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If you think about it, the exterior of your house is first to notice by everyone - your friends, neighbours or potential buyers interested in your property. Often, even a tastefully decorated interior wouldn't be enough to make up for your messy yard, which is why a flawless landscaping design should be presented. Are you in a rush to sell your house? Make a great first impression by improving your landscape with these five tips:

• Address obvious issues - chances are your garden has a few apparent problems you should deal with before buyers visit you. Clutter, weeds and poorly maintained lawn can make your garden look untended, so try to take control over the space before you do anything else. Throw away useless gardening tools lying around the backyard and take your time to eliminate weeds. If possible, get the job done without applying harsh weed killers. After that, mow the lawn perfectly, so that you can ensure a welcoming appearance of your landscape. In case you notice other issues like untrimmed plants or nasty stains on the paved surfaces, deal with them as soon as possible.

• Add lovely colours - but be extra careful not to go overboard. When it comes to your landscape, you can't be certain about the preferences of the new owners. While some people adore colourful gardens, others would prefer a simple design. So, keep it simple. Rely on your imagination to figure out matching colours that are neither too intrusive, nor too plain. This rule concerns not only your plants but the gardening features as well. DIY decorations like old tires or water bottles should be painted in colours that correspond to the overall vision of your property, that's why you need to be reasonable with the colour palette.

• Mulch - are you looking for a cheap, yet effective hack to make your property look appealing? Then using mulch is one of your smartest options. Once you mulch the flowerbeds, you will see a huge difference in your landscape - the space will strike buyers as being fresh and well taken care of. Just keep in mind that going for organic mulch is always a wiser call. You don’t even have to depend on a store-bought solution, since you can prepare mulch on your own – wood chips, straws and leaves are some of the best options you have for DIY mulch.

• Take care of garden features – most people love it when their backyard space benefits from cool landscape additions like water features or cosy garden furniture. If you want to impress buyers with a perfectly arranged garden, make sure garden features are in top condition. A fully functional fountain or a well-maintained kitchen in the open can increase the value of your property, thus letting you sell the house in a flash. Landscaping features have a huge impact on the way buyers see the property, so do your best to preserve the additions in excellent shape.

• Don’t overspend – surely you might feel tempted to transform your landscape into a picture-perfect space, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on the transformation. Making pricey customised changes are unlikely to sell your place fast. On the other hand, a universal vision for your backyard will get you closer to success, which is why overspending is unnecessary. If budget is not an issue for you, invest your money in a fabulous fence, because privacy is what most buyers insist on. With that tip in mind, expensive mature plants or extravagant patio features are investments you don’t have to make to sell your house in no time.

A lovely-looking exterior improves your chances to find reliable buyers for your property. Boost the value of your house by providing a flawless landscape and your efforts will pay off sooner than you expect.

© Fast Landscape Gardening

When trees become part of your garden, your picturesque backyard space will finally look complete. Well-cared trees are all you need so that you can count on a cosy garden. From the moment you plant your first trees, you should provide special care and make sure the plants grow strong and healthy. Read on to find out essential tips that will help you to get the most of your garden and rest under the shadow of mighty trees:

• Water accurately – young trees that you have just planted need a lot of moisture to grow healthy roots. Expert gardeners agree that you should water the trees as soon as you plant them, but keep in mind excess water may cause root decay. Well-developed roots require a decent level of moisture, so do your best to water deeply. Furthermore, you should avoid overwatering the area around your tree. Simply grab your garden hose and spray the soil for about 30 seconds, making sure water enters deep into the soil. You should stick to an effective watering routine until your trees get 2 years old. Once mature enough, established roots no longer need frequent watering, unless you live in an extremely dry area.

• Mulch immediately – in addition to being one of the coolest solutions for improving the décor of your backyard, mulch has a practical aspect as well. Laying mulch around your trees keeps your new plants safe from extreme temperatures by insulating their roots from cold and drought. A 3-inch layer of mulch will preserve the necessary moisture for your trees to develop strong roots, thus increasing your chances to grow healthy plants. Bear in mind that you should start mulching once you plant the trees. Young trees need immediate insulation, which is why you shouldn’t postpone the task.

