Read through our newsletter archive:
- Spring/Summer 2010
- Autumn/Winter 2009
- Spring/Summer 2009
- Autumn/Winter 2008
- Spring/Summer 2008
- Autumn/Winter 2007
- Spring/Summer 2007
- Autumn/Winter 2006
- Spring/Summer 2006
- Winter/Spring 2005/6
Autumn/Winter 2008 Newsletter
The Italian connection: Romeo or Rome?
Sheffield is a city of seven hills, likened in this way to the great city of Rome but for the moment I will leave other comparisons aside... Some of our Sheffield gardens have huge gradients and can drop away steeply within a few feet. At the same time however our gardens have some of the best views. What better way to appreciate these than to have your own private balcony leading from your lounge/dining room/bedroom giving you that extra outside space with a view to die for!
One of our recent jobs included the construction of a decked balcony. Steps lead down from the balcony into the garden below should you be tempted to leave the view and climb down into the real world (any serenading lovers come at an extra cost however).
No lawn too forlorn
It's springtime, a beautiful day, the lawn is in desperate need of a cut and you cannot think of a good excuse not to mow the lawn. Out comes the lawnmower and it won't start, or it starts but you could cut off more with a pair of nail scissors. You have to spend all afternoon sorting it out, it's getting dark and the grass is still in need of a cut. To prevent this, when Summer is over, before putting your lawnmower away for the winter, give it an all over clean and check up.
- To prevent rusting whilst not in use, wipe all moving parts with a lightly oiled rag.
- Check the condition of the blades and cutters, do they need sharpening, tightening or even replacing?
- Examine electric mower cables for signs of any damage. Any visible signs of wear means these should be replaced immediately.
- If you have a motor mower, drain the petrol and oil tanks and clean the spark plug. Fill oil tank with clean oil but leave the petrol tank empty (petrol deteriorates).
- If these inspections reveal repairs or part replacements are required now is the time to do it. Left until the spring and you could have trouble getting it done.
- Never leave a motor mower standing for months on a damp surface on in a damp place as this will inevitably make it difficult to start in Spring. Stand it on a piece of cardboard or a block of wood and keep the area as well ventilated as possible to avoid condensation.
And look forward to beautifully cut lawns in spring 2009!
Jobs in the garden!
Christmas is on your mind, you've enough to do in the home but I’m afraid to say there’s still work to be done outside. Here's a list of a few things you need to be thinking about and a couple of tips to ensure a colourful garden come the spring.
Tidy borders
Any perennials past their best can be cut right down, clearing away remains and adding them to the compost heap.
Plant new hedges
Container-grown evergreens and conifers planted now will get a really good start in life, so complete new hedging projects as soon as possible.
Wallflowers
Fill gaps in borders with wallflowers for a great blaze of spring colour. Space them so that they will grow into one another and, for extra impact, plant tulips with flowers in a contrasting colour between them.
Spring bulbs
You know what to do... Get outside and get planting for some dazzling yellow/ gold/ purple/ blue/ white sparkle in your garden next year.
Paving the way (to a smarter driveway)
If moving house is not on the cards, we're all thinking about ways in which to improve what we already have. We’ve talked about the garden, I'll leave the inside of the house up to you, but what about the impact upon arrival at your home, in short, what about the driveway or lack of driveway. One of the smartest finishes to a driveway would have to be block paving. It provides a smooth surface with an eye-catching finish and the colour can be blended to fit in with the rest of your house and garden. Contact us for a free quotation!
