2009 was a poor year with the UK construction industry as a whole having been hit very hard by the recession. As well as commercial cuts in spending on development and building projects, homeowners also tightened their belts and purse strings so companies catering for both commercial and domestic customers could not even rely on the other half of their market to provide a positive.
After seeing a decline in profits in 2009, although 2010 isn’t likely to provide a miracle cure to make up for last year’s reduction in revenue, paving firm Marshalls are beginning to see a turn in the market for 2010 compared to this time last year. Marshalls, who have just been recognised as a 2010 Business Superbrand for their strength as a B2B brand, receive 60% of their revenue from commercial, public sector and corporate customers and 40% of sales as generated by sales to residential homeowners.
Marshalls supply a range of paving and driveway products and both functional and decorative items to enhance gardens, including walling materials, paving, greenhouses, summerhouses, garages and products to assist with water management in your garden. Their range of hard landscaping materials is produced with commitment to quality products, with the Marshalls group including a number of prominent brands including Classical Flagstones, supplying stone flooring and flagging in both contemporary and traditional ranges, Compton concrete garages, Alton cedar greenhouses and Robinsons aluminium greenhouses. In addition to the companies that are part of the Marshalls group, the paving and hard landscaping firm also supplies garden furniture and planters, outdoor lighting and stone benches and a range of garden gates.
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When laying a lawn you need make sure you pick not only the best method to suit your needs, either laying rolls of turf or sowing grass seed, but also the best weather to lay it in, which usually is autumn as it is easier for the grass to root. The ground is often softer as the strong summer sun and lack of rain that dries and hardens the soil making it hard for plants roots to break through has usually subsided but the soil is still warm.
Also very important for the upkeep of your grass is fully preparing the ground before laying the rolls of turf, so it is advisable that you order the turf after the ground has been prepared. The reason being is that it will take a few weeks to prepare the ground adequately so you don’t want to have your new lawn lying around without proper care for long periods of time or it won’t look its best when laid.
The first step to preparing the ground for your new lawn is to use a garden fork to break up the soil after you have removed any old turf and cleared any weeds. If your garden has a lot of weeds then the best thing to do is add weed killer and leave a week or two. If you prefer organic gardening, the good old fashioned method of digging down to the roots will be your best option for ensuring a weed free lawn once your turf rolls root to make your new lawn.
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Hanging baskets can be an attractive addition to the front of your house around a doorway or windows, can be hung from garden buildings, sheds or pergolas to add colour or you can purchase specific hanging basket holders that can become a centre piece for your new garden design. Planting hanging baskets is a simple job that can give colour through the seasons with just a few easy steps and minimal maintenance after they’re complete.
Step 1: What plants to choose
When choosing plants for a hanging basket for your garden, it is important to make sure they are all healthy specimens. If buying plants from a garden centre, choose plants with strong stems and healthy green leaves. If the leaves are starting to brown or have spots or discolouration, it’s best to keep looking. Also choose plants with several stems as this will mean your plants will continue to grow lasting longer into the season, and look for plenty of buds on your plants. Although it can be tempting to choose plants that look nice when you’re buying them, if all the flowers are out, you’re not getting your money’s worth so look for lots of buds rather than the plant currently having lots of flowers.
There is a wide range of plants available to you for planting in your hanging basket – you don’t just have to stick to what the neighbours have. You could use trailing plants, feature plants such as miniature conifers, or even some fruit or vegetables such as tumbling tomatoes or strawberries. Read more…
If you’ve decided you want to lay a new patio to enhance your garden or outdoor area, or perhaps you want to change the slabs in your yard or terrace, the first step is deciding on the location for your patio. Once you’ve planned your patio area however you can start to make preparations to begin laying your new paved seating area.
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If you are now at the stage where all of your main features have been marked out and your garden design is complete you can begin to create your dream garden. It is a good idea to start with larger fixed features like installing the pond and the patio first as these will be the most time consuming and make the most mess.
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There are a number of reasons why you may look to purchase a garden shed. Whether it is because you are starting to lose space in your own home, need somewhere to store garden tools, the lawnmower or garden furniture over winter, or just because you are looking for a more traditional garden look, garden storage can effectively utilise your back garden and also improve the look of your garden space.
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It’s getting to that time of year again when the snow and frost starts to clear unveiling your forgotten tatty garden covered in leaves and looking bare. Now is the time to start your winter clear up ready for spring when the grass is no longer sopping wet and the worst of the weather is over, but the important thing is knowing what to do and where to start.
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If you have let your garden become a jungle over the winter now is the time to start thinking about restoring it to its original glory, or maybe you just want a brand new look this summer. If you can imagine it then it can be built and we can help you find experienced landscape gardeners to create the garden of your dreams.
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Building a raised garden is the ideal way to beat poor conditions in your garden, so if you have poor soil conditions in your garden, build above ground and this way you get to choose the soil texture and ingredients.
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A garden pond can add a really dramatic, yet calm and tranquil touch to your garden. Ponds can be constructed in many different shapes and sizes, which can all reflect a part of an individual and tailored to suit your home and outdoor space. Although installing a pond may take time and effort, if it is done right the results can be enjoyed for many years to come.
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