More Mistakes in Gardening

We are adding another 10 elements to the previous list of most often mistakes made by gardening amateurs. The following article is a set of examples that might help the beginner gardeners in avoiding some serious problems. It is worth to know what to be careful with when gardening.

1. Hedges not cuted properly

Not cutting the hedge enough is a common occurrence amongst young gardeners – they feel bad for the pretty, small plants so they allow it to grow high. In the beginning the mistake is unnoticeable but after a few years, when it grows a bit, the bottom parts of the hedges become bald. It is far more difficult to make the plants cover these spots then cutting it a bit annually – the more regularly you cut the young sprouts, the more it prompts the plant to grow and propagate.

2. Taking plants for weeds

For an amateur all young plants look alike and in the beginning it is difficult to tell what will become, for example, a beautiful flower. That is why often in the spring those future flowers are brutally removed, mistaken for weeds.

3. Too much or not enough watering (especially for pot plants)

Pot plants are far more delicate than the flowerbed ones. It is caused by their environment being highly limited and artificial, the water evaporates faster, dooming the plant to wither and roots rot easily when soaked for too long a time. Not fertilized potted plants grow slower than the flowerbed ones, as the soil loses its nutritious value.

4. Planting invasive plants

Planting some plants may prove to become the last straw in killing the young gardener’s garden. When they start infesting the flowerbeds, it is very difficult to get rid of them. You need to know at least about these most popular: bistorts, poplar, various kinds of willows, raspberries, blackberries, wild strawberries, strawberries, maples, clematis, honeysuckles, lilies of the valley, anemones, violets, some kinds of pinks, cornflowers, poppies, ferns, daisies, eves, etc. Before planting them you need to think carefully if a good looking arrangement will be good for the garden.

More mistakes you can find in original post: Mistakes in gardening you wouldn't be proud off

About Grass in the Garden

We are all happy that the spring is almost here. A bit of winter is still with us but we are more likely to think about warm, sunny days and green grass in our garden. But what do we know about the grass - do we know how to take care of it to make it look stunning? Let's find out.

The most important are beginnings. There are two times when it is good to start the grass growing - one is between April and May, and the second one is between August and September. Before we seed the grass we should prepare the soil. Mostly when the soil is with good pH and with enough of decay we can just dig it over and this will do.

Next thing is to choose seeds. It is worth to pay a bit of attention and time to think this matter trough - what will be the best type needed for us. The choice depends on the purpose that we have for our grassed yard. If we have children and animals the grass might be in worse condition this case we should choose a sport type of grass, if we only want the grass to look good we can decide on the park one mixture.

And not without a meaning there is a way of sowing. Popular method is to sow on the cross - first we split seeds on two parts and than we sow one part in one direction, till the end of the field and another part in different direction, crossed to the first one. After sowing we have to cover seed with soil. We can make using in example rake. In the end we water the soil checking if the flow is not to intense.

If we already have seeds sowed important is a good care. The biggest problem for all gardeners is the cutting part. There can be a lot to say on this subject. We have to have good methods, tools and spend a lot of time. The best time for cutting is in the morning and in the evening and using electrical lawn-mower and smaller, hand one that can be used in harder to get places.

First cutting should be when the grass is about 6-10 centimetres and not making it too short - the correct length should be about 4 cm. The next problem is how often the grass should be cut. It is commonly said that we should do it once a week. If we do it fewer there is a possibility that pests will appear. And we shouldn't cut the grass when it is wet - there is a more chance to make plants sick.

Your garden might also need garden buildings and garden sheds

[photo by: Dredrk aka Mr Sky]

Garden at the Balcony

July is a really good time to take care of ourselves, our home, garden and family. We have much more energy and the weather is getting better. It is worth to focus this power to make this space more luxury and relaxing, to make it peaceful place.

To do that we don't need too much money, we don't even need to have a big garden and outdoor space - just a balcony, a few hours of our time, an investment in accessories and plants on the balcony and willing to make a change. Making a balcony arrangement is pleasant task and bring us results in a really short time. The beginning of July is usually the best time to start the work.

