Discounted artificial grass is pure class
When the sun comes out, lawn-based leisure pursuits are pretty much top of everyone’s list. Whether it be sun-bathing, a game of five-a-side, playing with the kids or even a spot of croquet, a luscious lawn spells fun for everyone – though mowing it is quite another story! So if you want some top class grass without the graft – have a look at the amazing LazyLawn™.
This artificial grass is a million miles away from the scratchy astro-turfs of old. It looks great, is soft to the touch, won’t be spoilt by the weather or overenthusiastic children and is guaranteed to last for 12 years.
LazyLawn™ has been the industry leader for 25 years now, and it can be spotted in countless sports stadiums, next to F1 tracks and even in this year’s Big Brother House. LazyLawn™ will also be on show at this years prestigious Hampton Court Flower Show!.
The City Gardener shares his Grand Designs
Matt James, famous for his appearances in Channel Four's 'The City Gardener', is the latest celebrity to be confirmed as a speaker at this year’s Grand Designs Live London.
Matt who has been described at a "genuine, 21st-century tree hugger", has become a recognisable face in modern gardening. He will be appearing at Grand Seminars Theatre, sponsored by the Electrical Safety Council, on Monday 5th May and will be speaking about gardening in small places.
Matt is the latest addition to an list of confirmed speakers which includes Diarmuid Gavin, Jason Bradbury, Naomi Cleaver, and design guru, Kevin McCloud.
Gabion Force
Remember all those episodes of Ground Force where the gardens of members of the public were unceremoniously ripped up? Remember how countless railway sleepers and pieces of galvanised steel were installed as a result?
Well, the new stylish ‘must have’ of contemporary garden designers appears to be Gabions. Traditionally used for land reinforcement and soil retention, gabions are being increasingly used to construct stylish, modern garden features due to their modern appearance and versatility. Now, thanks to Metpost, they are also available in smaller sizes to be utilised by domestic gardeners.
Summer IS coming
After the storms we’ve had this week, warm settled weather seems like a vague and distant memory. In fact, next week marks the official start of spring, and if you want to gear up for a beautiful summer garden it’s good to put in some groundwork now.
Wickes has won the accolade of 'UK's favourite DIY store' in the Customer Satisfaction Index 2008. You can pop into your local branch, or browse the 3500 products available online – and there’s free next day delivery on orders over £45.
With a 40% Easter sale on garden tools and accessories, there’s even more reason to don your gardening gloves and pick up a spade on the forthcoming bank holiday weekend.
Affordable Garden Art
With patios and balconies stripped of their last shards of greenery, we're having to work that little bit harder to keep our our outside spaces looking presentable. Inside Out Garden Art is affordable, durable and not found wanting in the colour stakes - prices start from £80 (inc. p & p) with over 150 colourful designs to choose from. Visit the website for more information.
Where’s your wheelie bin? Decorative bin screens from House Recycling
What with the ever increasing amount of bins needed for recycling, twice weekly collection and general household refuse, our gardens can end up looking more like a dumping ground – and that is before the excesses of Christmas wrapping paper, food and bottles. Luckily House Recycling is on hand offering these decorative screens. Sourced from sustainable timber, and priced from £50 for a one sided screen, these help keep all the clutter out of sight. This Full Double 140 litre screen is currently reduced from £299 to £199 with more discounts available online at Houserecycling.co.uk
50% off a wide selection of bulbs at Crocus
I’m no gardener myself but from the little I do know and what I have read, now appears to be the best time to plant some lovely bulbs for spring next year. An easy option to adding colour to a sweeping lawn or your little patch out back, bulbs are easy to plant and require little maintain through out the year. So if you fancy trying your hand at some green fingered activity, why not visit Crocus.co.uk where currently it is offering up to 50% off a wide rang of colourful bulbs. Not only do they offer great value bulbs, while you are there look through their selection of plants, tools and gardening gifts as there could quite possibly be something perfect to put under the tree this year for a loved one as well.
To see more of their selection of discounted bulbs and other gardening items, click here to visit Corcus.co.uk.
