Garden how-to

We wanted to show you how easy it is to install one of our self-contained water features. It seemed to make sense to install our best seller from Kelkay; the Friendship Fountain looks fantastic in both the traditional an...

So you have noticed something green in your pond or water feature, expanding to the sides, and maybe even a discolouring of the water. What is it? It is a common underwater plant species called algae. Contrary to beliefs, algae is beneficial to ponds, as it provides a food source for fish. However, algae poses several problems, too. One thing is for sure though, algae is not the prettiest of things to look at and in many cases most people tend to reduce...

As the summer weather finally starts to shine upon us we are all thinking about making the most out of this very temperamental weather and with the weather forecast set to be a good one for the next week now would be a good time to enjoy the weather on our back gardens. As some of may well be a little limited on space back there here are a few little tips that can enhance your garden and make the most of the space that you have got.  Irregardless of what sized garden we have it is so easy to make the most out of the outdoor space that we do have with a few simple additions a little ma...

If you are like many garden pond owners you may notice that there seems to be an abundance of disgusting green algae present in your pond. This is certainly not an attractive look and most definitely takes away from the physical beauty that your garden pond once provided. The simple fact that there has not been enough regular maintenance to keep your pond from turning into a big bowl of pea soup. Garden ponds are a natural habitat for various species of wildlife, therefore they need to be treated similar to how you maintain an aquarium. Garden ponds by a rule of thumb should be treat...

Unfortunately, a large part of caring for our gardens means taking care of pests. Many pests can be very destructive or even fatal towards your plants. There are also pests which we consider to be a menace such as ants, cats, squirrels and moles. No matter which they tend to hinder our overall enjoyment of our gardens.  It is necessary to take the appropriate action as soon as possible to reduce the amount of damage that these pests may have caused, or prepare a head of time to prevent any damage being initially done.Where possible the most economically fr...

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.

A self-contained water feature is a simple way to add peace, tranquillity, and interest to your garden or patio. These recirculating water features set up in minutes, require little ongoing maintenance and incur low operating expenses. It is possible to purchase a self-contained water feature that operates on solar power exclusively. Many of these solar water features are sold with battery backup for use on overcast days. Maintenance of a self-contained water feature consists of using algae and limescale cleaners as needed. Both of these items are commercially available at reasonable cost....

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...

For those who have a home garden and would like to attract different types of wildlife, a great way to do this is with a pre-formed pond. Water is essential for every different forms of life, and it will help your garden get the water it needs and grow. There are many different beautiful flowers and plants that will grow around ponds throughout the different seasons in the year. Also, many different animals in the natural habitat will come to use the pond, and this can provide for enjoyable viewing and entertainment. Many animals will gather at water to drink, and animals lik...

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....