• Prune your trees – dead branches are a normal stage of the growth of any tree, so you shouldn’t worry if you notice leafless spots on your trees. You should, however, get rid of those branches, so that you can let new, healthy leaves appear. From time to time inspect your young trees for dead or broken branches and prune them off. Just make sure that you leave no stubs while tackling the task, otherwise, you may cause a disease or a pest problem to your trees.

• Fertilise the soil – if you have any experience as a gardener, you are already familiar with the importance of fertilising. Most types of soils lack crucial nutrients plants require for healthy growth, that’s why you must add those nutrients by yourself. Just like the lawn or your flower garden, your trees should benefit from the best soil, so invest in an appropriate fertilising solution. In case you haven’t had your soil tested yet, deal with the job right away. Test results will indicate what nutrients your soil lacks, allowing you to pick the right fertiliser. Still, you should always choose organic alternatives over their chemical versions.

• Fend off the grass – growing trees and grass nearby may seem like a wonderful way to design your backyard space, but this is not beneficial for the trees. When it comes to nutrients, water or even air, the grass is a powerful rival to trees and chances are it will win the fight. To make sure your trees receive sufficient vital ingredients, keep the grass at bay. When planting your trees, choose a grass-free space where your brand-new plants will be able to establish. A well-mulched, competition-free trunk has a much higher chance to survive in your garden.

Growing healthy trees is a truly rewarding task that can improve the image of your garden. If you are just about to plant your very first trees, stick to these basic guidelines and you will end up with beautiful strong trees.

© Fast Landscape Gardening

Do you wonder how to get the most of your huge garden space? Starting a veggie garden is the perfect solution for any homeowner who is willing to invest time and effort growing their vegetables. As long as you can take advantage of your veggies, you can rest assured your food is healthy and free from dangerous toxins. Take a look at these tips that would help you plan and create your first veggie garden with no trouble at all:

• Start small – as a beginner gardener you may feel the urge to plant and take care of many sorts of vegetables, but start with a small garden instead. Since this would be your very first garden, you have no idea how much time your hobby would require, that’s why a small garden sounds like the obvious choice to make. Pick a few veggies you like the most and plant them in your garden. If you feel comfortable in the role of a gardener, you can always expand and add more plants. But improving your skills would take time, so don’t go overboard and you would achieve a lot.

• Ensure enough sunlight – your veggie garden would thrive only if you can supply it with enough sunlight. Veggies don’t respond well to shady locations, so bear that in mind when you choose a spot for the garden. Expert gardeners recommend that most species should receive about six hours of sunlight, otherwise they can’t get the necessary amount of energy. Leafy veggies like spinach or lettuce, however, handle shade better, so in case your area is deprived of constant sunlight, try to start a veggie garden with these types of plants.

• Water frequently – just like sunlight, water is another crucial factor you should think about when you plan a veggie garden. Your plants would need regular watering, especially during hot summer months. You should also realize that veggies grow healthy and strong if you apply the right watering technique. Make sure that water reaches deep into the soil so that your plants can get the necessary amount of nutrients. To facilitate your watering routine, start the garden somewhere close to a water source.

• Check your soil – for someone with no experience in gardening it might be difficult to tell the difference between quality soil and a poor alternative, but if your soil drains well, you are probably lucky. Still, you should never underestimate the importance of quality soil, that’s why it is a wise choice to have it tested. The results of the test would let you know the type of soil you have at your disposal, as well as what nutrients it lacks. Use this information as a guideline that would help you provide the best soil for your veggie garden.

• Deal with weeds – weeds steal water and nutrients from your veggies, which is why you should handle them effectively. If you notice that your veggie garden has been invaded by weeds, eliminate them right away, while they are still young. To prevent weeds from reappearing, take advantage of organic mulch. Mulch can serve as a protective layer that keeps your veggies safe from unwanted intruders. Besides, its organic nature is harmless to the plants or the soil.

