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Stone & Garden - Blog

Learn how to look after your garden during a heatwave!

The first thing you can do in the garden in the dry weather is to get rid of any unwanted weeds as they will pull up ALOT easier in dry soil. Water newly planted subjects as a priority making sure the root ball is wet and checking with a trowel if necessary. Where watering is not possible, consider applying a spray such as Wilt Pruf. If you want to do some planting to keep your hobby alive during this hot weather consider planting flowers that are from and therefore used to hotter climates- some examples are; agapanthus, Eucomis, canna, dahlias, marigolds, petunias and zinnia. These particular plants can still thrive and grow during a heatwave with little maintenance. ‘Puddle plants in’ – this is when you fill the planting hole with water and allow to drain 5-10 times before planting, this ensures the area of soil is fully hydrated before planting. Save water and money! Don’t bother watering your grass. The main leaves will die and the grass will appear a yellow/ brown colour but the grass root will stay alive and will come back to life naturally once a cooler temperature and the rain......

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How to Modernise your Summer 2018 Garden

Want up-to-date garden living? Here are a few tips and ideas to get your perfect 2018 garden… We understand that different styles and trends suit different people and their gardens, which is why we have chosen to focus on several different types of modern garden styles. We hope to inspire you to incorporate at least one of these funky and creative ideas into your garden area in summer 2018! Sandstone and Limestone Paving New paving for a patio area or driveway is one obvious thing that will give any garden that fresh and modern look that you are after. However, when choosing what material to use you should consider the overall style and look of your house and garden. Should you be looking at traditional, rustic riven or more modern and smooth types of stone? It all depends on what look you are aiming for...any of these styles can be made to look modern yet authentic! If you are looking to create a textured paving effect, but want to make it look original yet modern, there are a variety of different types of Indian Sandstone you could use; some of these include Raj Green , Rippon paving, Black Sandstone and so many......

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Preparing for the cold season

Winter is almost upon us, which means that there are a number of jobs to be completed in the garden to make sure that it is protected from the dropping temperatures.. If these tasks aren’t completed in time you could find that your plants and flowers are damaged throughout the winter or that your garden isn’t as safe to work in as it is during the rest of the year. Helping your Plants One of the most important tasks for you to complete during the autumn months is to mulch the surface of your flowerbeds. By mulching your flowerbeds you can insulate the roots of your plants and protect them against the effects of frost. There are a number of materials that you can use as mulch, many of which we covered in our article earlier in the year which you can read here. We stock materials such as 10mm Gravel, 20mm Plum Slate and many more which are all suitable for protecting your soil from frosty conditions. Watch you don't slip... Working in your garden during the winter can be potentially hazardous due to the chances of slipping or falling whilst navigating the grounds. This hazard is caused by......

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PREPARING FOR THE FORTHCOMING WINTER WEATHER

The Met Office have predicted that the UK will be entering the ‘Big Freeze’ any time soon and this is anticipated to last well into early 2017. Winter weather can lead to very dangerous conditions for both drivers and pedestrians. Slippery roads can lead to skidding and collisions and icy footpaths can cause slips and falls. Even a light dusting of snow can be dangerous. In fact, most accidents occur during minor snow falls and ice build ups as drivers and pedestrians can be caught off guard and misjudge the severity of the conditions. Drivers may purchase winter tyres and follow safety procedures to prepare them for hazardous conditions, but even the most careful of drivers could fall victim to an accident in the snow. Rock Salt is a coarse grit used to de-ice roads, footpaths and driveways. Rock Salt lowers the freezing point of the moisture in snow and ice to help it melt quickly. This means that roads and footpaths will be safer to use as the hazard will be removed sooner than if the ice was left to melt naturally. People often see local authority salt grit trucks on the roads before the snow has even fallen, but......

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Create a low maintenance gravel border

If you hate weeding borders, then this is the blog post for you! One of the most common reasons why redesigning a garden area is considered, is to cut down on the amount of work required. Busy lifestyles in this day and age have meant less time to complete ‘mundane’ garden jobs such pulling out weeds. You can cut down on the amount of weeding you do by creating a low maintenance gravel border. Step by Step Guide to creating a Gravel Border: Firstly, you need to clear the area. Remove all or most of the existing planting from the borders keeping any favourites to one side. Next, dig over the border to introduce air into the soil and make it easier to work. Remember, this is your last opportunity to improve your soil, so if it is heavy, add a little peat free compost to break it up a bit. You can add a general purpose granular fertiliser at this stage too. When you have dug over the soil, rake it over so it’s even there will be no bumps underneath the gravel. Now you can lay out your weed control membrane. Peg it down so it’s nice and......