Plants on the balcony
Choosing those plants on the balcony mostly depends on our preferences. We can either decide to use some regular plants like in example begonys, hydrangea, petunia or choose something more complicated to maintain like herbs or creeping plants. Making complicated arrangements of plants on our balcony is mostly for people with wide knowledge about gardening.

Whatever plants we choose we should remember that it is better to buy them in seedlings. This will save us time spend on putting plants to the soil in seeds. All items that we think of should be thought through wisely and should depend on time that we are willing to spend on on taking care of the balcony and how much money do we want spend.

Accessories

Second element that is needed to create a fabulous balcony area are accessories. We need something like planters and flower boxes. Those who love gardening might use big, heavy planters that will be suitable for all kind of plants and will secure their complicated plants arrangements. Creeping flowers would look especially good on the lattice hanging on the wall, near the window.

If we would be willing to spend some more time on the balcony and enjoy our work we can also buy ourselves a set of small furniture - table and chairs, and if we had enough space we can put there also a deckchair. Those improvements will definitely make our outdoor space more pleasant and guarantee us relaxing time.

By: michal costaminnego

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Wooden patio canopies and wooden summerhouses

[photo: suzettesuzette]

A Word About Flower Gardens

Spring is in full bloom and it is about time to do something nice in the garden. And what might emphasize the beautiful season more than a lovely flower garden? Creating a beautiful flowery space is not as difficult as one might think. Although it takes some careful planning, it pays off when everything is ready and blooming with colours.

The outline of an idea

Where to begin? Before you go on a frenzy of looking for specific flowers, think carefully what exactly is on your mind. Should the garden be neat and organized, or wild and natural? Look up some pictures of already existing gardens for inspiration. How much would you like to spend on the project? The budget might become a problem if you wish for your garden to look like an exotic oasis. And while spending thousands on expensive plants brings extraordinary effects, it might become problematic when a struggle to it them healthy and good looking whenever it gets too cold or too wet. More simple, natural ideas are not only much more favourable to the wallet, they are also easier to maintain and very natural.

A garden plan

When you have the idea formed in your head, it is good to visualize it. Use a chequered paper sheet to draw a plan of you garden. It is best to use a 1:40 scale, where 1 inch corresponds with 40 inches in reality. Even if the garden is small and you will not be dividing it into sections and the space will be filled with a flower mix, it is still good to create such plan. It will be a great help when it comes to estimating seeds and seedling quantities.

Useful tips

You should remember some simple rules, it is good to consider them while you’re still in the concept part of your garden-creating. Expansive flowers should not be planted next to the slowly growing ones. Also, many flowers virtually disappear after they shed blossom. They should be placed next to ones that have extensive leaves which will cover the empty spaces then or are in full bloom for a longer period, like annual flowers. If your garden is not very big, you shouldn’t plant big or high flowers, they will take a lot of space and make the whole garden look smaller. The short flowers should be planted in front, while the higher one should occupy the back – nothing will get covered and there will be a sense of harmony created that way.

It is always a good idea to have some decorative perennials planted around the garden, even if they have no inflorescence. They will provide color throughout the whole season and blend in nicely, giving your garden a natural look.

If you will keep that in mind when crating the plan and while planting, you will be able to create a wonderful garden. But remember that this is not the end. A nice garden is a well maintained garden. Remember to keep an eye on weeds, to fertilize and water. That way, you will enjoy your flowerbeds for many seasons.

From Liveoutside blog: A word about flower gardens

[photo by: Rosino]

How To Create An Eco Garden?

Are you tired with the simple lawn in your back yard, wish to have a special green area created in the back of your house but would like to keep it ecological and environment-friendly? Creating an eco garden is not only easy, it can save you a lot of money you would spend on all the chemicals used in modern gardening.

The concept of eco gardening is known for over fifty years now and is gaining new followers rapidly, especially since the nineties of the XX century. The idea of being able to contribute to improving environment’s condition is appealing to many and the more people take part in this process, the bigger difference it makes.

