable to fit inside your garage or basement are also stored in the building. It is sometimes used to store flower pots, fertilizers, and gardening tools, as well. A garden shed is generally plain-looking. In addition, it is often made of wood, metal, or plastic.

However, as times have passed, garden sheds have also improved. Today, these buildings are no longer merely storage houses anymore. They can already be used for a variety of purposes. One of the most obvious purposes of a modern garden building is for display, such as a swing seat. A lot of people nowadays are considering having garden houses in their gardens and backyards due to the additional value they provide. Yes, if you will notice, houses that have garden sheds are more expensive than those that have none. Modern garden sheds are aesthetically appealing, and they always manage to attract the attention of guests.

Another wonderful purpose of a garden shed is to house flora. Yes, you can place your collection of plants and flowers in your outdoor building. You can even turn it into a mini greenhouse. Since all your garden tools, seeds, and fertilisers are in the building anyway, why don’t you maximize the space? Utilising your garden shed as a house for plants is really amazing and practical, especially during the months when you are getting ready for spring and starting to grow your plants indoors. You have to modify the roof, though. You will need to use fibreglass panels, so your plants can grow well. Moreover, you can install a gas heater and an exhaust fan if you want to use your garden shed as a greenhouse all year long.

Then, you can also use your garden shed as a hobby shed. The purpose of this is to provide you with a place wherein you can go on with your woodworking hobby safely and freely. This is especially true if you have small children who are fond of running around whenever you are working on your masterpiece. If you paint your wooden shed properly, you can also control the dust. You can even add heaters, so you can use it even during the winter season. Moreover, you can use your outdoor building as an office. Here, you will have the peace and quiet that you desire. You will also have a safe place wherein you can store your office materials neatly.

Furthermore, you can use your garden shed as a bar or even as a guest house. Well, this is if your outdoor garden building is spacious enough. If your house does not have an extra room to accommodate a guest for an overnight stay, this will be the perfect place to offer. Also, if you are going to host an evening party, your garden will be the best place. You will be able to show off your beautiful plants and flowers, and you will be able to have an accessible bar nearby.

A BBQ is a great idea for entertaining at your home this summer. You will love being able to invite friends over telling them that you will cook out dinner for them. It can be a great experience for all. Sit a few chairs out in the garden and cook dinner. Enjoy a nice drink and conversation with your mates while you eat. A BBQ is always an investment that you won't regret purchasing for yourself. You will wonder to yourself why you never bought one before this year. It is always a great way to bring people together. It is an easy way to entertain. A BBQ should last you several years so this investment will be worth it over time.

Imagine all of the things that you can cook on your BBQ. Fixing steaks, shrimp, and chicken are all great ideas. You can spice them up a little if you would like that better. There are so many different things that you can cook on the BBQ. Don't be afraid to try new things. Pineapple is great cooked outside. You will be happy with all of the new flavours that you come up with for your meals. Enjoy the atmosphere of eating outside and have a good time.

Plan your World cup BBQ party now and celebrate in style in your garden! Plan your world cup BBQ party and celebrate in style in your garden! Bring out the sauces and jams prepared from your garden and add them to your wonderful selection of delicious foods. BBQ parties in the garden during the summer months can be great fun.

Planning a BBQ outside stirs your creativity, guest will need a place to sit and shaded areas to keep cool, over hanging greenery is great for creating light shade. The cool breezes blowing through the greenery is cooled helping to make the garden area more pleasant. Place your tables and chairs near your beautiful flowers; this creates a magnificent backdrop with very little effort.

Buying new lawn furnishing this summer? Wicker is really in if you don’t mind the care that it takes when it is exposed to the weather. If you feel that is too much buy new cushions for your old furniture this will give your old furnishing a real lift. You cannot Plan your World Cup BBQ party without a great BBQ grill, a little counter space would be great. Now you are ready, comfortable surroundings, good food and friends. Have a great World Cup BBQ party.

Creating an outdoor living space is one of the most common objectives on the home to-do list. Creating an outdoor entertainment area with paving stones and friendly garden furniture is actually a simple task to complete.

The main objective is to create a beautiful and enjoyable area. Use the paving stones as a way to maintain focus on a specific area. You can lay these stones out in any pattern you decide, so consider laying them out in a manner which defines an area. This can be done by simply laying all the stones out in a horizontal layout, and switching up to a vertical layout for your entertainment area.

Including some friendly and fun furniture will be a great feature in your outdoor space. Be sure to include multi purpose furniture such as a sitting wall, and a fire pit with a sitting wall around it. This type of furniture can provide additional seating just by adding a comfortable pad. This is incredibly beneficial if more people show up than you originally planned to entertain. Be sure to include a few easily accessible tables to place drinks and plates, and plenty of furniture that will allow guests to kick back and relax.

Adding a few small plants can be the perfect touch to tying an area together, giving it an additional beauty factor.

When having an outdoor party, a gas patio outdoor heater is a perfect choice. Your guests will appreciate the warmth these patio heaters provide as well as the welcoming ambiance.

Gas patio heaters are available at lawn and garden stores and come in an array of models and brands but all need careful handling. While operating these patio heaters, be certain to keep children and pets away from the heater. Do not hang wet towels or clothing on the heater as this is a fire hazard waiting to happen. Be sure to mount the patio heater on a flat surface away from high traffic areas to minimise chances of the heater being knocked over. Do not allow debris to collect underneath the patio heater to avoid a fire hazard. Always provide proper ventilation for the gas patio heater and do not allow the air vents and holes on the heater to become blocked. Frequently check the hose connection for possible gas leaks. Do not allow the heater to sit out in the rain without being covered.

A gas patio heater will allow you to extend the time you can enjoy and use your patio or deck well into the fall season. Your patio parties will be the envy of your neighbours.