our-blog

Green roofs for Garden Buildings

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:55:29 +0100

As an option for many of our garden buildings we offer a green roof system using Sedums, a stunning effect is created offering an environmentally friendly building. When you install any garden building you will probably remove foliage, be it grass, borders or even weeds, you could replace the lost environment with a green roof on your garden building helping to maintain the balance.

We have introduced an unusual concept to our range of garden buildings. Instead of tiles or felt we are offering as an option a green roof for your shed, log cabin, playhouse or summerhouse, in fact any building you require.

The system we are using is a landscaping matting with sedum plants grown within it, the buildings roof is strengthened where necessary to accept the covering,

This matting is a living carpet for outdoor use, it has the following features:

One of the lowest maintenance products available in the UK
Grown onto a special matting that gives strength and versatility
It comes with mature plants having been grown for 18 months, the sedum plants are already established in a life time of growing medium
It includes a mixture of of flowering sedums to give all year round colour and texture
Never needs mowing, weeding or deadheading
It attracts wildlife

Buy Now from Taylors Garden Buildings

Top tips for growing a fruit & vegetable garden

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:58:13 +0100

Home-grown fruit and vegetables mean tasty, fresh food which is chemical-free, cheaply produced. Vegetable gardening is good. And especially in summer gardening is fun too and can provide healthy, outdoor exercise. Here are some gardening tips for beginning your own fruit and vegetable plot.

You can grow food in window boxes, but a garden plot is ideal. Position is important. Fruit and vegetables need sun, water, and feeding. So, try to pick a site with full sun, at least from March to November. Avoid planting next to trees or tall hedges, as these suck all moisture and nourishment from the soil and restrict sunlight. However, shelter from strong winds is necessary, so low hedges, or shrubs, make useful windbreaks. Daily watering is vital, especially in summer.

The plot needs clearing. Chemicals like glyphosphate kill most weeds, but contaminate soil. A safe, effective method is to deep-dig, pulling out all weeds and roots by hand. Weeds should be burnt, not composted. The soil then needs working and feeding. Use a pH testing kit to establish the soil composition and type of nourishment required. Digging in well-rotted compost or manure does wonders, but is unsuitable for some vegetables – check varieties first. Then, rake the soil to a fine tilth, ready for planting.
Plant a mixture of fast and slow growing produce, and plan a three-year rotation. Stagger planting to avoid gluts. For faster results, buy part-grown seedlings. These can be purchased cheaply from local markets, car boot sales, summer fetes, and neighbours.

Things to consider when choosing a BBQ

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:00:57 +0100

Stainless barbecues or grills are superb for having a BBQ function in the limited space of your garden. Outdoor BBQs are a real fun and an added treat right after a busy weekly routine. All you will need to do is to just pick the needed things and organize an outdoor kitchen in order to prepare stainless barbecues. Now the most essential issue to be considered is the kind of barbecue grill you are about to use. Here you have two choices A Charcoal barbecue grill utilises charcoal to heat and power the grill, or a Gas barbecue grill that utilises gas to heat and power the grill. A Propane Gas barbecue grill may well be more expensive in comparison to a charcoal barbecue grill but it is certainly far more convenient to use. While preparing propane gas barbecues you can manage and handle the temperature for the appropriate preparation of the meat. The greatest element is that propane gas barbecues have a tendency to generate much less smoke and the gas grills are a lot easier to clean as in contrast to charcoal grills. There are 3 sorts of propane gas barbecue grills present in the market. Based on your requirement and budget you can select any one of the following varieties. Entry-level BBQ gas grill: These propane gas grills are the most fundamental barbecue grills and can very easily be bought at a very affordable cost. These BBQ grills can conveniently be used to barbecue the meat utilizing the function of heat-generating. Stainless steel grills are the finest selection in this category. Mid-range propane gas BBQ grills: These gas grills are a little more pricey but the extra money you pay is worth the quantity of added features you get. These extra functions are not present on entry-level propane gas grills. Deluxe barbecue propane gas grills: The finest and the most expensive sort of propane gas grills. The most remarkable function of these grills is that they use BTU (British thermal units). This element permits you to maintain a track on the amount of propane gas that has been burned by the grill. Individuals who love barbecues can pick one of the above listed sorts depending on their requirements. Be certain to pick a stable and solid constructed grill for BBQS if you do not want the grill to be flimsy and shaky. Do not make a mistake of acquiring a propane gas barbeque grill that is not made from high grade stainless steel and does not have stylish porcelain enamel finish. For barbeques, you need to be really selective when it comes to pick the appropriate sort of barbeque grill.