• Harvest on time – given the amount of effort invested in starting your veggie garden, harvesting is the most rewarding task you should tackle. Simply pay attention to your veggies and you would find the right moment to harvest. That act is beneficial to the garden as well – many species produce even greater quantities after being harvested.

Taking care for plants for the first time may seem challenging, but it is a hobby you shouldn’t skip on. Follow these simple tips and you would be able to create a healthy, fresh veggie garden.

© Fast Landscape Gardening

No matter how costly or how cheap you may have acquired your patio furniture, one thing is certain. You would want it to last for a very long time. This is easier said than done because, without proper care, patio furniture begins to age and spoil easily. The patio furniture can be torn apart by the weather and the elements if they are not properly taken care of. With time, furniture that is neglected will continue to worsen until they can be used no more. Your patio furniture does not always have to end up that way. Maintaining patio furniture does not need a lot of money, effort, or time. In this article, we will be discussing some easy ways to keep your patio furniture in shape for a longer period. Some of these tips are:

Clean the furniture as often as you can: Whether it looks dirty or not, for maintenance, you have to clean the patio furniture often. If it would be some sort of inconvenience, schedule the cleaning, but make sure it is regularly. This regular cleaning will make your furniture last longer, but the right techniques should be used. These techniques include using soapy hot water for plastic, vinyl, or aluminium. Use a bucket of water, detergent or soap, and a sponge to wash, and after thorough scrubbing, rinse with enough water, and spread out to dry. You should never use soap and water on wooden furniture. For upholstery or canvas, use the upholstery cleaner. There are also home-made solutions that can help you with cleaning like the borax solution with detergent and water. 

Treat glass tables and tops specially: Nowadays, most patio furniture contains glass tables and glass tops. These glass tables and tops are chosen because they are more attractive and cleaner to the eye, as long as they are kept clean. So, a little dirt would tarnish the appearance of the whole furniture if it is glass. So, you have to clean the glass tops regularly. Glass cleaners are usually the first choice when it comes to cleaning glass. You do not need to burn candles on the glass surfaces, or they could end up looking dull. Also, in a bid to get the solidified wax off the table surfaces, you may scratch them, and they will no longer look beautiful to the eye. Instead, soften the wax with a hairdryer, and use a softer solid like cards to scrape the wax. Wipe off any residue with rubbing alcohol. Then, finish off the cleaning with a paper towel and glass cleaner. 

Apply pressure washing when you can: After a long winter break, your stored patio furniture might be full of debris and cobwebs when they are brought out of the basement, garage, or shed in which they were stored. It might seem to be a challenging task to clean, but the best way to get around it is to use a pressure washer. You do not necessarily need to own one, and you can always rent one from any of the local stores around you. You will be amazed by how much effort and time it will save you. If you want to use this pressure washer for patio furniture, it would be safer to use a lower setting. But, for furniture like aluminium and steel, you can always increase the settings. You also need to be a little more cautious when using detergents on patio furniture. These detergents can remove coloured stains, no doubt but, they can also decolourize some materials. Do not forget to read the warnings before using any substances on your furniture. 

Make repairs as soon as you notice problems: Some patio furniture is devoid of hardware, but all patio furniture can be damaged at any time. Letting your furniture remain damaged will do you no good. Damages spread like cancer in the human body. As soon as you notice anything out of place, do not hesitate to fix it immediately. You should also understand that nothing lasts forever, and this goes for patio furniture. So, if you notice you can no longer screw or glue or paint the parts, it is always better to get a new one. Nobody likes cracked or broken furniture. It is unsafe, uncomfortable, and unpleasant to the eye.

Prevent and remove rust and cover your furniture with custom covers: use paste wax on the metal parts of the furniture to prevent rust. You can apply paste wax immediately after purchase or after washing. Also, if after some time, you begin to notice rust again, use a wire brush to scrub out the rust. You can also acquire custom-made patio furniture covers to prevent damage further. Make sure they fit perfectly, or the look might be less appealing.

