Green Garden Design

Money really does grow on trees

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:57:00 +0000

Money really does grow on trees with the Garden Boutique affiliate scheme, launched today with webgains

These labels are made from recycled coffee cups!

This tealight chandelier looks beautiful decorated with clematis

Eco friendly garden furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:08:00 +0000

When choosing eco-friendly garden furniture, is it enough for it to be FSC certified? Should we be sticking to local materials or choosing garden furniture made from salvaged or recycled materials?

Is it more sustainable to choose garden furniture made from local materials, or garden furniture made from salvaged wood?

These elegant loungers are made from salvaged teak
The sustainable furniture option does not have to mean compromising on design

The teak will age elegantly over many years to a soft silver grey.
No need to oil, wax or varnish.

Sustainable garden furniture choices can be a minefield as there is no one right answer. Here are some simple tips to keep in mind when making your decisions...

1/Buy garden furniture made from locally produced wood

There is no excuse for buying teak furniture (even if it is sustainably forested) when so much environmental damage is done shipping it halfway around the world. Choose English Oak from local managed woodland, or if you must have teak, choose furniture made from salvaged or recycled wood

2/Buy recycled garden furniture, or garden furniture that is made from reclaimed materials

Furniture made from recycled or reclaimed materials is clearly the most sustainable option. Garden Boutique have a great choice of stylish recycled metal garden furniture and wooden furniture made from reclaimed wood. These materials are already in circulation and so have a limited impact on the environment.

3/Avoid oil based paints and stains.

Choose wood that is suitable for outdoor use without treatment such as oak, sweet chestnut, larch, western red cedar or douglas fir. If you must colour your wood, choose water-based products so that any wooden furniture can be recycled or composted at the end of its useful life.

This garden furniture is made from 100% recycled aluminium.

Making this garden furniture reuses waste aluminium and consumes only 5% of the energy needed to produce aluminium from ore.

box-bunnies for a spring windowbox

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:30:00 +0000

In celebration of spring, my sister has planted up this amusing windowbox tableaux of topiary bunnies in a field of yellow 'tete-a-tete' daffodils.

The box bunnies are still filling out their topiary frame, but are growing at such a rate that they will be mature by Easter, when the plan is the replace the faded daffodils with dwarf tulips and then parmex carrots (the short fat ones that are great for growing in windowboxes)

Image courtesy of Which.co.uk
who have conducted a trial of the best carrots to grow in pots.

If you are wary of box blight, teucrium x lucidrys is a great alternative for potagers and parterres. We are planting a whole estate in Nottinghamshire with teucrium instead of box, as it clips well, stays small and dense - and is very hardy.

At the moment, the groups of bunnies are happily in pairs whilst a lone topiary squirrel is ostracized on the end of the scheme. I am threatening to replant it with Berberis, as I think a red squirrel might gain a higher place in her affections...

I will post more pictures throughout the year as it develops.

Lawns: turf will flourish with thyme

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:56:00 +0000

I have been experimenting using my favourite groundcover as a lawn. Cotula squalida, a creeping evergreen from New Zealand is one of the best performers I have come across. It makes a great alternative lawn because it reaches only 2.5cm high and is happy in a semi-shady spot.

Ajuga reptans, Vinca minor, Pachysandra terminalis or Hedera helix are other good choices to carpet a shady area but I would avoid the larger leaved Ajuga 'Caitlins Giant' in this situation

There is no need to avoid some of the classic alternative lawns - camomile 'Trenague' is wonderful on the right soil, and interweaving thymes is a design classic for a reason.

This lovely thyme lawn is part of Kaydale Lodge Garden in Australia but the principal works just as well in the UK

In the sunnier parts of my garden the fast-spreading Acaena microphylla is romping away. Acaena 'Copper Carpet' is a great choice and has made a lovely evergreen carpet in my mothers front garden (very clay soil, which only gets sun for half the day) Despite the lovely ornamental burrs which give this plant its charm, it is soft underfoot, and slightly springy. The slightly glaucus colouring of the finely cut leaves, makes this an elegant choice that tones in well with red brick, slate and grey stone.

