Tag Archives: simple gardening tips

Get Your Garden Wildlife-Ready This Spring

Now that the warmer weather is upon us sitting out in the garden can be pleasant. What better way to enjoy the fresh air and the great outdoors than observing the natural wildlife that passes through or decides to set up camp in your garden? Birds, bees, insects and even hedgehogs can all thrive in your garden, given a little encouragement and to see it teeming with life is one of the greatest pleasures any gardener can have.

So what can you do to get your garden wildlife-ready this spring?

Attract more bees

Bees are incredibly important to our planet, and unfortunately, their numbers have sufficiently declined in recent years. To attract more bees provide colourful flowers such as lavender, poppies, and cornflowers. Wildflower seeds offer a great range of bright flowers and give gardens a beautiful rustic look. Bees are also fond of herbs such as thyme and marjoram, and the faint hum of buzzing bees can really be quite cathartic!

Encourage the butterflies

Vibrant butterflies fluttering around your garden adds colour and magic, so make sure you make your garden a haven for them. Butterflies are also fans of colour so get planting lots of blooms to bring them in. Butterflies also like to rest and do a little sunbathing of their own, and large flat stones can provide them with just the spot. Creating moist, shaded areas and small puddles for them to drink from can also see your garden become a favourite haunt of the butterfly.

Bring in the birds

Birds will naturally be attracted to anywhere they can get an easy meal, so set up bird feeders filled with seeds, raisins, and nuts to help make your green space full of beautiful birdsong. Remember to leave them some fresh water too, and you’ll soon see birds flocking to your garden for a tasty treat.

Invite the insects

Insects love cool, dark places to rest and shelter so leave large stones in shady, earthy areas and you’ll create the perfect pad for creepy crawlies such as woodlice, beetles, and caterpillars to rest.

Welcome the hedgehogs

If you have a larger outside space, you might think about inviting hedgehogs to come and visit. If your garden is enclosed, you can remove a small section of fencing to allow them to pass through. Food such as jellied dog or cat food can entice these woodland creatures in – but remember not to give them milk or bread as this can cause them to become quite ill. To ensure that other, more pesky animals don’t take advantage of the free food, you can put it in a plastic box
measuring greater than 30x40cm. You can cut a hole big enough for a hedgehog to get in but place a heavy stone on top to ensure foxes, seagulls and so on can’t overturn it.

Remember slug pellets can poison hedgehogs and if you have a pond, make sure you create some ‘ramp’ areas so if hedgehogs fall in they can crawl out again.

By following the tips above you can attract a wide range of wildlife and create a beautiful, radiant space where nature can thrive.

Do you have any tips for attracting wildlife to your garden? Share them with us here!

Smart ways to get your garden shed organised

With the weather getting warmer and spring plants beginning to emerge in all their glorious colours, there has never been a better time to get your garden organised. Prepare your garden now, so that when the sun comes out for real, all you’ve got to do is grab a great book, pull up a chair and enjoy!

Getting your garden organised not only means tidying up your plants, wiping down furniture and potting new blooms, it’s also about tackling the dreaded garden shed, and making it a practical and useful space that will make keeping on top of your gardening tasks so much easier.

We’ve all been guilty of letting our garden sheds become a dumping ground for anything that doesn’t ‘belong’ indoors. Quickly what was once the perfect place to access all your garden-related tools becomes stuffed to the rafters with things you don’t use or need, making it impossible to locate anything with ease.

So what can you do to put an end to the clutter, and get your garden shed in tip-top shape for summer? Try the following:

Put up some racks and shelves

Getting your garden shed sorted is all about making the most of your space. By putting up racks on the walls you can immediately hang gardening tools such as rakes and spades for easy access, and shelving can make room for pots, seeds, and tools that you can get to without doing yourself an injury!

Consider what you need to access most frequently

Before you decide where everything should go, it’s sensible to think about those items that you need to access all the time, compared with those that you use far less frequently. Make life easier for yourself by putting those much-used items nearer the front of the shed or in places you can grab them without having to wade through or stretch over other things to get to them.

Invest in some clever storage

Storage is crucial and thinking about the kind of storage you need to make the best use of your shed will help to ensure it stays ordered. Have a place for everything and sort items into different drawers, boxes or storage units to ensure that everything is kept separately and therefore reduce the risk of getting it all muddled and cluttered again.

Get labelling!

Once you have separated items into different storage compartments, you should label them clearly so that it’s easy to know where everything is. Perhaps more importantly, you’ll know where to put items back once you’ve used them too!