Gardening in Containers

Sat, 22 May 2010 16:02:55 +0100

Every Garden can benefit from the addition of container gardens. They add interst and variety, plus are easily moved around. If you live in an apartment or have a small area to work with this may be the only solution for you.

Your Container

Your container can be pretty much anything and is only limited to your imagination. Just make sure there is adequate drainage for your plants. I love old buckets, discarded kitchen pots and baskets for a rustic feel. For a formal garden choose a more traditional container.

Regardless of your choice of container, make sure it's not to big or too small for your planting.

Your Soil

Do not use garden soil for your container plants. Garden soil is too heavy, dries out too quickly and will not provide the needed nutrients your container plants need. You can find good potting soil at your local garden center or you can mix your own.

To mix your own make sure you include soil, peat, sand and a slow release fertilizer.

Maintenance

You'll need to pay close attention to your container grown plants -- much more than plants in your garden beds. The soil will dry out more quickly so frequent watering it a must. You'll also need to fertilize more often. Water in the morning or evening whenever the soil is almost dry and water thoroughly until water comes out the bottom drainage holes.

One thing I really love about container gardening is mobility. If a particular grouping doesn''t work you can simply move your pots and change your garden design.

Have fun, experiment and be creative!

Green roofs for Garden Buildings

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:35:13 +0100

Taylors Garden Buildings offer an option for many of their garden buildings a green roof system using Sedums, a stunning effect is created offering an environmentally friendly building. When you install any garden building you will probably remove foliage, be it grass, borders or even weeds, you could replace the lost environment with a green roof on your garden building helping to maintain the balance...read more

http://bit.ly/b8ONz8

Countrywide's online country store

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:28:24 +0100

Countrywide's online country store offers equestrian clothing, horse riding equipment, country clothing and pet supplies. Key products include horse riding clothing and equipment, horse riding hats, horse riding boots, saddles and tack. We also stock country clothing and outdoor footwear, safety boots and wellingtons, pet food, pet beds and accessories. Our range includes small holder feed, equipment and a variety of gardening tools and equipment.

http://bit.ly/dbECOb

RSPB Shop

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:40:30 +0100

The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) programme promotes the RSPB online shop, which offers a great range of high-quality, environmentally friendly products. They sell high quality bird food, feeders, nestboxes, and unique homeware items...well worth a browse.
http://bit.ly/bSQrVx

The easiest sheds to put together!

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:12:14 +0100

Waltons Groundsman EasyFit Wooden Garden Sheds

The easiest sheds to put together! Pre hung doors and window and a felt free roof, saving you hours putting the shed up and re-felting it in years to come! Check them out now!!!

http://bit.ly/dCz480

Colo topless gardener complaints prompt new rules

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:48:51 +0100

BOULDER, Colo. – A woman gardening wearing only a yellow thong and pink gloves has brought neighborhood complaints and new rules from a housing authority in Colorado.

Boulder Housing Partners plans to amend its rules so that tenants cover up when they're outside. Several passers-by told Boulder police earlier this week that 52-year-old Catharine Pierce was topless while tending to her yard. Last year, she was threatened with eviction for gardening wearing only pasties and a thong.

Police responding to Wednesday's reports decided Pierce wasn't breaking any laws.

Robert Pierce said he'll fight changes that would keep his wife from gardening outside topless, which is legal under state and city law.

"They're making a big mistake," he said.

Boulder Housing Partners Executive Director Betsey Martens didn't return a phone call Friday seeking details on how covered residents would have to be.

She told the Daily Camera newspaper that people have complained for years about the couple often going outside wearing only thong underwear.

Robert Pierce said the new rules wouldn't discourage the couple. "We'll stay the way we have to stay," he said.

The City Council is scheduled in April to consider expanding the city's anti-nudity ordinance, but a draft proposal to make it an offense for women to go topless in public was removed.

City spokesman Patrick von Keyserling said the housing authority is a separate entity and that the city can't dictate the agency's rules.

Judd Golden, chairman of the Boulder County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said neighborhoods are generally able to make their own rules for residents to follow. But he said the ACLU does not support limits that are more restrictive than the law.

Tuin Metal Sheds

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:31:09 +0100

We highly recommend the Tuin range of metal sheds, these are the best priced buildings on the market and come complete with a 15 year guarantee and a fitting service across the UK. These are the only suppliers who offer this comprehensive service especially at the incredible prices.