And if you are looking for some extra advice on what to do with your new bulbs, just click on the links below for a little helping hand:
Discounted colourful fences from Colourfence
Posted by Alison Cork at 09:40 on 14 Nov 2007
discounts, garden, garden accessory, garden discounts, property securityWith the dark winter nights upon us, it’s worth ensuring that your home and garden are safe from unwanted intruders. Whilst a good alarm system and security lights are an obvious first step, Colourfence can bring an added sense of security and privacy to your property.
An ingenious new fencing system that is secure, good looking and low maintenance, Colourfence offers a practical alternative to traditional wood fencing - and it’s environmentally friendly too.
Made from steel and with a tough painted finish, Colourfence lasts many times longer than wood and, unlike wooden chemically treated fencing, is completely recyclable. It won’t warp, corrode or fade and can stand up in winds of up to 130 miles per hour. Colourfence also comes with a 10 year guarantee and is virtually maintenance free except for the occasional wash down with the garden hose.
Quick tips on ... Garden Supplies
Turfandstuff.com provides turf, slate, chippings, top soil and more – and you can order your Nordmann Fir trees here at Christmas
Website of the week – Yahoo! Answers
Posted by Cara Verdi at 14:12 on 29 Oct 2007
home improvement, homeware, garden, interior design, DIY, Homeowner's Advice, cleaningA fun and surprisingly handy website, Yahoo! Answers provides an interactive platform to indulge in one of man’s best virtues; curiosity.
With helpful categories such as the home and garden, health and computers to the more adventurous and opinionated such as politics, social sciences and parenting, Yahoo! Answers can be seen (in most areas) as a little treasure trove of handy tips and information. The premise it is based on is easy, you ask a question and one or many of it’s thousands of users answers the query. Of course you can’t always guarantee the accuracy of the answer, but for most part it is amazing to see how helpful and knowledgeable people are. So whether you are after a solution to get that grease stain out of your dry clean only jacket, the best way to lay carpet or wash your dog, click here to see if you can find it on Yahoo! Answers.
Giveaway of the week
Work all day? Young kids? You won’t have much time to tackle the weeding then, but Yourgardener.com can help. In addition to offering a site clearance or tidy up service for jungle-like lawns, it can lay real or artificial turf to roof terraces or gardens. It even has a lawncare programme to ensure your turf looks top all year round. And Yourgardener.com is offering to give away £700(inc. VAT) worth of brand new lawn (approx. 23 square metres) to a lucky reader. For a chance to win send your name, address and contact number to info@yourgardener.com before 30th September. The winner will be picked at random and contacted by email by 8 October. If you do NOT want your contact details to be kept by the company, write NO clearly after your name. Yourgardener.com (Ts & Cs apply).
Window gardens
No garden or balcony? Sick of staring out at buildings? The Balcombe Street Window Box Company can help. A specialist in this area, it delivers individually designed, ready filled window boxes, as well as indoor and outdoor plants to Central London properties. Boxes can be tailored to suit the seasons (such as this Autumn box), and a consultation and design service is also available. Prices start from £60 – much better value than a good bunch of flowers – and a window box will last longer too. Call 020 7723 4496 or visit The Balcombe Street Window Box Company.
Hide and chic
Most garden furniture covers are pretty unsightly, but before you break your back lugging that expensive barbecue or marble topped table in and out of the potting shed, check out these chic camouflage covers from The Camouflage Company.com. Designed to blend in with the surrounding grass and foliage of your garden, these offer a discrete and easy way to protect heavy garden furniture or equipment when it rains. Prices start at £12.50 for a parasol cover, with this Chimenea cover priced at £16.25 (exc. VAT). To find stockist details, call 020 7823 1984 or visit The Camouflage Company.com
How Green is Your Garden?
Showing you how to create a more sustainable environment in your garden, Tony Sharley, manager of the Banrock Station Wine and Wetlands Centre has compiled these easy to follow simple tips:
1. Saving water - In a year the roof of a typical house in Britain will collect tens of thousands of litres of rain water. Take advantage of heavy downpours by directing this water into a water butt and using it to water the garden. Rain water is also better for your plants than tap water as it contains no chlorine additives. Also, in an hour, a sprinkler can use up to 1000 litres. Put into perspective, this is more than the average family of four get through in a day. Instead, make use of water collected in a water butt or use a hosepipe with a trigger nozzle, which reduces water wastage by approximately half.