A good place to start your eco garden is compost – later it will become the perfect fertilizer for your plants, providing them with humus nutrients. Basically, you should prepare a hole in a secluded part of your garden, surrounded by low wooden walls. This way the compost will not affect the neighboring plant life too much and will be easy to use. Most of the organic products that you use at home are usable for composting. Coffee grounds, fruits and vegetables, fish, eggshells, even paper and cardboard can be used. Also leaves, and dead plants are very good, especially since you get a lot of them in the garden-cleaning. The only thing you need to avoid are meat scraps and diary products, they might produce unhealthy by-products in the decomposing process

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When choosing what plants you will use in your garden, you should consider mostly native species – they will not disturb the local ecology and will be easier to maintain in the climate. It is also good to leave at least a small area that will not be cultivated in any way – let the nature take care of it.

You should generally avoid fighting pests and weeds until it is absolutely necessary. Even then only limit its quantities rather than eliminating it completely. All kinds of insects and worms should be left to roam the garden peacefully, they are mostly useful creatures that will help the plants in going through their natural cycles.

With these advices in mind, you should be able to start a well functioning ecological garden.

[photos by: suavehouse113]

Garden Design- A Way To Design Your Dream Garden

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Every one knows about global warming. Countries from all over the world are getting worried about it. Scientists are spending their time in researches on how to control the global warming. Pollution is to be considered as the main reason for this. If people plant more and more tree, it can be controlled. But in the blind race of competition no one has enough time to complete extra works like planting, garden developing and the list goes on. They have an option in the form of garden design to control global warming. People can make it done by any expert designer because creating garden design is a way to make environment green and it is also a way to control the pollution. They are helpful to make homes and nearby surroundings beautiful and attractive.

Generally gardens are the greatest attractions in any landscape. If more and more gardens are designed, they will be helpful to decrease the pollution and also the danger of global warming because trees and plants absorb carbon-di-oxide and many other harmful gases. Gardens are maintained in parks, theme parks, amusement parks, hotels, restaurants and various other places. To make gardens attractive and environmental friendly, garden design is required.

For garden design, few elements of garden designing like water features, water fountains, garden pools, garden planting, garden buildings, garden furniture, landscape materials are required. These are the elements that play a big role in making the garden look fabulous. By using various plants, you can design gardens with themes. You can include some miniature models of famous monuments or buildings in your garden’s pavilion to make it look unique. Garden fence is a vital element for garden designs because by it you can manage your planning. It can be built from wood or stones. Vinyl fencing is also an option to make garden fencing look attractive and it is also very easy to maintain. The main advantage of vinyl fence is it is available in the market in readymade form so that you can save both your time and energy.

There are numerous garden designers available in the market but you are supposed to select one who should keep a sound knowledge of horticulture and architecture. Finding the expert garden designer is not a big work. Search over the internet and there are a great number of websites related to garden design. You are to select one according to your requirements. Compare rates from different sites then place an order because different designers have different rates. Therefore you should read terms and condition of the selected site carefully.

By: Article Manager

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Barnabylandscapes.co.uk provides Garden Design services, landscaping, and tips of gardening for commercial clients as well as residential. Here you can also find Landscape Contractor for the best service to make your home as well as commercial area beautiful and attractive.

Prepare Your Garden for Winter

Autumn is now in full bloom, the green is not so green anymore and we want to spend less and less time in our gardens. But if we want to enjoy it next year in the same (or better) state, we have to take care of some important details now. Because now is the time, when plants are going into their dormant period and by some gardening endeavors we can help them pass the winter. The important thing is not to overdo it.

Before the frost season comes, plant trees and shrubs with prominent roots. At the base of these plants raise small mounds of soil that will protect the roots from cold. Cover with mats the cold-sensitive shrubs. If it is not very rainy, water the evergreen plants, so they could build water supply for the winter. Refrain from trimming the plants, as the sprouts will have no time to lignify and will be left unprotected from cold and infections.