Taking care of patio furniture is not as difficult as people think it to be. Just prevent any damage before it is too late through regular washing, inspection, and fixing, and your patio furniture can stand the test of time and the elements. 

© Fast Landscape Gardening

Everyone loves landscaping or at least thinks that this is the case. Most of us have been dreaming during the entire life to have a beautiful small sunny house surrounded by an unbelievably gorgeous garden. One thing is sure - this is the plus of the house. You are allowed to do everything with it, no matter how different or strange it will look. You can plant a baobab for example (good luck growing it) or create an entire garden similar to the flora found in films like Jurassic Park.

Landscaping is indeed a way to express yourself in the garden. However, the task is not that simple as it seems and most beginner gardeners come to this conclusion when it's too late. It is not all about plants. There is furniture, decorations, edgings and so on. Randomly placing them will produce even more work in the future. An order that seems reasonable to you, maybe disastrous for the entire garden. 

Of course, no one has been born with that knowledge. With a couple of tips, some luck and outstanding dedication to the entire process, you may achieve some admirable results. Below you will find some of the most common things to follow right after the moment you started creating the garden of your dreams.

1. As mentioned earlier, plants are only small parts of the entire picture. There are indeed important (imagine a garden without them), but to achieve more than average results, you will need some creativity. You will need some fences, a couple of plant pots and patio furniture. You will also want to get to them easily without destroying everything on your way, so pathways/sidewalks are a must. All of these will bring additional charisma to the garden and will give you a pretty solid base for some design experiments.
   
   
2. Plan the landscaping with functionality in mind. Most of the gardens you see on the Internet are crowded with flowers. Unfortunately, most of them are either fictional or require an entire squad to take care of them. Sit down and think if you want to put those two trees at the two corners of the yard. How about placing them near each other and placing a hammock between them? This way, you will create a neat place to relax while keeping the initial idea. You can also replace some of the "flower" fields with some vegetables or edible shrubs like currants for example.
   
   
3. Keep maintainability in mind. People are often taking spontaneous decisions when choosing what kind of plants will live in their backyard. It may seem easy to grow five different types of flowers, but the reality will probably stress you enough to wave the white flag. Consider using plant types that can easily survive conditions like drought or high humidity. This will increase the chances of maintaining a gorgeous garden.
   
   
4. Keep in mind that this is a long process that lasts many weeks, months and even years. Landscaping the backyard in a way that reflects your needs will probably last longer than you expected when you started. While fences and furniture can be easily bought at the local shop or via the Internet, growing plants cannot be a speeded-up that easily unless you are a magician. Everything requires time, especially during the first two or three months. Spend some of your free time after work to buy all the needed pieces. Set aside some weekends (or at least some part of them) for the initial heavy work like mulching and planting. 

Landscaping the garden the way you imagined it inside your head requires a lot of hard work, dedication and perseverance throughout a more extended period. You will make mistakes, but the important part is to learn from them and encourage yourself each time something like this happens. Be convinced in your work and soon you will enjoy the view you have ever dreamed of.

© Fast Landscape Gardening

If you have a garden space in your home, you will do well to address the landscaping aspect of it. With good landscape design, you can add not just appeal to the area, but also great utility. Sadly, not everyone is an expert on the matter of designing and maintaining a good landscape.

However, there are actual ways you can give your efforts a big boost. You just have to follow certain tips and guidelines outlined by the pros:

1. Planning for year-round appeal 

If you are interested in having some year-round appeal, then you can include evergreens to your garden. Because they constantly provide colour and cover, you can rely on them even in the winter. Many landscapers believe that by placing evergreens near the house, you can easily soften the corners of the building and make it more inviting. This is especially useful when you are aiming to curb appeal.

