Photos from Garden Space's post

Things to be doing in the garden this week.... 1. You still have time to plant spring bulbs and also bedding plants like violas, primulas and pansies (as the youngest member of the team is doing in the first picture!) 2. Take care of your lawn - remove leaves as soon as you can, aerate your lawn and add edging to make it look better and maintenance easier (second picture) 3. Insulate your green house and raise containers off the ground to prevent water logging 4. If you haven't done so, move tender plants to somewhere frost free and protect your bananas 5. You can prune apple and pear trees (but not plums - wait to the Summer) and also roses (to prevent wind rock) 6. If its allowed where you live, have an Autumn bonfire for anything that can't go in the compost bin. I wouldn't compost perennial weeds - put them on the bonfire. Please make sure you follow local authority rules. 7. Put some food out for the birds Also keep an eye out for Bovingdon Pre-School's charity auction announcement. Its for a great cause with some really good auction items including an item from us!

Photos from Garden Space's post

I'm sure like most of you, we've had a busy couple of weeks, working in Essex, Berkhamsted, Northwood as well as back in Bovingdon. Here's a couple of snaps and next week we're back to Northwood. I will share some before and after shots but for now, here's one of the concrete breakers having a rest! There's lots to do - we have 40m2 of patio to lay (using Indian Sandstone), lots of fence posts to replace, 3 tonnes of gravel to lay, installing edging as well as general maintenance, like pressure washing and painting gates. its all go! Its actually a good time of the year to be landscaping, strange as it may sound: People are not using their gardens as much which means we're not disturbing them and even in bad weather, there are lots of workarounds to get the job done. We even have a 200 sq ft gazebo - looks like a small wedding marquee! Thankfully, its very rarely required even with the British weather.

Timeline Photos

Lawns are often the main area of a garden and consequently require some thought. Do you turf, seed or go artificial? Here's a few thoughts on some things to consider before you make a decision but firstly here's a picture of a recent front garden we did, where the client wanted to go with artificial grass (in the foreground of the shot!). So what are the advantages? Its very low maintenance, won't need watering, won't need mowing and its more resilient to pets and children 'wear and tear'. Do bear in mind however, that the quality, how 'natural' it looks and price can vary significantly. Regardless of the price per sq metre, you also need to factor in the cost of the material that lies beneath. It is also relatively complicated to install CORRECTLY. Its also worth adding that however good the quality of the artificial lawn, it will not be 'indistinguishable' from real turf, especially close up. Real lawns by contrast are relatively easy to lay, especially if the ground has been prepared adequately. They're also pretty cheap, expect to pay around £3.50 to £4 per sq metre/roll of turf and pence a sq metre for lawn seed. If you are going to lay a lawn, think about whether now's the time to change the slope or remove ridges and troughs and buy top soil in bulk to correct any problems. Lawns however do require mowing, watering in hot weather and may need replacing regularly if subjected to heavy 'traffic'. So which would I recommend? I do see a role for artificial where people are very busy or space is limited and the lawn has to 'double up' as an eating area and kids play area. They are also very practical if you have a dog. It often works well for front gardens, where often mowing and maintenance is less frequently done than the back. They can also make sense beneath kids play areas and you can even buy special matting that's designed to sit beneath the artificial turf to act as cushioning if the little people fall off the slide or swing. I have artificial areas in my garden for both the dog and the kids - you'll be pleased to hear that they are not the same areas! But I personally couldn't quite bring myself to replace our main lawn, however much time it takes up. Perhaps there's something to be said for authenticity. I am also reminded of one of the most frequent things we're asked by customers when we are mowing- "I do love the smell of cut grass, do you?" I do. Who doesn't?

Here's a few tips to save you money on your garden. 1. If you are re-gravelling your paths, mulching your beds, buying aggregate/sand for a patio or buying topsoil for a new lawn, work out how much material you actually need - there's lots of calculators on the internet. You may be surprised at how much and how many trips to the shops it will take. Instead, order 'bulk bags' that can be delivered at usually much better value (though check the delivery charge). If there's too much just for you, go in with a neighbour. 2. Buy plants from nurseries rather than garden centres, they tend to be better value. As an added bonus, you'll also avoid numerous 'offers' on Christmas decorations, flame effect electric fires, cuddly toys etc etc! 3. Even better, grow from seed and propagate what you've already got. Both are usually easy to do and you will save a fortune. 4. If you want to grow a lot, buy a greenhouse. You will save money in the long run and have a nice bolt hole away from the emails and TV. 5. Get into plant 'swapping', where you trade your plants with others. 6. Buy equipment second hand (check it out first) and maintain/clean/sharpen tools you already own. Have petrol machinery in particular serviced, it will extend its working life. 7. If you plan to grow your own veg but space is limited, think about what you actually buy in the shops now and also what is the relative price of one type of vegetable over another. Grow that rather than 'cheaper' vegetables. 8. Buy lawn seed not turf. 9. Make your own compost 10. If you don't want to spend a fortune on compost to mulch entire beds, 'target' what you have to the individual plants and create a 'collar' of compost around them. Finally, I am reminded of the old adage that sort of says that 'cheap' is not the same as 'value'. This is true, especially of equipment. If its cheap but rubbish and you never use it, its a total waste of money. Next time, a few thoughts on lawns - should you seed, turf or join the trend and go 'plastic'....?