2. Porous surfaces - Planted areas and porous paving materials allow water to be gradually absorbed into the ground and help minimise the problems of flooding. Look into paving materials (such as porous clay pavers) and reinforced soil surfaces to park your car instead of more hard surfaces.
Rolling stones
A garden makeover doesn’t have to cost the earth, and, as with home improvements, a little can go a long way. A cost, time and effort effective way of updating the look of your garden, Border Stone offers a wide range of different stones including pebbles, cobbles, chippings, slate and more. Whilst edging stones can offer an excellent way to give borders, lawns or paths definition, larger rockery stones are a great way to build water features. At the same time, smaller polished pebbles or slate provide a low maintenance way to keep large areas or pathways looking neat. Prices start at £3.50 per 200 unit pack. To find out more about Border Stone’s range of products, call 01938 570 375 or go online at Borderstone.co.uk.
Holds your drink
When the sun does finally decide to show its face this summer, I for one, will be celebrating with a long picnic – and I wont’ be forgetting my favourite picnic accessory, the Steady Stick from Gilbert’s Food Equipment. Helping protect bottles, cans and glasses from the inevitable spillage, the Steady Stick will hold your drink above the grass, ensuring that your expensive Champagne or Chardonnay does not get spilt. Available in packs of two (approx £8.95). To find details of your nearest stockist, call 08452 300 681 or order online at Steadysticks.co.uk
Iron laden
There’s a whole host of attractive furniture, gifts and accessories at Gardeniron.co.uk – all created for the greater aesthetic good of your garden. Whilst you can find a tempting selection of stone decoration and more modern mesh furniture, its speciality lies in the collection of iron products – chairs, tables, planters and more ornamental pieces such as this Wall Deco Vase in rusty iron (£15) – which all bring a touch of the rustic and rural to even the most urban of gardens. Call 0800 0329 850 or visit Gardeniron.co.uk
Cocktail hour
Posted by Alison Cork at 10:12 on 15 Aug 2007
garden, interior design, home ware, garden accessories, wall artFancy a cheeky mojito? And no, I’m not talking about the cocktail. I’m referring to Cheekymojito.com – the art for outdoors online gallery. Launched last year, this provides limited edition canvases, especially designed for gardens and patios. Each bold, geometric and colourful design is named after a cocktail, and provides a great way to brighten up small urban spaces. Prices start at just £95 (inc. p&p) for a canvas measuring 100 x 40cm. Cheekymojito.com
Pick up a bargain at the Robert Dyas Summer clearance sale
Posted by Cara Verdi at 16:44 on 13 Aug 2007
discounts, sale, garden, sustainable energy, garden discounts, tools, electrical applianceSummer this year has been abysmal in my opinion so I’m glad to say that the Robert Dyas Summer clearance sale hasn’t followed suit. Prices have been cut across the shop from garden furniture and electrical appliances to DIY tools and gas barbeques (there’s always hope for next year!). A useful little bargain which caught my attention was the LED Dynamo Torch, reduced to a mere £4.99 in the sale. No need for batteries, this torch has a wind up mechanism where 1 minute of vigorous action will give you 30 minutes of power, great for any home and all outdoor lifestyles. For more information on this offer and the many others available in the sale, pop in to your local Robert Dyas store or visit Robert Dyas.co.uk
Ready, Steady, Mow
With the weather (dare I say it) starting to come good, there’s no better time to get out into the garden. Having said this, if your garden resembles a mini jungle due to a lack of green fingers worry not. Achieving an enjoyable outside area without breaking into too much of a sweat can be obtained by simply mowing the lawn and tidying up a few borders.
Like finding the perfect partner, there’s a lawnmower out there for everyone and a good place to start looking is Gardencut.co.uk. From the traditional hand propelled types to petrol, electric and tractor lawnmowers and even completely automotive robotic lawnmowers, Gardencut.co.uk will have your perfect grass cutting partner. Plus with its wide range of other gardening equipment such as hedge trimmers, shredders, wheel barrows and more and all products covered by the Garden Cut Price Guard Guarantee (Find any of their products cheaper elsewhere, get in touch and they will match and more often beat the price!) there are no excuses for not at the least having a tidy well kept lawn! For more information and to see the full range of gardening equipment on offer visit Gardencut.co.uk.