2. Build a walkway between points of interest

If you don’t have a walkway between the areas you most often visit, you are soon going to trample your lawn. Dead grass is hardly your idea of beautiful landscape design, so instead put a nice walkway made with natural flagstone, concrete stepping stones or decorative brick. Of course, these are just a few examples of material you can use for your walkways. You can use whatever fits the design best: it is the idea of pulling the most important elements together.

3. A berm can bring a corner to life 

Building a berm is a good way of adding some interest to an otherwise monotonous landscape. A berm is essentially a mound, which you can then cover with a flower or a rock garden. That way you can make a plain lawn look amazing, without really taking much of the area for this purpose.

4. Make your water feature look more natural 

Water features add great ambience and feel to the garden. If you have one such feature, you are definitely paying attention to the latest trends and design recommendations for your landscape. However, the presence of just about any water feature doesn’t cut it. You need one that looks natural and blends in with the overall look of the garden. Thus, you can add natural stone to build up the feature in such a way to achieve this goal. Make sure not to overdo it, however, as that could mean it ruins the effect.

5 Get the seating area in check 

Having a patio right next to your lawn sure is great, especially if it retains some privacy when next to trees and tall flowers. Make sure it has furniture that feels comfortable to you. A lot of people don’t consider benches, but that is, in fact, a wonderful way to read a book or just hang out outside of your home when the weather is good.

6. Use different plants

When it comes to plants, you must know they all work very well when they are of a different variety. By combining several types that have different blooming periods, you ensure that you have something beautiful on display whole year long.

7. Go for curves instead of straight lines 

When it comes to installing the edging, always remember that curved lines are much better than straight lines. That way, you add some character to the area and make it much more interesting to look at. Remember, the edging is there no less than 12 months a year, so make sure it is attractive to look at.

By following these simple rules, you can easily upgrade your landscape design and make it truly outstanding.

Follow Fast Landscape Gardening for more of these useful tips.

© Fast Landscape Gardening

If you think that getting the perfect landscaped garden is all about having the right plants, you are wrong. Sure, it is nice to have beautiful plants around the place, but garden features make a significant impact as well. Not only will you considerably diversify the place, but also add some practical uses to different areas of it, which is great. Here are a few top recommendations to that end by expert landscape gardeners:

• Paths – by laying paths in your garden, you better define the boundaries of the different areas and grant access to them. At the very least, your garden must have one path, but more of them serve a better practical purpose.
• Additionally, they are a prominent feature, which can quickly boost the look of the place. The good thing about paths is that you can choose from a variety of materials – concrete pavers, bricks, gravel and even grass. If you take the time to pick the material to correspond to your surrounding landscape, you can surely create a beautiful feature in the garden.
• Water feature – if you are a fan of the sight and sound of water, then a water feature might be the right thing to include in your garden. Some features move water, such as fountains and features that have still water, like ponds. If there are slopes in the area, you can create waterfalls. You don’t necessarily require ample space, as many of these features come in a compact size that fits any garden. Remember, a water feature needs plenty of care and maintenance, so be sure you are ready to provide it if you are getting one.
• Rockeries – a rock garden is always an attractive sight for the eyes. You can design one such on level ground as well as on slopes. The goal is to keep a natural look of the place so be sure to use materials native to your region.
• Bridges – whether you have a water feature or not, you can always build a bridge in the garden. You can even purchase a built one and install it where you think it will best serve its purpose. Make sure the construction material fits the style of the garden.
• Garden structure - trellises, pergolas and arches work well with fences and walls. All of these features can be tailored to fit your gardening style and personal needs. The best part about them is that they are not only visually pleasing but serve practical purposes as well.
• Garden furniture – seating options are a great addition to every garden out there. This is especially the case if you get plenty of good weather throughout the year and experience the outdoors. Be sure to pick a style of furniture that suits the rest of the place, such as rustic style or a more modern look.

There are plenty of options you can resort to boost the look of your garden. It is up to you to pick what works best for you and the place.

It is always a good idea to improve the look of your landscape. That is why we at Fast Landscape Gardening are always ready to assist. Give us a call on 020 3322 6097 for additional details.

©  Fast Landscape Gardening