To prepare your flowerbeds you should dig it now, but leave it without raking, so the dampness from precipitation. Remember to scatter the phosphoric fertilizer before that. Use potassium fertilizers as well. You should also check the soil pH. The best pH range varies between 6,0 and 7,0. If the pH is too low, you can increase it by applying agricultural lime. If you do that, never apply any fertilizers – because of chemical reactions that might occur, some of important minerals might become unavailable for plants.

When it comes to the lawn, you should mow it as long as it grows. If October was warm, you should mow it even in November. Keep the lawn clean of leaves, don’t let them cover it with airtight layer, which can cause spreading of fungus called Micronectriella nivalis, that is very dangerous to plants.

Remember to take care of your pond. It is good to spread a net above the water surface that will catch the falling leaves. Try to keep it as clean as possible, removing leaves so their weight wouldn’t cause them to touch water and start rotting. Remember to take the pumps and filter out before layer of ice covers the surface of your pond. Remove leaves and algae and wash the equipment. Plants should be moved to containers with clean water, in which they will spend the dormant season. Fish should be moved to aquarium. If your pond is big (over 3,5 ft), move the fish to the aquarium, remove 2/3 of the water, remove sludge and plant remains, clean the bottom and sideS of your pond.

It is important to cut off water flow in garden taps and remove water from pipes, so they wouldn’t burst when it freezes. You should also empty all water containers, they might break under the pressure of ice during the winter. Clean and grease your gardening tools, put them in a dry shed. Sharpen the tools that require it and fix the damaged ones. All equipment should be clean and tidy.

Gardens - A Place For Meditation

Image by bill barber (still ill) via Flickr

Beautiful house need a beautiful garden - they make a perfect match all together. Professional designed garden is not only a great pleasure for our eyes but also a great heritage for our children. And the garden will present passions, dreams and temper of its owner.

Good garden is the one where plants and people feel comfortable with each other. To make it a good match it is very important to do this professional - know garden owner character, preferences. Well designed garden is not only beautiful but also functional and is not a problem for people who take care of it. So it is important to think also about its placement, type of soil, is it sunny.

There are many things that we can look at when talking about functionality, and one of them is type of plants that we use and structure of the garden. We can talk here about symmetrical, asymmetrical, geometrical, regular and combined gardens - the last one have more than one specific elements in its structure.

Next thing that would have a great impact on our garden would be its climate that we would like to have it designed in. Modern science even in garden design has many things to offer - many styles that might match our character, temper and individual needs and to make us feel good in there. Our garden appearance would depend on the appearance of the our house. We can inspire here with nature and make the garden in few styles - stone garden, flower garden or just cottage or modern one.

Garden should be a special place for us, a place were we could leave everything behind, spend wonderful time with our friends, family or just with ourselves thinking about the wonders of nature and our beautiful garden. It should makes us feel better and even become a better person. So don't hesitate - think about improving your garden even during the winter or autumn time!

To make your garden look beautiful you might need an original gazebos or great summerhouses - all you can find at the Liveoutside.co.uk site!

The Strength of a Beautiful Garden

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Our garden is the place where we can search for good energy and strength for living. Here you can find some good tips about how to plan a beautiful garden and how to buy plants to it - to make it even more relaxing and original.

Beautiful - warm and sunny day, hammock, and delicate, soft and pleasant smell of flowers in the air. Something like that sounds like a resting on some tropical island - but it's not. It might be also resting in our garden - cause everyone that has only a small land for his disposal can spend some luxury moments like that.

Planning a garden
Before we buy plants and trees to our garden we should first think trough the whole matter - where each thing would stand and where each plant would grow best and look best. Mostly we should remember that garden and house are composing and to look good they should match. And we should also think about what are our expectations, what is the garden's purpose and what do we want to see from our windows.

Garden as a shield
Garden that is well organized might not only look good but also play a role of some sort of shield that will protect us and our house from what is outside. Trees even small can cover us from the curious eyes of our neighbors and also dust and noise of the street. Ideal for this purpose would be all kinds of hedges that might also be cut in very original way - the design of the hedge depends only on us.

