Gardening

Many people enjoy looking out into their garden watching the birds and other wildlife and want to be able to encourage different species such as butterflies and bees to visit their garden so how is the best way to achieve this?

If you want to attract a range of different bird species into your garden then you will need to provide them with the food they like and a safe place to eat away from possible predators such as cats. Some birds are particular keen on some foods for instance robins love mealworms and sunflower hearts are a favourite of most small birds. Fat balls that contain mealworms and seeds are an excellent choice for the bird table and will attract lots of hungry birds in springtime when they have young. Even dog and cat food can provide a nutritious meal for blackbirds especially when the ground is hard, and it is difficult for them to get worms from the ground.

Attracting butterflies and bees into a garden is all about the planting. Buddleia also known as the butterfly bush will have insects flocking to its blooms making an attractive sight in any garden. Wildflowers can be planted in an unmanicured corner of the garden which will be a haven for insects and bees throughout the summer.

It has become a popular pastime for people to try to convert the outside space of a property into an extension of the inside space by changing the garden layout and the garden furniture. The cost of these changes to the garden can be huge but with some clever tweaks, the perfect garden could be possible for a fraction of the cost.

To start the process of this transformation the garden area will need to be measured and drawn out to a rough scale. This will enable you to try out ideas on paper before starting any construction work. Searching online for ideas for garden planning is a good idea if you are stuck for where to start. Try to settle on just one or two feature areas initially to keep the budget as low as possible. A water feature or built-in barbeque can be constructed cheaply from reclaimed bricks and will make a good impression on visitors.

Once you have settled on a plan, mark out your garden with pegs and string to show where edging or patio areas will be. It is at this point that asking for the help of family and friends is wise as digging up areas of the garden is hard work but hiring mechanical diggers can be costly. A promise of a celebratory barbeque once the work is finished may be a good incentive.

At this time of the year many of us rarely venture out into the garden unless it is to do a bit of tidying or sweeping. Most plants have died back, and the grass and weeds are not growing as ferociously as in the summer months, so we get an opportunity to see more of the outline of our gardens. It may be that your thoughts turn to installing a patio area leading from the house to the garden, one that can be used in the warmer months for family gatherings and barbeques and winter is, some would say, the ideal time to do this task.

Start by measuring out the area of the garden where you would like your patio to be situated. Next you will need to decide on the materials you are going to use. Many people choose slabs as they are relatively cheap and hardwearing, but decking is another option if you do not mind the ongoing maintenance needed to keep it looking good.

It is usually possible to lay the slabs or fit the decking yourself as this is obviously cheaper. There are many online videos that can help with this and so following these instructions should make the task achievable for many.

Driveway gates come in many shapes, sizes and materials, and they can be made from materials such as wood or metal, primarily. Metal is a popular classic choice, with black wrought iron gates usually taking precedence. It is important that whatever style of driveway gate you choose, you ensure it complements you home; you should consider:

• The style of the gates – will they go with a modern or traditional home?
• Gate colour – what colour is your front door, garage door, window frames, and any other external fixtures and fittings?
• How tall are the gates – will they let enough light in if they are very tall? At the same time, will the afford you enough privacy?

Start by looking around your local area and noticing the driveway gates that other people have. Then, start to think about which would work for your own particular home and your own driveway gate preferences.

For many of us our gardens are mostly used during the warmer months of the year and we rarely venture out into the garden unless we are doing some tidying or sweeping up dead leaves in the winter. There are however ways to enjoy your garden all year round especially if you have a patio area that is slabbed or fitted with decking.

Pots that are planted up with flowers that bloom throughout the autumn and winter such as pansies can brighten up an outside area and evergreen bushes can provide greenery too. Solar lights around the garden will usually continue working through winter and can be hung in trees and on fences giving a wonderful, magical feel to the space.

Many types of garden furniture are now weatherproof and so can be used in the winter. A fire pit or outdoor patio heater can provide warmth on chilly evenings as can a cosy blanket. There is nothing quite like being outside on a clear night looking up at the stars.

If you are fortunate enough to own a hot tub this can be used all year round and gives a totally different experience to the user in the winter in fact many owners enjoy using the hot tub just as much when the weather is cold outside.