Some DIY stores sell specialised kits with either wooden planks or tiles. Another choice to take into consideration is the type of wood that you wish to use. As well as natural soft and hardwoods, you might like to take composite decking into consideration. This material is made from recycled timber as well as PVC, and has a reputation for being low maintenance and long-lasting. Another environmentally sound material is Thermodeck. This comes from Scandinavia and is manufactured using only softwoods from sustainable forests. The material is guaranteed to be water-resistant for 15 years.

Spirit levels and hammers will be required in the construction process, as will drills, but once you start assembling the decking you will see that this job is logical and straightforward, especially if you enjoy carpentry and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

The main advantage of buying one of these pre-packaged plants is that they tend to be a lot cheaper than their counterparts grown in a container are, but there are also a few drawbacks of which buyers should be aware.

First, you cannot see exactly what it is that you are purchasing. With a plant in a pot, you can have a good look and check it out for defects such as disease and malnutrition. In addition, premature growth might have got underway in the warm conditions that may occur inside a shop.

The plant should be completely dormant, and have no leaf buds starting to open, or shrivelled or diseased stems, and neither should there be small, white roots that grow into damp packing material.

Check out the signs as best you can through the material before buying a pre-packaged plant.

Positioning is important

Before you actually make any changes to the shed itself, you should think about its position. If possible, move the shed nearer to the house, as this will make it less tempting for thieves and vandals. The chances of them getting caught are greater if the shed is closer to the house, and they are well aware of this.

Security lighting

Install a powerful light in the garden that is activated by movement. Not only will this alert you to the presence of someone in your garden, but it will also deter thieves. It is well known that thieves prefer the cover of night, and security lighting takes this cover away from them.

Fit a heavy duty lock

Just because the shed is made out of plastic, does not mean that you should not invest in a serious lock. Make sure that the lock fits well onto the door, as this will make it harder for thieves to leverage bolt cutters.

Alarms

If the content of your plastic shed has a particularly high value then installing an alarm is a low-cost and effective deterrent.

Garden walls are generally built up from flat, thin pieces of stone bedded in mortar. If you have to cut stone for the wall, choose pieces that split naturally into square-faced fragments. You can use a bolster chisel and a club hammer for this, supporting the stone on a piece of old carpet, using a cold chisel for more delicate details.

If your existing wall is in a bad shape there are a few ways of brightening it up. Painting the whole thing is probably the simplest remedy. You could also plant climbers against trellises pinned against the wall. For a complete renovation, clean back the surface with a sand blaster that you can hire in most DIY stores, and follow this up with high-quality repairs of the cracks and holes using the appropriate fillers. 

Remember that brick and stone walls require a solid foundation. As a basic rule of thumb, the concrete foundation slab will have to be two or three times wider than the wall you’re going to build. If you’re uncertain about this just make the slab thicker and wider. If you’re making a dry stone wall, don’t use any mortar.

If the wall of stone or brick will be higher than about your chest, you’ll need to dig a deeper trench of about 400mm and use a concrete foundation slab of about 240mm in thickness.

The roof finish can be made from a range of materials, including lead, mineral felt, slate and tile, and the variety actually used will depend largely on the slope of the roof.  Lead and mineral felt on more modern garden room roofs, have been substituted with vinyl or aluminium skins and high-tech paints, which require skilled application.

There are a number of benefits to having a garden room on one’s property, rather than a traditional conservatory.  It will be more comfortable in cold weather because of the insulated roofing which reduces down draughts and heat loss, so it can be used all year round.  It will also require a smaller radiator, with reduced energy bills.  The solid roof will also make the space cooler and more comfortable in the summer, with no need for lots of opening windows and roof blinds.  The roof will not need regular cleaning, and there will be greater privacy too.

A garden room is the ideal solution for anyone looking to increase the permanently habitable space in their home, without going to the expense of having a traditional brick-built house extension, or the ‘goldfish bowl’ exposure and running costs of a conservatory.  The lower costs and simplified construction are making garden studios increasingly attractive to homeowners.

Home Remedies

Night patrols are often effective, as snails are nocturnal feeders. An eggshell or salt barrier can be put in place around the affected plants. Beer or bran in a jar, buried in the ground, is irresistible to these creatures. They fall into the beer and drown or they eat themselves to death on the bran that swells in their gut. Owners of particularly precious or rare plants might want to invest in a copper ring that emits a small electric charge. The last and most bizarre remedy is boiling the snails you have caught and pouring the water around the affected plants. It is said to be one of the best deterrents available.

Biological Warfare

Recently, a new product has emerged on the market. It comes in the form of nematodes, which are microscopic creatures that seek out and destroy the slugs. Once in the slug’s system, these bacteria cause a complete loss of appetite, which results in the slug perishing within seven to ten days. From there, the bacteria consume the entire body, thereafter retreating into the soil to lay in wait for further victims. This makes for a rather neat, effective and environmentally friendly pest control.