But you don't have to take such a radical step. This weekend's Times discusses a number of simple, significant changes that you can make to the way you manage your lawn to will make it easier and cheaper to look after

If you are growing an usual lawn in your garden, I would love to hear about it and see some piccies!

Recycled green waste converted to ericeous compost

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:34:00 +0000

An ericaceous compost made from recycled green waste is finally commercially available for gardeners.
The compost from Vital Earth is said to be the first of its kind on the market.

It includes humite, a mineral which helps to lower and stabilise pH at around 6 - in addition to the companies popular organic, slow release fertiliser.

The main ingredient of the composts is the composted green material (composted botanical residues, from licensed municipal council green waste collections).

How green waste is converted into high quality organic compost using a digester

After selecting and mixing the raw material to the appropriate carbon, nitrogen and moisture ratios, Vital Earth loads the mix into 40 cubic metre stainless steel digesters for a seven-day composting cycle.

Air flow in the digesters – the critical element in successful composting - is directed by co-ordinated inlet and exhaust fans which are regulated by an automated control system designed specifically for the composting process.

The system receives regular temperature readings from internal probes and adjusts the speed of the fans in line with changes to the temperature of the compost. The process requires the material to reach a temperature of 65°C twice for at least two consecutive days, thereby ensuring full sanitisation of the compost.

All data from the digesters is logged on computer and downloaded each night, so providing total traceability throughout the process. By way of a natural method of filtration widely used in the composting industry, the exhaust air from the digesters is extracted through a wood-chip biofilter where any odours are filtered out.

Following initial composting, the material in the digesters is emptied into large maturation buildings where the compost matures in batched and fan-aerated rows for a further seven weeks.

The process, once again, is monitored and controlled by remote probes linked directly to the computer. Maturation inside rather than in the fresh air eliminates contamination from air-blown weed seeds, other contaminants and animals. It also allows Vital Earth to control moisture levels during the wettest winters and driest summers, so ensuring throughout the year a consistent product for our final blending and bagging process, yielding consistently high quality compost.

Definitely worth a try if you are struggling to produce enough compost in your own garden!

Vintage stone lighting - close but no cigar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:38:00 +0000

These fibreglass and resin garden lights are painted to look like stone. The idea is to solve that garden design quandary: how to find garden lighting that is attractive in the day?

By day these lights from Joanna Wallis really are convincing in their imitation of a vintage stone globe, whilst at night the light glows through the resin and fibreglass, turning the globe into a sort of lamp.

It sounds too good to be true. Finally, a solution to my pet dilemma... and you could even hide a solar panel in their rather than a bulb, so no power or wiring would be necessary.

The Fibreglass and resin shell is pretty convincing in the daylight

But whilst the painted fibreglass/resin shell makes a suprisingly accurate immiation of vintage stone sculptural accents, it just looks wrong for a stone pillar to light up at night -

and dare I say it.... rather tacky.

But at night, it just looks silly and terribly cheap...

It really is an interesting idea to try and create a cameleon form of lighting that is camouflagued in daylight - or even one that draws attention to itself as a different sculptural focal point in the daytime. I'm looking forward to the day when a canny product designer takes the essence of this idea just a little bit further - replacing the bulb with solar cells and creating a form which works day and night with equal elegance and conviction.

So, three cheers for Joanna Wallis for her contribution thus far, but it looks like there is still a long way to go.

Claim your free pocket garden from Garden Boutique

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:54:00 +0000

Luxury garden accessories store Garden Boutique are giving away a FREE POCKET GARDEN with every order over £30...
Supplied in a sealed leak-proof bag the Pocket Garden contains specially formulated compost and seeds that once cut open, just require water to germinate allowing them to grow a beautiful houseplant.

And the best news is that all the compost used is permitted by the Soil Association and is PEAT FREE!