Air your laundry
One of the major advantages of summer months is being able to dry your clothes outside, but washing lines can often take up more space than you’d like. An ideal alternative for the smaller outdoor space, this WallFix laundry dryer from Brabantia fixes unobtrusively to your outside wall. Whilst a simple one-handed pull extends the dryer to a substantial 2.5 metres; when the guests come round, you can tuck it all away discretely. Buy the WallFix (£74) by calling Brabantia on 0870 240 7641. Brabantia.co.uk
Teak practice
Premium grade teak garden furniture doesn’t have to set you back a fortune – particularly when you’re privy to Kings Hall Furniture.com. It offers a wide range of premium teak garden furniture, sold direct to the public at up to 30 per cent less than equivalent high street prices. Vastly superior to other hard woods, teak is hard-wearing and durable, standing up well to all sorts of weather conditions. And, until 31st August 2007, there’s a sale taking place with sets such as this Provence Suite reduced from £749 to £499. Just log onto Kings Hall Furniture.com; 01296 339 925.
Pitch your fence with the offer of the week
An ingenious new fencing system that is secure, good looking and low maintenance, Colourfence offers a practical alternative to traditional wood fencing - and it’s environmentally friendly too.
Made from steel and with a tough painted finish, Colourfence lasts many times longer than wood and, unlike wooden chemically treated fencing, is completely recyclable. It won’t warp, corrode or fade and can stand up in winds of up to 130 miles per hour. Colourfence also comes with a 10 year guarantee and is virtually maintenance free except for the occasional wash down with the garden hose.
The range is available in a number of colours, uses rigid infill panels and has a wide choice of accessories such as trellis and gates. Available in heights from 4ft to 7ft, Colourfence starts from £38 per linear meter (fitting included) but for Really Useful readers, there’s a special 10 per cent discount on materials. Just quote ES0707 before 31st July 2007. Call 0845 2306330.
Happy shopping
Posted by Alison Cork at 17:49 on 04 Jul 2007
garden, garden furniture, Bargain Furniture, Garden BargainsWhen homeware haven Cargo hosts a summer sale, you know you’re in clover. As part of the seasonal promotion it is offering up to 50 per cent off across a selection of bedroom and garden furniture, kitchen pieces and leather upholstery. Henley Kitchen Trolleys down from £99.99 to £79.99; Tiverton double beds reduced from £599 to £499 and garden furniture such as this Rimini Extending Table (250 x 85cm), which is slashed in price from £349.99 to £249.99. There are also some great multi-buy offers in store. The sale ends 6th August 2007. To find details of your nearest stockist log onto Cargo or call 08700 112 119.
Freebie of the week from Hellenic Garden
Posted by Alison Cork at 15:23 on 04 Jul 2007
garden, garden accessories, garden tools, garden competition
Awning appeal
Whilst your average parasol is often difficult to assemble, and provides limited shelter from the sun (or rain!) round the lunch table, an Appeal awning can be extended or retracted via remote control in a matter of seconds, and will offer ample protection from all the elements. Better yet, when you’re not at home, the awnings are fitted with sensors, which allow them to extend automatically when it’s sunny and retract in high wind conditions – assurance that your awning is safe – even when you’re not at home. Appeal awnings come with lighting and heating for entertaining in the evenings enabling you to achieve continuous al fresco living. Prices start at £2,000 but, if that’s a bit pricey whilst you’re saving for the summer hols, Appeal offers a buy now, pay 12 months later scheme – plenty of time to save up for a summer enjoyed outdoors. Just mention this offer when calling 0800 018 4499.
Find a fair deal at the Homes and Garden Fair
Posted by Alison Cork at 09:02 on 27 Jun 2007
discounts, garden, interior design, garden discounts, homeware discountsThe long-awaited Daily Telegraph/House & Garden Fair (27th – 30th June) starts today at the Olympia Exhibition Centre (tube: Kensington Olympia) offering a showcase of the UK’s finest contemporary interior and garden designs. There’s masses to see but it’s well worth keeping an eye out for Amy Kent and her bespoke hand-knotted rugs. Rugs such as this Clematis design are usually priced at £277 per square metre, but Amy is offering a 20 per cent discount to all readers who place an order by phone before 31st July, or on her stand at the show. Just mention the Really Useful Blog. Tickets on the door cost £16 (adult) and £6 (children). House and Garden Fair, 0870 121 2525.