Use the entire height of the shed

Remember, it’s not only the walls you can hang things from but the ceiling too. Why not free up some space by investing in some vertical bike storage? You can keep your bikes dry, get to them quickly, but keep them from taking up too much room at the same time – it’s a no brainer!

By following the above tips, you can make sure that your garden shed is a neat, tidy and useful space that will mean you can access all your gardening tools and equipment without any hassle.

At Bury Hill, we offer a range of gardening and landscape supplies to make your garden looks great, from top-quality soil to lawn turf, woodchip and decorative stone we’ve got all the supplies you need to reshape your garden our outside area into an attractive and relaxing space, however big or small!

How To Use Railway Sleepers In Your Garden

If you are looking to revamp your garden in time for spring, one of the easiest and most transformative ways to do so is by thinking about how you can neaten up your current space, create new areas for seating and planting and get it looking great in time for the warmer weather.

Railway sleepers are a fantastic and cost-effective way to create a brand new look for your outside area and work well in gardens of any shape or size.

What are railway sleepers?

Railway sleepers are used to help support the bottom rails in train tracks making sure they remain correctly spaced as well as providing support so that they stay upright. When railroad tracks were first laid railway sleepers were all made from wood, though now concrete is often used instead.

Of course, you aren’t planning to lay a railway track in your garden, so what are they used for here? Because of their shape and structure, railway sleepers are perfect to use in the garden to help landscape the space. Wooden railway sleepers can give your garden a sleek, designer look, without extensive effort or expense.

How can you use wooden railway sleepers in the garden?

Railway sleepers have many great uses. Here are some ideas of how you could use them to create features and separate areas in your outdoor space.

Raised flower beds

Using sleepers to create raised flower beds can give it a different dimension and add interesting shapes and beautiful colours too. For a more unique look, mix more weathered sleepers with newer ones to create contrast and exciting lines.

Retaining walls

If you have an area you want to separate, you could use railway sleepers to create a retaining wall to fence it off while also adding texture. So if you have a pool area or a dining or BBQ area, you can terrace your garden with railway sleepers and create different spaces for socialising and entertaining.

Garden pathways

If you want to create smart edges around your garden path, railway sleepers are the ideal material to give a more defined look. If you don’t have a garden path yet, you could create the outline using railway sleepers and fill in with gravel or bark. Larger sleepers could also be used to create the path itself using them as “stepping stones” to lead to a different area of your garden.

Feature steps, furniture, and seating areas

Wooden railway sleepers can also use used to create steps up to (or down from) raised areas of your garden. Similarly, railway sleepers can be used to create different seating areas in your garden too. Railways sleepers can be a great material to build simple wooden garden furniture such as tables and benches. You can even use railway sleepers to create eye-catching design elements such as a water feature complete with lush plants and pond ornaments, or even fish!

Decking & patios

Railway sleepers can also be used as an alternative to traditional decking boards. Sleepers offer a more rustic and arresting effect which can complement the plants and flowers growing in your garden.

Buying railway sleepers

There are lots of different options to choose from, and you may have to do your research to decide which type will look best in your garden, depending on your project and what kind of look you are going for. Aged wood can look more natural and blend seamlessly into your current garden design, or you could choose original reclaimed sleepers which will be treated to give them a longer lifespan. Newer varieties come in hardwood and softwood and a variety of different shapes and sizes. Hardwood sleepers tend to be better for building patios and retaining walls as they can withstand higher forces and footfall. Softwood sleepers are easier to manipulate.

Making the most of your railway sleepers

Should you decide to use railway sleepers in your garden, it’s a good idea to choose wisely as if the wood is in regular contact with moisture it may not last as long. Similarly, if you have to cut the wood to create certain features, the untreated core may then be more susceptible to damage. Treating timber can help to preserve the wood and extend its longevity.

Using railway sleepers in your garden is a great way to refresh the space, and there are lots of different ways this material can be utilised to significant effect. So if you are hoping to make your garden look fabulous in time for spring why not get planning and use railway sleepers to enhance your outside space?

At Bury Hill, we provide not only quality railway sleepers but also a range of soils, seeds and decorative stones to help gardeners create beautiful green spaces. If you have any questions or need any advice about your gardening project, give our friendly team a call on 01306877540 today!

23 Simple Garden Ideas with Maximum Impact

Looking for some simply gardening ideas which will add a touch of effortless style to your garden and make the most of the space?

We’ve got you covered!

We’ve gathered together our favourite garden design ideas that will give a new lease of life to your space, whether you only have a tiny patio or a larger backyard or garden.

Unleash your creative side with these projects and you’ll really maximise those lush greens and gorgeous colours and your garden will look effortlessly stylish and well-designed too.