There are some lovely eco-friendly garden products on the site including oak dibbers, bumble bee nesters, sundials made from recycled coffee cups and rain chains... but of course, I am biased

Does garden lighting always look awful in the day?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:54:00 +0000

Sylvia raised an interesting point, that so much of the garden lighting that looks beautiful at night can look pretty dire in the daytime. A very good point - which is why most lighting designers go to such lengths to show the effect of light whilst hiding the source.

But if you are trying to create a light sculpture, is it possible to design something that looks good during the day too?

I wonder if inspiration can be taken from Fiona Heron and her glass sculptures...

Golden Dew - Wolfgang and Heron

A range of individually-made flower sculptures. Hand blown glass heads on steel stems for the garden. £75 for groups of 5

Could these be adapted to become solar lights at night without loosing their essential translucent beauty?

I first came across the work of Wolfgang and Heron at Westonbirt Festival of the Garden 2004. I'll have a root through my photos because the images on their site really don't do the beauty of the garden justice. Blocks of deschampsia and then stipa gigantea are overlaid with a grid of silver birch - with these glass sculptures glinting in the light. It was a garden of restrained simplicity that focussed on the movement of grass, shadows and the play of light.

Further gardens from the Westonbirt Festival of the Garden can be seen on the website. The Festival is sadly no longer running although it has been replaced by a new festival Future Gardens which opens this year in St Albans.

Another designer who I think has suceeded in producing light sculptures that work both day and night is Julie Nelson

Elipse Sculpture by Julie Nelson

Her interest in ceramics, as a material for lighting, is not based on its translucency but on its opacity, the way the light bounces around and fills recesses, accentuating the form. All nelson lights serve a dual function; emitting a warm ambient light in the evening, whilst retaining their aesthetic appeal during the day.

Sponge Sculpture by Julie Nelson

I'm sure there are plenty more hit and misses out there in the world of garden lighting and would love to hear your nominations and thoughts...

Garden Art to cheer a winters day - Field of Light

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:29:00 +0000

A dramatic light installation inspired by Australia's Red Desert can be seen in Cornwall.

As the artist Bruce Munro explains “I wanted to create a field of light stems, that like the dormant seed in a dry desert would quietly wait until darkness falls, and then under a blazing blanket of southern stars bloom with gentle rhythms of light. One's attention is thus drawn to the nature that surrounds the installation as well as the field of light itself.”

The installation has 6,000 acrylic stems, 11 external projectors - and uses more than 24,000 meters of fibre-optic cable to create the Field of Light

It got me thinking about ways of adding winter interest in the garden - and how the short days and darkness are an exciting inspiration for my own garden. Just imagine being enticed out into the cold crisp night by a sea of lights - with the scent of witch hazel and daphne still in the air...

I love to combine the spidery flowers of Hamamelis with winter aconites and Narcissus 'February Gold' with the fluffy flowers of Cornus mas in the background - although I have just designed a planting scheme which uses the more vibrant red Hamamelis 'Diane' underplanted with Anamathele lessonia and Galanthus 'S Arnot', so that the oversized Snowdrops poke through the wispy grass in a romantic, wild gesture.

Right that's it, I am decided - I am plotting my own winter light sculpture for next year - solar powered of course...

I will let you know how I get on!

NOTE:

Munro’s Field of Light was first seen at a reduced scale at the V&A Museum in 2004. The Field of Light can be seen at The Eden Project until the end of March 2009 - when if moves to Frome in Somerset.

If you can't make it to see the exhibition there is a beautiful photograph of the installation in this Months Garden Design Journal by Mark Pickthall. (The Journal is well worth a read anyway!)

VERTICAL GARDENS AS LIVING CANVASES - PATRICK BLANC

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:41:00 +0000

The largest green wall in Britain had been unveiled at the new Leamouth Peninsula development in London's Docklands. Covering over 820sq metres, it covers an area larger than 3 tennis courts!