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Protect your Home from Flooding – Pre-Filled Sandbags

Weather in the UK has become somewhat unpredictable, with a heatwave one week, followed by torrential downpours the next. Pre-Filled Sandbags can help prevent unnecessary flooding in situations where homes are threatened by rising rivers and where drainage has been put under extra pressure due to heavy rainfall. Due to the frequent localised nature of flooding in the UK, it is wise for any household that falls within an area deemed at risk of flooding to take precautions; Pre-filled Sandbags can be just one way in which households can protect themselves against the damage caused by flood water. If your home falls in one of the areas at risk from flooding, it is helpful to have sandbags on standby to prevent the additional few inches of water levels rising in rivers and streams and over full drains from entering your property through the doors or windows. Other gaps around the house that could let in water may need covering over too, such as low level ventilation ducts and boiler flues. When compared to the potential cost of damage caused by flood water, the cost of Pre-Filled Sandbags are not expensive and can offer a cheap yet practical way to prevent unnecessary flood......

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Mulching - a quick guide

Mulching is the process of layering soil and flowerbeds with materials, such as gravel slate or bark. It has multiple benefits including: Helping soils retain moisture in summer Suppressing weeds Deter some pests Protect plant roots from extreme temperatures Give a decorative finish The best time to mulch entire beds or borders is in late-winter or early spring. This will trap in moisture from wet weather and ensure beds don’t dry out quickly in the heat of summer. How to mulch Before mulching make sure the site is clear of weeds and the soil is moist. Water if necessary as it's difficult to wet dry soil through a layer of mulch. Spread a 5cm (2in) layer around plants or across the soil with a spade, leaving a little gap around the stems of plants. Rake to a level finish. What are the best materials for Mulching? 10mm Gravel (Pea Gravel) is the most commonly used for mulching and is really economical. This Quartz Gravel consists mainly of browns, creams and grey colours which allows it to blend in nicely to most landscapes. Ornamental Bark is great for mulching around flower beds, rockeries and looks especially attractive when laid around the......

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Supplying schools and nurseries

Since the busy Easter period we have been delighted to supply local and national Primary schools with a range of materials such as our Beds and Borders Topsoil, Vegetable Topsoil, Play Bark and Play Sand. As the mild weather conditions continue, many schools are sprucing up their garden and play areas in time for Summer and are introducing educational gardening areas to support learning with the National Curriculum. Teaching children about where their food comes from as well how plants and vegetable grow is an ideal way to get the children learning outside in the fresh air. Our Premier Vegetable Topsoil provides all the natural goodness and nutrients needed to bring amazing, consistent growth that new planted fruit and vegetables need to become healthy. Unlike many other soil suppliers we blend our screened soil with local natural green waste compost that's processed through a professional 16 week Wind Row Composting Cycle. The Premier Beds and Borders Topsoil is a rich organic blend of soil and compost perfect for developing the growth of new and established plants, trees and shrubs. It contains natural water retentive materials that hold extra water within the soil which is then gradually released into the......

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Making a Raised Bed from Railway Sleepers

A bed made from railway sleepers will be extremely strong and long lasting, with an attractive natural look. Our standard tanalised sleepers are sized at 2400mm x 200mm x 100mm (collection from our head office only) or 1200mm x 200mm x 100mm. We can supply both sizes in either Green or Brown. You can use them horizontally, or cut them in length and lay them in the same way as timber posts. Instructions for how to make a raised bed using the sleepers horizontally are below. What you will need Railway Sleepers Circular saw or chain saw Drill 20 to 30cm wood screws 10cm wood screws Metal plate connectors Instructions Calculate the number of sleepers you need for your raised bed. The number of sleepers you'll need for your raised bed depends on the size of your desired bed. When calculating, remember that you need to make your bed at least four sleepers tall. Arrange railway sleepers into a rectangle or square on the ground. If the sleepers need trimming, cut them to size using a circular saw or a chain saw. Connect the sleepers end-to-end using metal plate connectors. Centre the metal plate connector over the gap where two......

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PLANNING FOR NEW FENCING

If you are thinking about having a new fence installed, we have got some tips to help you in the planning process – all of which should prevent any mishaps further down the line. Planning Permission You need to consider if you should gain planning permission from your local authority to erect a new fence; it’s always best to check first before doing any work. There is no need to apply for planning permission to take down a fence unless you’re in a conservation area. Where a neighbouring property is involved you might find you need planning permission, however, sometimes it is better to speak to your neighbours first so that any objections can be addressed before any permission process commences – maybe you could even share the cost for a new fence – it is going to be shared after all! Whether you are sharing your fence or not, speaking to your neighbours before the work goes ahead is a common courtesy and helps to diffuse any tensions which may arise. Neighbours are more likely to agree to your plans if you speak with them first! Think About The Height The main purpose of a fence is to give you......

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