If you are planning a new garden, its common to focus on the 'hard landscaping' first - where to put a new patio, deck, paths, ponds, raised beds etc with often only the lawn considered from a 'soft landscaping' perspective. This is understandable however it can be worth taking some time and see whether you can take inspiration from existing plants and factor this into your design. Do you have a favourite bed or even an individual tree or plant that you wish was more accessible? If you do, use that as a design goal and plan paths and structure that can lead you there easily, and incorporate a seating area. Also consider the position of the sun and plan with that in mind. For instance, its best not to position ponds in either full sun or full shade. Soft landscaping can also be used to provide structure and probably the best example is a hedge. Hedges are synonymous with British gardens, in fact I've read that the word 'garden' comes from the old English word for hedge or structure. They can be used in formal and informal design, both contemporary and traditional. They can provide refuge for wildlife, will last longer than a fence and take up less time than a bed. For a contemporary look, bamboo's are popular, providing an evergreen, fast growing and attractive look but do research the individual species fully as some are very vigorous and many need measures to control them before planting (barriers, basically) Hornbeam, Hawthorn, Holly are all good 'local' trees to this area and whilst slower growing than bamboo, they will flourish if planted correctly. Box is a popular 'small' hedge and can be used to great effect as an evergreen 'border' for beds if kept neatly trimmed. You can use it to make beds in all sorts of shapes, more easily than wood or brick. If you travel to Euston for work or fancy a day out, go to Regents Park (15min walk) and look at how they've created their beds around the Queen Mary garden. (Also worth a visit if you like roses). If you like Zoo's, visit ZSL while you're there. To plant most hedges, you will need to dig a trench rather than individual holes. I'll post something on how you do that over the next few days.

We're sometimes asked for tips about how you can use your garden's design to improve home security so I thought I'd share a few. Before I do, a couple of points worth raising. First, I am neither a reformed burglar (or an unreformed one for that matter!) or an ex police officer so you may wish to consult either of the above 2 professions to get more advice. Second, burglary is thankfully low in this area, so we need to strike a balance and not necessarily over worry if you don't have all these measures in place. 1. Ensure planting at the front of your property doesn't get too high, hedging in particular. Ideally, the front of your house should be visible to your neighbours and passers by so burglars don't have the 'privacy' to work 2. Check your fences and gates to ensure they're sturdy. Padlock sliding bolts on gates, especially if there's only one of them at the top of your gate. (One's at the bottom can also sometimes be easily reached depending on how the gate is hung and how good the surrounding fencing is. 3. Consider adding a 'lightweight' trellis above fences and gates (check first what height is allowable in your area and out of courtesy tell your neighbours). This will make them harder to climb over as they are more likely to give way and hence act as a deterrent. 4. Gravel is noisy. Think about using it for paths and driveways that approach your property. (Although if you use pushchairs or wheelchairs, it can be hard work) 5. Have a look at your shed. Does it have adequate locks? Make sure the door hinges can not simply be unscrewed from the outside as the door can be opened that way, bypassing the locks! Cover the window with metal mesh from the inside. Keep tools locked inside something sturdy within the shed and lock bikes to something too. 6. If your enjoy a view at the back of your garden and do not want a high fence, you could plant a double or triple row spiky hedge (Hawthorn would do the trick nicely, its very, very sharp). You could keep it at modest height (say 4ft) but its depth (perhaps also 4ft) would make it difficult to get over. 7. A reminder of the obvious ones. Keep tools locked away - they could be used to break into your own home, have outside lighting and think about installing a burglar alarm or at least a dummy box (including sheds/outbuildings) or even domestic CCTV (although try and respect your neighbours' privacy when you set up the cameras). 8. Get together with trusted neighbours so you can collectively keep an eye out for each other's homes, especially when away on holiday. 9. If you're worried about expensive planting being stolen from the ground, scrape back some soil, cut and lay chicken mesh around your plants, being careful not to scratch yourself, fix them into the ground and re-cover with soil/compost. It should stop a spade going in. If the plants are in pots - buy heavier pots and if wooden, chain them to something. 10. Don't buy a dog just to guard your property, it's not appropriate for most domestic situations. Buy a dog only if you want to care for a pet and have a four legged addition to the family. If you do also get a burglar alarm, go for a system can't be set off by pets (via the motion detectors). I've made that mistake before! None of this will guarantee the security of your home but it should help put potential intruders off, especially if coupled with good internal security.