To learn about the insulating and financial benefits of installing a green wall, see my recent posting 'How your garden can help you cut down on your heating bills"

PATRICK BLANC - GREEN WALL EXPERT

The green wall is the first UK commission for French designer Patrick Blanc who is famous for his vertical planting and green walls. After training as a Botanist, Patrick studied plants growing on rock faces and tree trunks in the wild to develop his 'murs végétaux'. He found plants could do without soil and were happy to grow vertically as long as they had a steady supply of water and nutrients.

You can find out more about Patrick Blanc and his Vertical Gardens by visiting his website

The idea of green walls and vertical plantings has really taken off, and green walls can now be seen all over the world.

HOW PATRICK BLANCS GREEN WALL WORKS

Plants are rooted in a layer of felt laid onto PVC sheeting, which is then stapled to a metal frame attached to the wall. Water and nutrients are delivered from the top, spreading by capillary action to all the plants on the wall.

ABOUT THE GREEN WALL AT LEAMOUTH

The planting shcme for the green wall at Leamouth uses 160 different varieties of plant. These range from tough shrubs such as Buddleja and Berberis to Patrick's trademark Iris japonica and Corydalis, planted in drifts across the surface of the building. To install the planting scheme, it appears the design was simply spray painted on to the wall, and then planted up.

Work on a second green wall in the UK designed by Patrick Blanc, at a nightclub in Kings Cross, is due to begin next year.

To learn more about the work of Patrick Blanc, I would recommend his excellent book,The Vertical Garden: In Nature and the City

MORE INFORMATION ON GREEN WALLS

To learn more about Green Walls and Living Walls, I would highly recommend Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls by Nigel Dunnet

Or to learn about the insulating and financial benefits of installing a green wall, see my recent posting 'How your garden can help you cut down on your heating bills"

* all images are reserved Patrick Blanc

Species tulips are not just for rock gardens - add some to your planting!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Species tulips may be smaller than hybrid tulips, but they are also tougher - and create a stunning show year after year. In a recent article for The Times I wanted to show that there is a species tulip that will be happy in every garden (even clay!) so there is no excuse not to add these lovely bulbs to your planting scheme.

Tulips are often considered ephemeral in the garden, and it's true that many hybrid tulips decline in vigour after the first year, whilst others seem to keep going indefinitely... Species tulips, however, are reliable year upon year, often naturalising and setting seed to produce drifts of flowers that actually improve over the years...

...Rock gardens have typically been the best place to grow species tulips because they emulate their natural habitat in the wild, but they are not the only situation in which these diminutive gems will flourish.

Species tulips for Pots and containers
Tulipa greigii starts flowering in March. The dwarf flowering habit and large decorative leaves make for stunning displays in window boxes and containers. Try combining Tulipa greigii 'Red Riding Hood' with winter pansies and trailing ivy for a late-winter show stopper. I also like T. humilis 'Persian Pearl' and T. kauffmanniana 'Heart's Delight'.

Tulipa clusiana 'Lady Jane' is an april flowering tulip I can only get to grow in a pot but I have seen them growing in garden borders in combination with silver leaved shrubs and perennials, thymes and lavenders - which looks brilliant

This spring I planted my copper windowbox with: Tulipa 'Hearts Delight', Viola 'Penny Red Blotch' and a variegated trailing ivy

Species tulips for Clay soil
Tulipa acuminta is an usual and exotic-looking tulip with needle like pointed petals of red and yellow. It is a surpise hit in clay soil, flowering in May, and is excellent for cut-flower arrangements.

Tulipa turkestanica is one of the easiest species tulips to grow, and deserving of a place in almost every garden. The elegant creamy-white flowers have a rich yellow centre, and really brighten up the winter garden.

Tulipa turkestanica
These tulips will spread gradually and reliably to form dense patches of small starry flowers.

Species tulips for Woodland edge/semi-shade
Tulipa sprengeri is the exception to the rule: flowering in late May and early June, it actually prefers slightly moist soil - and even a bit of shade. try including it in woodland-edge planting schemes, or use it to underplant deciduous trees and shrubs.

