Whether you want to fill up the flower beds in your garden or add to your collection of houseplants it will not be cheap but there are a few ways that you can reduce the costs and acquire a wide variety of plants for free.
The first thing to do is to join a local horticultural group if there is one in your area as like-minded gardeners will probably be interested in swapping plants and seeds. You may also gain knowledge about propagating new plants successfully from other people, another way of getting new plants by taking cuttings from original plants.
If you have plants in your garden that have become too large for the space they are in it is a good idea to divide and separate them and plant the other plants in alternative spaces in the garden, or give away to a friend or neighbour.
Collecting seeds from plants that have gone to seed and storing them in a cool dry place ready for next year is a useful way to produce new plants. Seeds can even be collected from fruit and salad items that are past their best and dried ready to produce a new crop the following year.
During spring and summer many of us invest in garden furniture and play equipment that we can use all throughout the arm season. As winter starts to approach these items tend to get used less and less and sometimes need to be stored away or at least covered over to try and protect them. If you leave all of this outside in the elements then you may find that the next year they are perished or faded and need replacing again. If you have an outhouse or a shed, then you may be able to pack much of it away and store it in there over the colder months, but if not then you should invest in some covers. When putting covers over items such as tables and chairs, you need to ensure that the covers are secure otherwise as soon as the wind picks up the covers will be gone.
Some manufactures sell covers that have been specifically designed to fit their furniture or play equipment but often these are quite expensive. You may be able to buy non genuine ones at a fraction of the cost that are just as good.
Properties that have small gardens might sometimes be overlooked by those wanting more outdoor space. There can be so much potential in a small garden, though and you can benefit from having any amount of outdoor space, big or small. It is good for you to be able to spend time out of doors and to have a place to retreat to outside your interior – therefore, never underestimate a small garden.
Some small gardens are not laid to lawn which is still fine. You can install raised flower beds to add a splash of colour and bring plant life into your garden. You could have hanging baskets too, and window boxes (also an option if you only have a balcony space). Make sure there is a seating area so you can sit outside and relax, as this will be one of the most important things you can get from your garden.
You might automatically be led to think that decking kits are very simple, self explanatory options that can be built by anyone keen on DIY. Whilst they are certainly simpler than constructing a deck from scratch, it still takes quite some work to ensure decking is erected professionally, safely and with a good aesthetic too. Decking kits will provide all of the materials needed, but there is still a lot of work required and many people don’t feel comfortable installing decking in their own homes. For this very reason, lots of businesses will use decking kits for commercial purposes, buying them to install on behalf of their customers.
If you are a professional, you could benefit from commercial decking kits that allow you to construct a sturdy, aesthetically pleasing product for your customers without having to source parts individually. This will help to speed up the process of building it, and it will also help to ensure the quality of your work so that the customer should be very happy with the outcome. Commercial customers who buy decking kits on a regular basis to install for their own customers include:
- Landscapers
- Gardeners
- Handymen
- Architects
- Builders
- Building contractors
If you choose to purchase a decking kit to install for your own customer, you need to choose it from the right supplier. They will ensure you get the right products and receive good customer service, and there might even be trade discounts that you can take advantage of depending on where you choose to buy from.
Decking kits for commercial customers – choosing the right option for installation
The main thing you will need to decide as a commercial customer is which decking kit to choose. This will in some ways be trickier for you because you aren’t choosing it for yourself – you are choosing it for your own customer. It is a good idea to consult with your customer to make sure you understand exactly what they want, and the exact vision that they have for their new decking area. Show them pictures, your own designs and plans and, if possible, get a sample of the wood that will be used. This will ensure that your customer knows just what to expect.
Finding a long-term decking partner: supplying decking on a regular basis
If you work as an installation professional, you will usually be installing decking on a regular basis. It pays off to find a long-term ongoing supplier of decking who can provide you the materials you need (decking boards, fittings, railings, handrails and anything else required by your customer) and who you can come to rely on for your supply needs. This type of working relationship benefits both parties as they will get regular business and you get quality decking kits when you need them, sometimes at a better price too.
Decking kits can help you offer a better service to your customers. As long as they contain high quality wood and are sourced from a well-known supplier, you will have the tools you need to make your own business more successful and profitable.
Any garden
or courtyard can be made to feel more like a rural space, with the right
landscaping and decorative features. This provides the ultimate escapism in a
city, creating greenery and a place of calm. One common feature used in city
spaces is a pergola, which can be placed anywhere to give shelter, a seating
area or simply to create a decorative feature.
Pergolas are wooden structures that can be put together from kit form. The kit will come with all the parts needed to build the structure, including fixtures, fittings, and screws and bolts. You won’t have to get any of the wood cut down to size and you won’t have to be concerned that you’re using the right timber for outdoor use, or that it will be able to take the weight of the structure. You’ll be ready to get building as soon as the pergola kit arrives with you. There are size options to suit all spaces, from miniature pergolas to much larger options.