It certainly is beginning to feel more like Autumn and in the garden, there's still lots to keep us busy. As Perennials die down, cut them back and think about buying some winter bedding plants to add colour to your beds and hanging baskets over the coming months. I'll send a post later in the week with some suggestions about the best plants to go for. You should also be ordering spring bulbs and trees around now. If the weather remains dry, keep young trees well watered. It's also the time to create a new lawn. If you are, try and incorporate lawn edging into your design to make mowing easier and neater. If everything has come to an end in the Greenhouse, give it a good clear out, remove any shading and disinfect. Think about pressure washing your decks and patio's and paint/oil outbuildings and wooden structures. Now's also a good time to repair shed roofs and create compost pens. Move tender plants indoors or if half hardy, move them to your nice clean greenhouse (if frost free). If you haven't covered your pond with netting, then now's the time. Just before you do, turn the power off, put on a pair of marigolds (the glove version that is!) and remove any leaves/debris. (leave it by the pond for a couple of days, so any inhabitants have the chance to go back into the water and then compost).

I'm sure none of you could sleep last night in anticipation, when I posted the other day that I would be writing about 'bare root' trees! Well here we are.....bare root trees, as the name suggests, are not sold in pots but supplied bare rooted, with no compost or soil. They are typically much cheaper and healthier than their potted peers and if you need to buy a lot of trees in one go (for a hedge for example, but more of that next week), you should really consider buying them. They are available to order now but they won't be delivered until the trees are dormant, from October onwards. When they arrive, you will open the packaging to reveal what looks like a load of leafless twigs! Don't worry, they are meant to look like this. Do check however that the roots have been protected and kept moist in transit. Before they arrive, make sure you have prepared the planting holes or trenches well in advance, because as soon as they arrive you need to give the roots a good soak in a bucket and plant immediately. Keep watering well. The only down side to bare root trees is that because they are so cheap, you may struggle to reach an online retailer's minimum order. If that's the case, try and go in with friends or neighbours. You are also free to contact me and I will try and do my best so you can come in on one of my orders. While they may not have the immediate impact of a potted tree, your bank balance will be much healthier.....and so will be the tree!

Autumn is still a busy time of the year for Gardeners. Around now, you should be planting spring flowering bulbs (such as Crocus, Daffodil) and perennials. Now is also a good time to plant shrubs and trees but if you need to buy several trees - for a hedge, for instance - hold fire and read tomorrow's post about 'bare rooted' trees as it will save you some money. Keep deadheading annuals and perennials and really try to get rid of the weeds now - you will be grateful in the Spring. Now is also a great time to plant a lawn, as the soil is warm but the weather is getting wetter. For all you veg growers, its nearly time to cover the Brassicas with netting to keep the birds off and plant over wintering onion sets and garlic.You will also need to harvest potatoes and onions and get them out of the ground before it gets too cold and wet. If you have a pond, its time to cover that too with netting before the leaves drop. Keep the filters running too and make sure they're not clogging up as the leaves fall. Remember to turn off the power before working on your pond, just in case. Also, find time over the weekend to have a good look at your garden and reflect on what worked and what didn't this year, both in terms of planting but also structure and landscaping. This will help you plan for next year while its still fresh in your mind.

Timeline Photos

Any other Banana growers in Bovingdon? Here's a pic from my back garden, with the largest plant (a Musa basjoo) already the height of an upstairs windows. Its grown around 10 feet in under 6 months, since I 'unwrapped' the winter protection from the stem, back in the Spring. Looks like we weren't the only ones who enjoyed the warm Summer! Over the coming weeks when it gets colder, I'll share with you how to protect these tropical exotics over the Winter. If you've got some pictures of your horticultural triumphs from this year, then please do share....thanks, Matt

Hi, I'm Matt from Garden Space, a local Landscaping and Garden Maintenance business. As we're new to Facebook, this is our first post! I will be posting a few times a week with some (hopefully useful) gardening tips of what you should be doing now, a few ideas and pics of garden projects we're working on and answering some of the more frequent questions we're asked. Do feel free to ask me any questions you may have about your garden and we will do our best to answer promptly. Thanks for reading...

Garden Space