Don't be put off by its price: Tulipa sprengeri sets seed widely and will soon become an established accent in the garden.

All rounders
With its sturdy stems, broad leaves and huge bright red flower which can be 15cm across when fully open - Tulipa fosteriana is one of the most popular species tulips. it adapts to a wide variety of soils and situation, relishes neglect and reliable each year.

I'd be interested to know your favourite varieties and planting combination, as well as the bulbs which seem to break the rules in your garden!

Planting on inverted turfs for a worm friendly garden

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:31:00 +0000

Why is it that when clearing a garden lawn, so many landscapers feel the need to dig up the lawn and cart it away to a tip, only to import tonnes of topsoil for the new planting beds?

Inverting turfs to create soil and planting areas is a traditional method of gardening that seems to have been forgotten.

If you are stripping a lawn, perhaps to include more planting, or to make your garden less work to maintain, you want to try and reuse your turf within the garden.

One of the simplest ways to reuse your spare turf is to invert it in the bottom of a planting bed and cover it with soil. By doing this, you will allow the turf to break down under the soil to form lovely humus.

You will save money
(as you will not have to buy in topsoil)

but most importantly, you will not loose your lovely garden worms.

Disconnect your downpipes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:31:00 +0000

Garden Designers are always looking for ways to return water to the ground naturally through infiltration back into the ground, rather than sending it off into storm drains.

Many are taking up the challenge to 'disconnect the downpipes' to prevent water ending up in underground drains. By disconnecting your downpipes, you can store water in a rainwater butt for use in the garden, channel it off to top up a water feature, or use it to irrigate your garden planters directly.

One of my favourites tricks is to use a traditional Japanese-style rain chain, or kusari doi.

Lily Rain Chains are one of the most popular designs

Rain Chains break the fall of the water from the roof, guiding it visibly downward to the ground, or into a rain barrel for storage.

Image courtesy of Re-nest.com

Rain Chains are usually made from copper as this doesn't rust, and acquires a lovely verdigris finish. Copper rain chains are an elegant and functional alternative to traditional closed metal or plastic downspouts and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and USA

There are an excellent selection of Rain Chain available at UK Garden accessories supplier Garden Boutique and at RainChains.com or Gutter Supply in the USA

Rain chains can be beautiful as well as useful in a garden scheme
RainChains.com

Simple link rain chain
£119.95 Garden Boutique

Permeable paving for front gardens avoids planning permission

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:55:00 +0000

From 1 October 2008, new planning legislation for front gardens has come into place.

Anyone wanting to cover more than 5 square metres of their front garden with a non-permeable surface will have to obtain planning permission.

This new legislation has come into force to try and tackle the problem of flooding in the UK.
In many urban areas, homeowners have removed hedges, grass and plants and replaced them with some form of hard-standing to provide a parking space, or to reduce maintenance requirements. In some places whole roads no longer have any front garden, just paving for cars.

Climate change scientists predict an increase in the number and intensity of extreme storms over the next few decades and the flooding in the Midlands and north of England in 2007 highlighted problems with estimates as high as two thirds of the 55,000 homes being affected by surface run-off water.

To avoid the lengthy and costly process of applying for planning - and to prevent problems from flooding, why not choose a permeable option for your front garden. Grass, or reinforced grass, gravel, permeable blocks or porous asphalt are all good compromises - providing a hard surface whilst allowing water to percolate through.

Just look how this front garden was redesigned to include flowers and a large parking area whilst still keeping to the permeable paving guidelines

If you are looking for ideas on how to create attractive permeable parking in your front garden, the RHS have produced a great guide to Front Gardens which you can download from their site

There are also some great ideas from garden designers at many of the garden shows:

Full Frontal - designed by Hadlow College

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2007

Hadlow College’s garden design illustrates that it is possible to have flowers and plants as well as parking space in a front garden without the need for concrete.

The Full Frontal garden uses materials which will minimise surface water run-off, help prevent flooding and improve the water table by allowing water to permeate through and benefit the planting.