What to look at when buying plants and trees
First we should think which plants will grow nearby the house and which will be a little bit far from it. And which plants will grow also near themselves and which will be separate. It has a major meaning because some plants look much better when they are 'single', surrounded only by grass and some better in groups. Especially trees that will grow higher should be planted separately.

The dimensions of trees is also a different point to think about. But when we do all those things we surely be satisfied with the effect we get.

If you are looking for wooden and luxury garden canopies and Carports the Liveoutside website will give you exactly what you are looking for!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Sorrow

Exotic plants at winter time

Image by suchitra prints via Flickr

Winter is quite a rough time - for us and for our garden plants. It's cold and we aren’t in the mood for anything. Our plants are feeling bad too. How to make them feel good? Which plants are more likely to survive at this time of the year?

A winter garden is one of the best places to grow flowers, especially the exotic ones. We can also have vegetables, lemons and oranges there.

The most popular winter-garden plants are climbers and hanging type plants (for example ivy), high species (i.e. Chinese roses, oranges) and low species (winter begonia). You can also use your greenhouse to grow forced vegetables for example paprika or tomatoes.

In the winter garden we have to take care of the plants and the conditions that they are in more carefully than in summer time. The most important conditions are the temperature, lighting and air humidity. There are sometimes situations when people grow very demanding plants in their gardens like Chinese Gooseberry (well known as kiwifruit), or passion fruits. Having winter gardens can bring us a lot of benefits.

We can put the plants that we grew earlier in the greenhouse into our home and they will increase the quality of our air, and bring an original look to our interior. The smell of leaves and flowers have a positive impact on our mood and thanks to them we feel calmer.

We will only achieve these results when we treat our plants well. Mistakes made in growing may end up badly. Not seldom we have situations of damaging the flowers or even death. The main course for blame for this is bad conditions or choice of wrong place. Symptoms that should worry us are spots on the leaves and their strange colour.

It depends on us, our imagination and needs, what we will do with our winter garden and what plants we will have there. But it's worth thinking about when we are at the planning stage of designing our garden.

Types of Carports

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People today care quite a bit about the condition of their vehicles; they pay a good deal of money to get them and a good deal of money to keep them in good working order. Not every home comes with a two garage to protect their automobiles and not every middle class family can afford to have a big garage built for the purpose.

For those people that love and want to protect their cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles but don't have a garage to do so, a carport can be a very good alternative. There are a wide variety of carports such as metal carports available to suit just about any purpose a person could have; they vary in the materials that they are constructed from, the style of framing and the size - there is one out there for every situation and here is a good cross section of what's available to make the correct decision when choosing which type of carport is right for your situation.

Different Materials
This is probably the most important deciding factor in your choice of carports. It will determine both the price and the structural integrity of the building.
Polyester and polyethylene construction is probably the most economically priced type of carport available, though the prices of all raw materials have gone up in recent years; polyethylene is still a more cost effect alternative to aluminum or steel framing. You won't have quite as sturdy a carport as you would if you'd gone with steel framing, but these carports protect well against the wind, rain, sunlight and light debris. Though they don't have the most rugged construction, they will provide more than enough protection for your automobile in light and regular duty applications and the light weight materials make them much easier to move than their steel counterparts.

Aluminum carports are a bit sturdier than the polyethylene variety and still come in with a lower price tag than a steel carport. The lightweight aluminum carport is fairly easy to assemble and, though not quite as portable as the aforementioned, will still be able to be moved without a whole lot of trouble. An aluminum carport is perfect for situations that need something with some reliable durability, but where cost is still a factor.

Steel carports are among the sturdiest available, but you will pay for the added integrity due to the cost of the raw materials. They offer the same basic principals of protections as both of the aforementioned models, but come with the piece of mind of being a much more permanent structure.

