Whatever the size of the garden it can be made to look festive by the addition of Christmas lights and ornaments. There is no need to spend a fortune on expensive decorations as the simplest of lights can bring a magical look to the outdoor space.

The first thing to do is to think about the atmosphere you want to create in the garden. If you want to create a relaxed feel a good way is to wind small, soft white lights around the trunk and branches of any trees in the space. Uplighters can also be used to create a lovely atmosphere as they highlight the branches of the trees. Snowflake lights hanging from the trees bring a magical atmosphere to even the smallest outdoor space.

Lanterns are a wonderful way to bring light to different areas of the garden and can be hung from trees or placed on walls and fences. Different sizes of lanterns are best used to add interest and give a different amount of light.

To make a real impact in your festive garden display, choose just two or three colours and use those colours for lights and baubles as nothing says Christmas like a bauble, or ten.

Garden renovations are exciting for any property owner. Giving your garden a much need makeover but the summer months set in is the best thing to do. But for now, we want to focus on decking boards. Sharing with you all of the benefits, disadvantages and choices you need to make.

What Are The Main Benefits of Decking?

Let’s begin our discussion by looking into the main benefits.

First, we need to think about the price. Decking boards are relatively inexpensive. This is due to them being cheap to make. Simply making them a cheaper option to purchase and install in your garden.

We should also think about the installation process. Unlike other options on the market, decking is simple to install into gardens. With it being that easy, you may be able to do it yourself without the cost of hiring a professional.

Finally, we like to think about the space it is going to give you. The best thing about decking is due to the material it is made from, it is super easy to cut the decking boards to suit the space you need. Meaning you can make the perfect seating area, extended into places that other options may not be able to reach with ease.

But what about the disadvantages?

When it is good, there is going to be bad. So, what are some of the disadvantages of choosing decking?

The main one we like to share is how the weather affects your boards. First up, rain. If you have rain, your decking boards are going to become extremely slippy. This means it is not going to be safe to walk on and can cause serious injuries. Alongside this, the weather can also cause damage to the wooden boards if not cared for correctly.

This takes us nicely onto our second point, the care scheme. When you invest in decking, it may be cheaper, to begin with, but you are going to need to care for it. This involves regularly treating your boards to ensure they do not get damaged. As well as regularly replacing them when they do inevitably become damaged.

Finally, you need to think about the long term effects. As mentioned before, whilst they are cheaper to purchase, the upkeep of this does make it more expensive. You need to be aware of this before making the commitment.

What Choices Will You Need To Make?

Finally, we want to share with you some of the choices you are going to need to make. Most commonly you will need to decide where you want your decking to go, this plays a huge part in how much you will be spending. You will also need to make the choice of what type of decking boards you are going to use. There are multiple different choices, with some bringing more benefits than others. Once you have made these choices, you will be able to begin the installation process, renovating your garden exactly how you want it.

As the weather gets warmer and we start to think about barbeques and outdoor gatherings it might be the time to invest in some new garden furniture to spruce up your patio. There is such a huge choice available either online, in supermarkets or in garden centres it can be difficult to know what to choose. Here are some pointers that may make the choice easier so that you get the right garden furniture for you.

Firstly, measure the space that you have available and consider how much of that space you want to dedicate to furniture and how much you want left for planters, water features etc. Corner sofas make good use of space and are ideal for smaller spaces.

Secondly, decide whether you are likely to use the outdoor space for dining or relaxing. If you tend to use the space for the latter then it is not really worth buying a table with upright chairs but rather choose comfortable chairs or sofas and an outdoor coffee table instead. Some sets have a table that has useful storage so that cushions from the chairs can be kept inside it when not in use.

Lastly think about whether you prefer wooden furniture that will require regular maintenance or whether you want the rattan effect furniture which requires no maintenance and can be left outside all year round.

Spring may seem like ages away but with March just round the corner and Easter eggs already filling the shelves, it will be here before we know it. Spring is the perfect time to get your garden in order and ready for the summer. IT may be that you want to add a splash of colour to a bedding area this year or that you want to re-turf your lawn. If this is the case, then you may want to start planning it now to ensure that you have everything ready for when the weather warms up. You may find that the weather starts to warm up quicker than you think as over the last few years April has tended to be more like summer weather.

You may need to do some preparation in your garden before you can add the flowers, new furniture or turf. If you need to remove areas of dirt or gravel, then you could try and get that done now to give yourself plenty of time to clear up and get straight before you have other jobs that need doing such as mowing lawns, cutting back hedges and weeding.

During the winter months some gardeners find that the lawned areas of the garden get increasingly muddy especially if there are trees nearby or the drainage is not sufficient to take away excess rainwater. For those people with a dog who walks on the lawn regularly the problem can be a real issue resulting in muddy footprints in the house. One solution to this predicament is to install artificial grass in these problem areas.

Although artificial grass may be unpopular with some gardeners, it has become popular in recent times as people seek to make their gardens low maintenance yet enjoy having a green area in the garden. The quality and appearance of artificial grass has improved greatly and so the number of people choosing to use this material instead of natural grass has increased too. Artificial grass is now so good that some people find that visitors cannot tell the difference between a lawn with real grass and artificial grass.

Installing artificial grass in areas where normal grass does not grow well is a straightforward process. Simple measure the area that you wish to cover allowing a few inches on each edge for trimming, Prepare the area to be covered, making sure it is smooth and any stones are removed then lay the turf down. Trim to fit and the job is complete.