The result is an aesthetically pleasing garden which is not only practical but encourages wildlife and improves the look of the neighbourhood.

The Porsche Garden - designed by Piece of Green

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 8th - 13th July 2008

The Porsche Garden demonstrates how an environmentally conscious urban dweller could combine a contemporary front garden with secure off-street parking.

Located in front of a typical London home, the garden hides a surprise - underneath its surface lies an underground parking system. The design comes to life as a section of the garden is raised in the air, and a car emerges from the earth ready to be driven away. The garden also features innovative living walls to reduce dust and noise levels, and log stack walls to offer a home to local wildlife.

This garden highlights the continuing disappearance of urban front gardens, so many of which are being paved over to provide off-road parking. We have lost an area estimated at around 12 square miles (or 22 Hyde Parks) in London alone. This affects the appearance of our streets, increases the urban heat island effect, raises the likelihood of subsidence and heightens the risk of localised flooding due to excessive water run-off.

For more information on the planning requirements see the government planning website

Plants help to fight gun and kife crime

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:24:00 +0000

Researchers working at the University of Surrey are developing ways to mark weapons with Lily pollen. By mixing the pollen of Lilium longiflorum with a polymer they can create a 'nanotag'.
The nanotags are made from pollen, and a mix of grains of crystal oxides such as zirconia, silica and titanium oxide. Using varying combinations of crystal and pollen grains, it is possible to make large numbers of unique tags.

The pollen is invisible to the naked eye, but rubs off onto hands and clothing, marking the user. It is very difficult to wash off and does not degrade over time. This makes it perfect for establishing a proven link between an individual and weaponry found at a crime scene.

Free Garden Design e-Books from Garden Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:08:00 +0000

To celebrate their 10th birthday, Garden Visit are giving away free Garden Design eBooks written by their Editor, Tom Turner

The titles are The Principles of Garden Design and 24 Historic Styles of Garden Design and they will be available to download free from the site in October

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:52:00 +0000

Seeds and bulbs from Trentham Garden Estate in Staffordshire are being offered free, along with advice on growing them.

The giveaway is on 18th October between 2-4pm. First come, first served.

Normal entrance fees apply

Zurich insurers declare green roofs a fire risk

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:43:00 +0000

Insurance company Zurich, are warning that green roofs pose a fire risk - as the roofs could dry out and become flammable. Stuart Blackie, risk management consultant at Zurich, said he was concerned the roofs “would become a hazard in a period of drought, particularly on school buildings”.

In a statement, Zurich said it would not refuse to insure buildings with green roofs as long as “appropriate guidelines have been followed”. These include a continuing maintenance regime and risk assessment.

Dusty Gedge, co-founder of LivingRoofs.org suggested Zurich's new policy might be a knee-jerk reaction to the rising popularity of green roofs in the UK. He revealed that information available from countries with a more mature green roof market is being overlooked:

"In Germany, where there are 35 million m2 of green roofs, you get a reduction on fire insurance if you’ve got one.”

Interestingly Zurich could not provide any examples of fires breaking out on green roofs...

Alternative Garden Lawns - fake turf

noreply@blogger.com (Green Gardener) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 +0000

Fake grass has come on leaps and bounds in the past few years. No more cheap, bright green plastic reminiscent of the butchers counter...

You can now get fake grass with a non directional weave and up to four different coloured 'blades' for a more naturalistic look.

The first reaction of any gardener is normally - fake grass...NO WAY... but I have to admit that the new generation of fake turf is really a rather impressive product and can look very naturalistic

Is there any way environmentally conscious gardeners and landscapers can justify its use in the garden? Lets look at some hard facts:

Fake grass is made from crude oil and is not biodegradable. Although it can be recycled, yet more energy would be required to convert it into something new.

However, natural turf lawns are also very greedy on resources, and so fake grass saves on a huge number of resources too:

Fake grass doesn't have to be watered.
Fake grass doesn't have to be fertilised or sprayed
Fake grass doesn't have to be mowed.