Sizes and Styles
Carports of all materials come in a wide variety of standard and custom sizes and can easily be built to suit any purpose. The most popular sizes are made to house one automobile or are 'triple wide' for those that want to protect more than one vehicle under the same carport. Once you determine how much space on your property you have available and how many vehicles you are looking to protect you can determine what size of carport will best suit your needs.
The styles of carport can be nearly as varied as the sizes; there are standard frames with open sides or fully enclosed, A-frames with open sides or fully enclosed, A-frame 'utility' with an open frame for vehicle protection and an attached enclosed structure for storage. Many manufacturers also offer custom styles where you can decide how you need your carport to be and they will manufacture it to order.

A carport is the most economic and readily available alternative for a homeowner with no garage, who is on a budget. Whatever function you should require of it, whether it's just to provide basic protection of your automobile; or whether you need a fully enclosed, semi-portable steel garage building for secure storage there is a carport out there for you.

By: Amy Nutt

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Offers preengineered, pre-fabricated steel buildings and metal garages, steel carports, barns, workshops and add-on structures for personal, agricultural and commercial use.

Gazebos And Summerhouses

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These days, gazebos and summerhouses have grown so popular in UK that they are as almost as common as cars.

The word “gazebo” is not a single word; it has got a very colourful history behind. The word “gazebo” first came into view in the book published in 1972 by an architect named William Halfpenny. The book was called "New Design For Chinese Temples". Later it was hypothesized that Halfpenny made-up the word playfully by adding the Latin ending -ebo, as in videbo ('I shall see') to the word 'gaze' to get the meaning 'I will look.'

Nowadays gazebos have taken many forms. Throughout its colourful journey gazebos have been known as summerhouses, screen houses, kiosks, pavilions, pergolas, arbores, grottos, and pagodas.

The summer of UK is believed to be very unpredictable like as share markets. The temperature arbitrarily changes during summer. So if one think of a rendezvous in the garden, all need is a reliable garden shelter.People use gazebos and summerhouses to enjoy the beauty of a garden, some use gazebos and summerhouses as centre of lavish entertainment. Gazebos and summerhouse are the place where relax and communicate with nature. Gazebos and summerhouses really provide a touch of elegance and grace to your garden. Several types of materials can be used in constructing gazebos. Wood is one of such materials, which are used for a construction of gazebos and summerhouses. Western red cedar wood for example is very durable as it has natural oils that protect the wood from decay. Pinewood is also highly resistant to decay and insect damages. These materials make gazebos and summerhouses sturdy and long lasting. And undoubtedly, gazebos and summerhouses add a new dimension to your landscape.

By: Aggtimber

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

www.aggtimber.co.uk/gazebos_and_summerhouses.htm

10 Amazing Uses For A Garden Building

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Got some space in your garden and a bit of spare cash for something a little different?

Here's ten amazing things you could use a garden building for...

1.Create your very own super chic, garden room drinks bar - complete with cocktail shakers, icebuckets, glasses and paper umbrellas. Fantastic for garden parties and barbecues and a great place to escape to after work.

2.Pamper yourself in your own personal garden room spa. A whirlpool bath, massage chair, fabulous skin care products and a chic flic on a wide screen TV. Absolutely perfect for a girl's night in.

3.Build the ultimate model railway room and never have to clear it all away before guests arrive. Lay track all around the garden and watch the trains from the warmth of your own garden signal box.

4.Make room in your life for relaxation in a custom made garden chill out room. Lay on cool music and comfy chairs, turn the heat up high and sounds down low then lie back and unwind.

5.Get creative in a custom built garden room photographic studio. Lights camera and plenty of action will give you a whole range of images for business and pleasure. Add a top flight digital printer and just think of the money you could make!

6.Set up your own garden room brewery. Barrels, boilers, bottles, a glass fronted fridge and a nice comfy area for quality control could give you hours of pleasure. Okay, so you might not remember too much about it but...

7.Take up wood turning and fill your garden room with shavings. The possibilities are endless from giant pepper mills to lace making bobbins but best of all you get the satisfaction of doing something practical and making something beautiful.