Before declaring war on the slug population, ensure that they are indeed the culprits, as caterpillar and slug damaged leaves are similar. By simply looking for a slime trail or lack of one, you will be able to ascertain what creature is to blame.

The first tip is to take advice from wherever you can. You can never learn enough about giving your home a face-lift. Think about your garden, getting out in the fresh air and being closer to nature. You can always get advice from your local garden centre or the internet.

No matter how big or small your project may be it is a good idea to first plan what needs to be done. Walk around and make sketches and notes, so that you are sure of what materials and tools will be required to complete the task. There are some great websites that can help you with material specifications and instructions on how to complete tasks. 

Sometimes consulting a professional cannot be avoided; for example, plumbing or electrical work should not be attempted if you have no experience.

Most importantly, have fun improving your home and garden.

There are many different kinds of gravel to choose from, and they differ in size and colour.

Chips of green basalt are pricey, but work well on pathways.  The small pieces need a firm border to keep them on the pathway, and must be laid between 40 and 50 mm deep.

Pea gravel is a mix of small cream, black, brown, and grey stones.  It is very good for borders and garden paths.  This is a cost-effective kind of gravel, and should be laid 30 mm deep.     

Granite chippings are chunky and come in single colours such as grey, red, and black – but can be mixed.  This type of gravel tends to be on the expensive side, but is perfect for a modern garden.

Beach pebbles come in a mix of cream, greys, and white; they can be used for pathways, but are better for borders or for decorating.  One popular option is to combine beach pebbles with pea gravel in a pathway.  Beach pebbles tend to be on the expensive side.

Flint chips are very resilient and make an attractive garden pathway.  Flint chips are easy to find but expensive when compared to pea gravel.

Stone chippings provide a firm and less noisy pathway.  They come in grey or brown and provide an unusual but none-the-less attractive finish to a garden path.

If you do not have a decent lawn, cultivating one is not too difficult. The simplest option is to start from scratch by planting a new one. In order to avoid problems caused by mixing different types of grass, the first thing you will need to do is kill off any straggling remains of the existing grass. Head off to your local garden centre and purchase a herbicide. Following the instructions, you will need to mix the concentrated chemical with water; the solution is then applied with a sprayer.

This task should be undertaken when there is little wind, ensuring the area is kept clear for the duration. The herbicide container will explain how long this weed-killing process should take. Afterwards, measure out the grass seed; again following the guidelines relating to the rate of coverage. New seed should be watered thoroughly so that contact is maintained with the ground beneath. However, do not overdo it, otherwise the seeds may rot.

Laying a Lawn

Garden centres supply ready-made lawns, in the form of turf sods. You should be looking for turf that is slightly over half an inch, but less than an inch thick. The soil should be moist, certainly not wet or completely dry. A good tip is to ensure the actual grass is green, as yellow or brown leaves indicate unhealthy grass.

Never leave the individual rolls stacked up. The key to a successful lawn is laying the sods immediately, starting at solid edge, like a patio. The rolls should be placed down according to the same principal as laying bricks, with alternate rows staggered. Trimming can be achieved with a knife.  Once completed, the lawn should be saturated with water.

Tips for Mowing Your Lawn

Never be tempted to simply allow the grass grow freely and then chop it off in one gruelling mowing session. Instead, it is better to mow regularly, clipping a short length each time.

Paths are very vulnerable to damage from weeds, roots, and standing water.  Whether concrete or gravel, a garden path can benefit from regular maintenance.

Frequent treatment of a gravel path with weed killer, and removal of grass and other vegetation from the path edging, are two easily performed maintenance strategies.  Fixing major overgrowth and root damage could involve removing the gravel and refinishing the base level before re-pouring the gravel surface.  Regularly redistributing the gravel by raking will help to minimise the formation of potholes or puddles and the spread of grass and/or weeds.

Once cracked, a concrete pathway is subject to subsidence as a result of recurrent freezing and thawing cycles; cracks may get bigger and potholes may form.  Repair bills will definitely increase.

A concrete path should have plenty of drainage holes incorporated into its structure, but once a crack forms it should be repaired as soon as possible.  Wait until the ground is dry before attempting any repair work. 

A compressed air blower or vacuum can be used to remove debris and loose bits of concrete from inside the damaged area, and to clean the surrounding surfaces.  If the crack or hole is large, undercutting the edges will create a wedge spaced shape which when filled will be less vulnerable to cracking or popping out. 

Proprietary fillers for fixing damaged concrete are readily available from suppliers of DIY and gardening products.  The filler is usually supplied dry and must be mixed with water before use. 

Mix enough filler to complete the task of both filling the crack/hole and covering the surrounding area for a little distance to create a patch.  Overfilling a little will allow for shrinkage; sanding can be done to even the surface once the patch has dried.

If cracks continue to form it may be necessary to seek professional advice to rule out larger problems or drainage issues.