Building Article – Autumn 2013
Now is the time to be sure you prepare for Winter. We have had some very hard winters recently. This seriously affects mortar /paintwork. Until around the end of October it is the time to get that Conservatory/ Wooden windows /Doors and frames rubbed down, undercoated, filled and painted ~before the frosts set in. Also now is good to repair Brickwork/Patio /Paving and even reface damaged bricks. If this damage is left it could potentially ruin a whole section or worse let in water. Also if you have found that you are spending more time outside then it is an ideal building period to add the Patio Extension or even E-Decking, a resin decking which is non slip. Also lighting can really enhance your garden ,not only in Summer but through the Winter too… We can offer you further advice, just contact...
read moreGARDEN NOTES – Autumn 2013
Now is the time to take a hard and fast look at your garden. Can Shrubs be moved to a better location? Can some of the crowded herbaceous plants be halved and used in other parts? Are the heights correct (tiered planting ) or are some of the lower plants being smother by taller ones.? Is shade causing stunted growth in some plants? Is there enough Winter colour in the garden ? These are all things which should be addressed in late Autumn. Is it time to build a raised vegetable patch for home grown fresh produce and a nearby soft fruit cage? We can come in and makeover your garden to allow it to perform most effectively for you. Trees and hedges need to be cut back hard now to open up the garden ready for spring. This helps to prevent moss on Patios, Sheds, lawns and even your Roof. Don’t dead-head old variety Rosa Rugosa roses as the hips make a nice display. Don’t cut back Dogwood (Cornus) until the spring. Now is a great time to put in Patios or raised beds or even resin non slip E-Decking. For further ideas we can come in for a brief advisory, free of...
read moreMove… or makeover?
In this time of recession we need to evaluate the best way of spending the funds we have available to improve ,or even completely overhaul our homes. Moving and re-mortgaging is a lot of stress and relocating is additional hassle and inconvenience when, just maybe , the home you already have could be in actual fact, what you really seek. Vision is what we at ‘The Other Room’ have, and maybe can accommodate what you really need. Firstly we will ask you to make a checklist of what you seek to accommodate the needs and ideal for you and your family. The list will be the what you Need and what is Desirable. From here we can give you an idea of what can be achieved either with /without Planning Permission. In my experience of past clients ,all too often they are living in an ideal property to accommodate their requirements ,but don’t necessarily have the ‘vision’ to see it. Things so easily overlooked like adding a contained porch on the front/side/rear of your house .This then allows you to possibly eliminate the hallway in your house to open up your living space . Another is to merge your dining room into a large kitchen/diner creating a great family/social space . This can even include the Garden. This is Your living space and how you make best use of it is how it ‘performs’ for you and your family. Multi-tiered beds for space restricted areas , Irrigation and drought tolerant plants for busy lifestyles Low maintenance and high performance .for the less ‘green fingered’ Espalier fruit growing where space is a premium Good ,colourful mulching /gravels for weed free gardens Themes such as Japanese for peace ,solace and minimalist landscapes Water, in ponds, features and even containers to connect with the outdoors So many facets that can really make use of you own space/garden We have numerous Clients in the local area who continue to use our services for painting /repairs/maintenance and Gardening Services, ..Recommendations that one can’t buy ! If you are considering any of the above we can even show you around some of our Clients previous projects (by appointment only ) Please do not hesitate to contact me to arrange a free overview or advisory...
read moreSpring is finally performing
Well after a lot of snow, frost and slushy mud spring is finally ‘performing‘ and lifting our spirits. This is the most spellbinding time of year. Daffodils and bluebells are on the way and the hedgerows will soon be flushed with blossom and new green growth. Baby blackbirds fumbling around in the hedges and the waterways soon to be speckled with endless hatchlings of fluffy mallard ducklings. If you are one of those fortunate enough to have your own outdoor space (unlike so many in the cities), our garden can be a true haven. With careful planning and for thought it can be a place of solace or fun. You can have a garden spilling over with growth and bloom, if you have time or hired labour to, or a more minimalist contemporary garden for those of us with busy lives. The real trick to a great outdoor space is to make a list of what and how you will use it. Not forgetting the user group such as Children and Pets who have a very ‘different’ way of using the garden. A reflection of your own style is always a good start. Contemporary/Minimalist Rambling and Fluffy Country Cottage Classical /Formal Selecting a theme will give the garden a real flow, from inside your house then through to the outside. If you have little time for gardening I would recommend a more minimalist style of garden which can be equally enjoyable. It will also be drought tolerant, a real bonus with today’s weather patterns. It will also have an all year round display of colour and form to take you through every season. With my Clients, I always have an extensive chat and a few meetings to come up with the ultimate best prescription and quotes, to apply to a garden based on the client’s time, budget and use of the garden. This ensures it will be maintained effectively and efficiently if need be. The best garden of all is one designed and installed from scratch. Failing that a rolling programme of enhancement schemes in sections of the garden. Anywhere where hard landscaping is to be introduced should be the first consideration (Patios/decking etc) as should a SIMPLE irrigation system. When choosing the plants do always look at the final maturity size. So many plants are hacked and chopped to fit the garden and totally lose their shape and form, a great shame. The right plant for the right site also applies. Thousands of pounds are wasted by people who buy totally the wrong plant for their garden. We also, at the end, give the clients a simple annual maintenance programme to fully benefit them and their garden. This is where my team can help to produce (and maintain if requested) a real joy of outside space. A Water Feature In a garden can really make it a restful place. We have installed huge cascades and Koi pools as well as simple brimming Urns in courtyard gardens. Water trickling is a lovely sound all year round and illuminated can be a real feature at night. Tree Houses A great place for kids to make use of with their friends especially if you have trees but not actually required if you don’t. Expensive toys will be eventually secreted away in...
read moreOverdue Decent Summer – Summer 2010
So far, we have had a long overdue decent summer. However, many peoples lawns have been much more seriously affected than others. Good management for lawn care and correct planting of tolerant border plants, plus a good underlying mulch, will ensure a splendid display through the whole season. We can quote you for autumn to hollowtine, loam, roll and topdress your lawn which will reap dividends .All my clients have had compacted lawns that have never had ‘TLC’. One treatment will last for many years. After all, we are all happy to cleanout and decorate the rooms of our home and effectively our garden is another living /recreation space. To give clients gardens a different dimension we have put in tiered or terraced gardens. The creates a focal point. Planting a careful structure of shrubs throughout the scheme and then seasonal bedding/bulb pockets in between. This is easy to auto-irrigate and kept mulched, will remain weed...
read more