8.If your house is crammed to the loft with children's toys then put together a purpose built garden playroom complete with closed circuit TV, intercom, cushioned floor and walls and loads of easy to access toy storage space. Special space for the rugrats means less Lego between the toes for you.

9.Communications can give you a whole new perspective on the world. A garden based CB Radio shack complete with a monster aerial could get you eyeballing all kinds of people you might never otherwise meet. Now that's a big 10-4 good buddy!

10.A garden building can easily have a glass roof so how about your own personal observatory complete with state of the art reclining chair, star gazer's telescope, star charts and a map of Mars. Out of this world!

By:

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Graham Baylis is as busy a business man as you can be and he knows that it's a well known fact that people need space to think, and what better space is there than a peaceful spot in your own back garden. This is just the thinking behind Garden Escape's unique range of Garden Buildings. Of course you can also use such space for business or pleasure, this list covering the FUN area. See www.thegardenescape.co.uk

Garden Buildings A Brief Overview

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Garden buildings have been popular for centuries and were associated with luxury gardens during the Renaissance. The concept of garden buildings then spread north of the Alps and into the United Kingdom, and they are now very much part of the traditional English landscape.


Garden buildings remain popular in today’s garden, such as: garden sheds, summerhouses, or log cabins. They come in variety of shapes of sizes to fit any household need. The size of garden building you opt for isn’t necessarily related to cost, but to how much available space you have in your garden. Ideally you should have a clear space of least 18” wide on all sides of the building to ensure easy access for installation and future maintenance.

Garden buildings are usually made from wood, but metal or heavy moulded plastic is also an option. Wooden garden buildings can blend into the garden or stand out as an attractive addition. The wood will need protecting from the elements, termites, mould and damp, and therefore a good wood finisher needs to be applied once a year to protect the garden building. Plastic garden buildings are durable, will not degrade and hardly need any maintenance. Metal garden buildings often do not come with a floor. Consequently it is advisable to mount metal sheds on foundations to reduce rust problems, insects and ground water seeping into the building.

Small garden buildings, such as sheds, are often used for storage: garden tools, work tools, bicycles, and anything else that can’t find a home in the house. Sheds and men have often been associated together, but the traditional viewpoint has to change: women have recently discovered the joy of ‘shed time’ and subsequently the sale of sheds have increased.

Larger garden buildings, for example: sheds or log cabins, are extremely versatile. No longer are they regarded as just somewhere to store the gardening equipment. A popular option for a larger garden building is a home office. The smallest size for an office is generally 8’ x 10’ and the most popular sizes are 12’ x 8’ and 12’ X 10’. There are companies that specialise in garden buildings for offices and they can advise on such matters as: planning permission, location, foundations, and utilities. Large garden buildings can also be used as a workshop, to house a whirlpool or as children’s playroom/playhouse. There are purpose built garden buildings for children, and manufacturers have let their imagination run riot. There are castle playhouses, mini-home playhouses with four windows at the front, a door in the middle and an upstairs! There are playhouses on top of climbing frames, jungle huts, and playhouses in the shape of a rocket – how fantastic is that! They will keep the children amused for hours.

Garden buildings are ideal for entertaining friends, colleagues or family at home, when space is lacking in the house. Summerhouses make an ideal option, and they are also great to relax in on a warm day while the pesky insects buzz around outside. Summerhouses are attractive and can be tucked away in the corner of the garden if space is limited, or act as focal point for the larger garden. They start from a small and simple design, through to a large, hexagonal summerhouse containing a built in stove, vent and chimney; therefore you could barbeque any time of the day, whatever the weather – and you’ll have the most popular garden in the street!
It is hard to find a garden without a garden building because they are useful, practical and versatile. Furthermore, some garden buildings can increase the value of a property – another reason why a garden shouldn’t be without a garden building.

By: Sara Lungley

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Sara Lungley wrote this article on garden buildings. Garden buildings come in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes, and can enhance a garden. For more information on buying garden buildings online visit www.gardeningthoughts.co.uk.