Are you looking to transform your outdoor space into an oasis? Hiring landscape gardeners from the best landscaping companies is one of the best ways to achieve the outdoor space you’ve always wanted. With the help of professional landscape gardeners, you can create a tranquil outdoor area that can be enjoyed by family and friends alike. In this blog post, we will discuss the top benefits of hiring landscape gardeners to make your outdoor dreams a reality.

When it comes to putting up a new garden fence for your home, there are many options to consider. Different garden fence types offer not only a diverse look and feel to your garden, but they can also improve its functionality. Fences can add privacy to your home, provide shelter from the weather, and keep pets and children from straying. In addition, some garden fence types are easier to maintain, while others are more suitable for those on a tight budget. So, here is our guide to choosing the right garden fence for your home.

Close board fence panels

Close board panels are durable and tough, overlapping vertically with each other to create a solid fence. These types of fences are great for both privacy and shelter as well as extra security. Close board fences are also the perfect option for those on a medium sized budget. However, they can be quite costly for larger gardens and do require regular maintenance.

Overlap fence panels

Overlap fence panels are similar to close board panels, except they overlap horizontally. These are a cheaper fencing option to close board fence panels and offer a similar level of security and privacy. However, overlap fence panels are not as strong or durable as close board panels. They also need much more maintenance and are less stylish than other fence panel options.

Palisade / Picket fencing

Timber palisades, or picket fencing, offers a traditional and decorative style of fencing to your home. These are a great option for front gardens as they add kerb appeal and are also low enough to allow you to talk to your neighbours. These types of fences are also great for ponds and swimming pools where privacy is less of an issue. Picket fencing is not the best choice if you are looking for good shelter or extra security though, and it does require regular maintenance.

Slatted fence panels

Slatted panels are a sleek and modern choice. They allow sunlight to penetrate through the gaps to create an attractive effect in your garden. Slatted panels also look great as internal dividers in your garden and can even make your space feel larger. However, as boundary fences, they do not offer full privacy, and there is always the risk of weeds growing in between the slats.

Hit and miss fence panels

Hit and miss panels create a distinctive look for your fence, with alternating boards affixed to the front and back of the fence. This is a good option for those who have a medium range budget as it offers an attractive look, provides great security and privacy, and allows wind to pass through the gaps, meaning less resistance. But the construction of hit and miss panels makes maintaining panels more difficult, plus weeds can easily penetrate the gaps.

Other Things to Consider When Choosing Garden Fence Types

• How high should it be? Most fences are 1.8m high, but you can select other height options based on your privacy and need for light. Keep in mind that you may need planning permission for fence heights based on where you place them.
• Is the fence secure, private and wind resistant? Solid fencing provides better security and privacy, while slatted fencing has better wind resistance.
• How much maintenance do I need to carry out? Some wood panels need maintaining more often than others, although you may be able to minimise this with the right pressure treatment.
• Can I afford it? Most fencing panels are within the medium budget range, although some choices, like overlap panels, offer low budget solutions.
  Quality Outdoor Rooms

To find out more about our garden fence services, please get in touch with us today.

As the temperature starts to drop, our gardens soon begin to lose their summer colours. This, however, does not mean that maintaining your garden should be put on the backburner.

As the nights draw in, gardeners all over the country will be heading out to prepare their garden for the winter. But what exactly should you be doing to make sure your winter gardening goes well?

Getting your Garden Plants Ready for the Frost

One of the first tasks of winter gardening is clearing away last season’s debris. Though your annual plants have brought some stunning colour to your garden all year, they are unlikely to make it far into winter. Attempting to maintain them into November is a big struggle, so it may be worth adding them to your compost bin.

It may be hard to say goodbye to your poppies and sweet peas, but it doesn’t mean saying goodbye to colour for good. October is a good time to plant snowdrops or pansies. These plants will bring a touch of colour to your days of winter gardening.

Whilst you’re at it, remember to trim your perennial plants. Whilst you want these plants to survive the winter, you don’t want them running wild now that they have little competition. Weeds will also be looking to take advantage of the season, so give your garden a good weed before the soil gets too hard.