We promise you won’t need to fork out too much of your hard-earned cash or spend hours getting it all done either. Enjoy!

Backyard ideas

1. Set up a potting station. Why feel embarrassed about that unsightly pile of plant pots, potting soil and garden tools hiding in the corner of your garden when you could make it look pretty? Grab a small table which fits your garden design, weatherproof it and be proud of your creativity.

2. Create a DIY fire pit. Create a stylish focal point for your garden without breaking the bank by using circular and square paving stones. Perfect place to socialise any time of year!

3. Use rope lights to light up your paths. Inexpensive rope lights make a stylish and quite magical addition to any garden. You just need lights, garden staples and you’re done!

4. Get creative with your planters. There’s no need to stick with unimaginative brown planters when you could find something beautiful instead. We love to repurpose everyday items such as metal milk jugs, used tyres, teacups and bowls, and much more.

5. Invest in a hammock. We all love sitting back and relaxing back in a hammock, especially when the summer days are long. So why not find the perfect design for your garden and unwind!

6. Create a new path. There’s nothing like a brand new path built with scrap wood, decorative stones, high-quality wood chips or gravel to create a high-impact feature in your garden that is functional too.

7. Add decorative bark and woodchip to create a focal area. Sick of looking at the bare soil between your plants? Cover it with decorative bark and let your flowers to shine whilst also retaining moisture and keeping your soil healthy.

8. Use a trellis. Used cleverly, trellis can divide your garden space, hide parts you’d rather not see, and also provide a great space to grow your climbing flowers or vegetables.

9. Add mirrors. Mirrors make a great addition to any garden space as they help maximise the amount of light, create the illusion of beautiful design features and also look stunning.

10. Gather planters in one place for maximum impact. Soften the edges of your backyard and create a sense of fullness by grouping your planters together. Think colour, height and sunlight requirements to get the best from your plants.

11. Create a wildflower meadow. Attract more bees, butterflies, insects and birds, and get your garden looking gorgeous by adding a wildflower area to your garden. Simply scatter some wildflower seeds or buy some wildflower turf to create a look that adds impact even the smallest of gardens.

Patio design ideas

12. Add string lights. Hang string lights over your pergola, around the trees, and wherever else takes your fancy to add ambience, style, or just that finishing touch.

13. Decorate the back wall. An easy way to create maximum impact on your patio is to get creative with the back wall. Add paint, add your favourite art, add bespoke tiles, textures or even artificial grass for a creative look with a difference.

14. Get creative with pocket planters. If space is tight but you still want to grow as much as you can, get your hands on some pocket planters. They’ll make maximum use of the available space and at the same time add a splash greenery to your patio.

15. Create a mini herb garden. You don’t need a massive garden to enjoy the gorgeous scent of freshly grown herbs. Simply find planters which fit with your design scheme and fill them with whichever herbs you love most.

16. Switch your cushions. Bring a new lease of life to your patio and up the comfort factor by investing in some colourful new cushions, the brighter the better.

17. Get some hanging baskets. Did you know that you can grow pretty much anything you like in hanging baskets? We don’t mean just flowers either. We love growing cherry tomatoes, aubergine, peppers, and even lettuce in ours. What could you grow?

18. Update your garden furniture. You don’t need to break the bank to update your patio with new garden furniture. Keep your eye out for small pieces in second-hand stores or repurpose what you already have to create impact for less.

Garden Projects

19. Create tealight holders. Light up your garden by creating your own tealight candle holders from used tin cans. Simply hammer a simple pattern in the exterior with a small tool and let the light seep through. Beautiful!

20. Paint your flower pots. Get out your paint brushes and give your plant pots a facelift. You’ll create something unique, you can tailor your design to fit your overall garden design, and it’s a fab, fun project that the whole family can get involved in.

21. Reshape your flower beds. Liven up your garden and add a the finishing touch of a pro gardener by adding some shape and design to your flower bed. Edge with cinder blocks, glass bottles, scrap wood or wooden logs and your garden definitely won’t look boring anymore.

22. Create a raised bed for your produce or flowers. Raised beds are an excellent garden design feature that will help you grow healthier plants, keep away weeds and have better control over the soil quality. Build your frame using wooden planks, add high-quality bespoke topsoil and voilá.

23. Treat yourself to a lawn. Yes, keeping a lawn looking great does take some work, but the effort will certainly pay off, especially if you get creative with your shaping. Start with a high-quality topsoil and packet of grass seed, or invest in ready-to-lay turf and you’ll have a lawn to be proud of.

So next time you’re looking for some backyard design ideas, patio design ideas or just a general gardening project to get your teeth into, come back to this list of simple gardening ideas and get creative.