So does removing mower emissions, reducing chemical runoff, reducing water use and the noise pollution from mowers offset the resources required to produce and dispose of this material?

In terms of cost, there are huge differences: Fake grass costs around £29.99 per square metre (or up to £100 per square metre installed), A natural turf lawn costs only 10% as much - but there are higher associated maintenance costs so the two options even out over 10-15 years.

Another factor to consider is the effect of the lawn upon biodiversity and the garden environment. Obviously fake turf does not create a rich habitat for wildlife. It does not photosynthesise, and therefore does not aborb Co2 from the atmosphere.

In addition, because it doesn't transpire, you would loose out on the beneficial insulating and cooling qualities of a natural turf lawn. Fake grass is made from polyethelene and so it can get pretty hot in midsummer in fact a real grass lawn is on average 50% cooler. Contrast this with the cool feel of natural grass under your feet and this may be a factor in your choice.

A better compromise might be to consider drought tolerant turf - e.g. Buffalo Grass, chamomile or Bonsai fescue to cut down on the extreme water demands of a natural lawn. You could reduce emissions by using a solar charged mower, like they do at National Trust Nymans, or use a push mower and cut down on noise and emmissions whilst getting fit at the same time! You could go for a no-mow lawn such as cammomile or thyme...

There are plenty of options to consider when it comes to finding the best lawn solution for your garden - and different solutions will suit different situations. What is clear, is that a compromise is neccessary for a greener garden.

It is a good idea to reduce the size of your lawn, or get rid of the lawn if you can... and if you must have a lawn, just take a moment to thingk about how you can care for it in a more environmentally responsible way.

UK Fake Grass Suppliers
Easigrass
As Good As Grass

US Fake grass Suppliers
ALG Grass
Envy Lawn

More information and images available at Artificial Lawn information

Bird nesting boxes Birdball hanging eco bird ball nest

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:37:00 +0000

Bird nesting boxes, such as this elegant ceramic birdball, are a great example of innovative design combined with traditional manufacturing process.

Small garden birds love them. The hole is large enough to allow easy access for blue tits, coal tits and marsh tits, but small enough to keep out predators.

A quick clean out each autumn and a birdball is sure to make a great home for many years to come.

Made from natural ingredients. No bleaches, chlorine or glaze. Each Bird ball is supplied with stainless steel wire (1m long), a tree protector and detailed instructions.

MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:20:00 +0000

According to new research from Barclays Local Business, a substantial number of people are starting up their own business in the gardening and horticulture services sector.

The research found that keen gardeners whose office job allows them little time to devote to their hobby are now starting up their own business in the gardening and horticulture services sector instead!

The south-east, east and East Midlands lead the way in the start-up gardening services sector.

It appears that retired people are also looking to supplement their pensions by earning money from gardening - 1,400 businesses were started in the gardenng sector by those aged 65 and over during 2007!

GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:12:00 +0000

Budding photographers are being invited to enter a competition to find the best pictures of plants on show at The Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

The annual photographic competition, held in conjunction with The Birmingham Post, is looking for people to come along and take the best snaps of the exotic plants and Victorian architecture on display at the Gardens.

Plants and nature; views and architecture; and juniors aged five-16 are the three categories of the competition and all entries must have been taken in or around the gardens.

Linda Keen, at the gardens said "the aim is to attract more people who might be interested in photography to come along to the gardens. We have a very photogenic establishment, and we have been running this competition for many years now. In the glass houses we have plants from all over the world, and outside we have all the different gardens."

For more information, or an entry form to take part in the competition, telephone 0121 454 1860 or pick one up from the reception at the Gardens on Westbourne Road, Edgbaston

RECYCLED CUPS MAKE GORGEOUS GARDEN GIFTS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:26:00 +0000

Can you believe this cute sundial is made from vending machine coffee cups?