Though some plants are dying off, your evergreens should be looking as good as ever. That is unless they need a bit of a prune. Now is the best time to plant and prune your evergreen plants, before the colder, frosty days make the task harder.

Your grass too will still be green, but your lawn will definitely benefit from some fertiliser to keep it healthy. Less sun will mean less growth. Whilst that saves on mowing, you don’t want your grass dying off.

Finally, on the topic of plants, give your beds some extra protection with compost and fertiliser. A couple of inches of compost on top of the soil will keep the frost, and any peckish animals, off your plants.

Keeping Fencing and Furniture Fit

When you prepare your garden for winter, there’s more to think about than your plants. The wet, cold nights and freezing temperatures will take a toll on other things, too. So, remember to check your shed, fences, and decking. With many plants out the way, now is a great time to repair any damage without disturbing beds. A layer of preservative, stain or paint on your woodwork will help to stop rot and water damage.

Also, don’t neglect your garden furniture. Move it inside if you can, or at the very least cover it over with a protective waterproof cover. The constant damp, freezing, and thawing of winter will take its toll. Rot will also set in faster if you haven’t given your furniture a clean.

Use Winter Gardening to Rethink Your Garden Design

Prepare your garden for winter well, and you’ll see the results throughout the entire year. Though there’s plenty of work to do to prepare the garden for winter, the colder months may see you less busy in your flower beds. With more time on your hands, you might be thinking about giving your garden a redesign. Quality Outdoor Rooms provide garden design in East London, and could help you transform your outdoor spaces ready for spring.

If you’d like to wow garden guests next spring, contact the garden design experts at Quality Outdoor Rooms today.

Introducing paving stones into your garden can transform your outdoor space. Paving stones offer a simple way to partition space, so you can create a stunning seating area.

Whether you plan to host an al fresco feast, or just sit back in a sunlounger, use paving to give your designs a firm foundation.

Things have come a long way since the days of grey garden paths. Now you’ll find all kinds of paving slabs in all kinds of materials and styles. This is fantastic for finding a look that matches your home. But having so many types of paving blocks to choose from is a little bewildering.

So, let’s take a look at the types of paving, and what you can expect from them.

Types of Paving Style and Materials

There are two main types of paving styles you’ll find in gardens across the country: slabs and blocks.

Slabs are large, flat stones designed to cover big areas. Sometimes each slab will be the same size and shape, but sizes and shapes can be mixed for more unique patterns. On the other hand, paving blocks are a much smaller style of stone. When laid down, blocks have the same appearance as bricks.

This brings us onto materials. The diversity of materials gives you a lot of choice, each with their own advantages and disadvantages:

• Firstly, there’s natural stone. Natural stone is a sturdy material that’s unlikely to crack. Its natural appearance and varied patterns will suit all kinds of gardens.
  
  
• Next, there’s concrete. Concrete slabs replicate the look and feel of stone. Cast in moulds, concrete is a great option if you’re on a budget, but doesn’t quite capture the natural charm of other options.
  
  
• For natural strength, you can’t beat granite. If you’re paving an area with heavy footfall, its natural resilience will stand firm. Granite’s grey colours have a sophisticated, clean look.
  
  
• Limestone brings a natural look to your paving, with the benefit of lots of colour choice. The smooth surface looks clean, and absorbs little water.
  
  
• The sleek but riven look of slate makes it one of the most stunning, modern paving materials. Combine this with its natural strength and clean, diamond-sawn cuts, and you have a top paving choice.
  
  
• Next, there’s sandstone. Though not as tough as other stones, sandstone’s rustic style and natural veining make it the material of choice for country-cottage spaces. It’s light colour is great for a focal spot.
  
  
• Finally, there’s porcelain. This modern paving material is cooked at high temperatures for unbeatable strength and durability. Porcelain can replicate the look of wood or stone, making it great for patios.

Unbeatable Paving from Quality Outdoor Rooms

If you’re looking for garden services in London, work with Quality Outdoor Rooms. With all types of paving slabs on offer, we can help get your next project going with quality advice. Contact us today to create the perfect patio for your garden.