This innovative new material has a lovely solid, heavy, earthy feel, very much like slate - and looks great in the garden

Produced as a direct result of the UK Save-A-Cup scheme... buy one vended cup of coffee today, drink the coffee, place the plastic cup in the recycling bin... The recycling loop has been closed.

This lovely clock is also available. A gorgeous garden gift idea!

Garden Design Trends 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:24:00 +0000

Many of the key garden design trends from a recent SGD survey pointed towards sustainability in the garden:

Vegetables are what every garden owner wants this year. A fruit and veg area is specified in almost every commission as growing-your-own moves from optional extra to essential. Even the most formal design has a space for vegetables, with such ornamental edibles as beans, globe artichokes, chard and fennel taking their place alongside this year’s other ‘must haves’ - boldly coloured and strongly scented roses, herbs, hydrangeas, lilacs, flowers grown for cutting and alliums. Herbs remain perennial favourites and more people are now also growing fruit - especially espalier varieties

Wildlife friendly gardens are important – as long as they attract the ‘right’ wildlife: Squirrels, deer, foxes, mice, moles and an awful lot of insects, including the dreaded Rosemary beetle fall into the ‘pest’ category of wildlife. “Frogs, toads, newts, worms and most birds are on the ‘ticked’ list,” she says.

Just as gardens and gardeners are working harder, plants too are chosen because they are good performers. Most of all however garden owners want to know how to care for the plants they choose. Low maintenance is a key decider, particularly in a fast paced world where expert gardeners are in ever-short supply. “Where are all the skilled gardeners?” is a constant refrain.

Colour in the garden is often aligned with catwalk fashions and many SGD members report a return to favour of hot oranges, earth tones with fire and rich deep vermilions and purples. Contrasts such as white and dark blue being requested too and for those whose garden is a place of rest, cool colours are on the increase.

The environment is on every garden owner’s mind. “Sustainability is no longer something we just talk about,” says Ann Soderberg. “The main requirements are SUDS – reuse of grey, rain and surface water, smaller domestic windmills, biofuels, ground-source heat pumps and photovoltaics.” Locally sourced materials and plants are high on the list, as well as composting and porous front gardens. Indian sandstone is on the way out along with patio heaters.

Lighting is still in demand even in these environmentally aware times.

Recycling existing materials is on the increase too but there’s still some way to go as it can be difficult to find recycled materials to use.

Fragrance and the powerful link with memory is another big theme of 2008. Fragrance is set to become an important element of the garden and plants which give off their fragrance in the evening are sure to gain in popularity in the coming year as people work longer and longer hours.

Clients are becoming ever better informed. Magazines remain a big influencer, as well as television gardening programmes and the Internet is becoming vital for research.

GROW YOUR OWN GREENHOUSE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:42:00 +0000

I came across the brilliant 'Grow your own' Greenhouse at the 2008 RCA Design Products graduation show...

The Greenhouse is a complete, hassle free and self-sufficient growing system for small city gardens and roof terraces.

As the designer Jochem Faudet explains:

'Food is one of our most basic needs, but in western society the knowledge of growing fruit and vegetables in your own garden is no longer a part of everyday live. There are many reasons why people do not grow their own vegetables, often due to a shortage of time, lack of space and the effort needed to learn the skills to grow your own food not being seen as worthwhile. On the other hand there are so many advantages to growing your own vegetables, a delicious and intense taste compared to supermarket vegetables, the enjoyment of watching your own plants growing, the money it saves, and the reassuring knowledge of self-sufficiency.'

The fantastic thing about this 'This Grow Your Own' is that although it is comparable with a small greenhouse, it is actually very different... It comes as a complete hassle free self-sufficient system, including a watering system, ventilation, temperature control, shading, allowance for different pot sizes and even the relevant garden tools. For example it collects and stores its own rainwater and has an automatic pump for daily distribution of water.

With the growing chest going on a holiday or having a busy life is no longer a reason not to grow your own. Brilliant, Just Brilliant.

Materials used:
Canadian Red Cedar, Perspex, Rotation Molded Watertank, Waterpump, Watering timer