Category: Gardening Advice

Top Tips for Maintaining Artificial Lawns

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artificial lawns

For many, the biggest draw to choosing an artificial turf over real grass is the ability to bid farewell to time spent mowing the lawn. However, that’s not to say there isn’t some recommended work required to really get the best out of artificial lawns.

A little bit of maintenance can go a long way in helping to extend the life of artificial turf and help to keep the grass looking just that little bit greener. Check out our top tips to maintaining your artificial lawn!

Give It a Brush

When you first install your artificial grass, the infill sand used will help to shape, structure and bed in your turf. Therefore it’s recommended for a minimum of six weeks to eight weeks to lightly brush the grass to remove any surface debris. Don’t be too forceful though – remember the turf is still bedding in, so brushing too vigorously could potentially leave you wish a misshapen garden.

After that point, it’s recommended to bring out the brush to remove any debris and foliage around once a month. The best results can be achieved with a medium soft bristle brush – you’d be surprised how much a quick run over the garden will spruce up your artificial lawn.

Weed Out Unwanted Plants

Artificial lawns will see to a massive reduction in number of weeds and unwanted plant life that will crop up in your garden, but it’s worth bearing in mind, because synthetic grass is porous (allows water through), it won’t be uncommon to see the odd particularly tenacious weed poking through.

There are a couple of ways to deal with this – the first being to simply take the top off the weed – knowing it will grow back soon enough. For a more permanent solution, a water based weed killer can be used up to twice a year. Approach weed killer with caution though – use anything other than a water-based concoction, and you’ll risk irreparable damage to your lawn.

Remove Unsightly Stains

As with any stain, the best chance you have of removing it is to act quickly. Should your artificial lawn be faced with a stain, dive in with some hot soapy water (washing up liquid is suitable) and give the stain a scrub. For oil stains, mineral spirits will also be helpful. If you’re faced with the unfortunate task of dealing with animal mess, remove it as quickly as possible, followed by a wash down the area.

Caring for Artificial Lawns

Artificial lawns are fuss-free and require minimal maintenance in order to really look great. If you’re looking to stock up on lawn care supplies for the summer ahead, head on over to eDecks now to snap up a bargain!

What are your top tips for caring for artificial lawns? Share with us in the comments below!

How to Install Artificial Grass in 6 Steps

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how to install artificial grass

Great news – you’ve decided to save yourself all that time you spend mowing the lawn by replacing it with artificial grass. You’re looking forward to spending more time enjoying your garden and relaxing, but before you get to that stage there is just the matter of getting your new lawn in place.29

Here at eDecks we pride ourselves on being helpful to our customers, and as a family run business we believe in keeping things simple. To that end, if you are wondering about how to install artificial grass then you need to wonder no longer – here is our guide to getting your new lawn in place in 6 straight-forward steps.

Step 1: Preparation

The first stage in any DIY project, as you probably know, is the preparation.

Measure out the area(s) that you are going to lay down the artificial grass, ensuring that you get your measurements absolutely spot on, so you don’t end up with gaps (it’s good to measure then leave a couple of days and do it again to make sure you don’t rush and make a mistake). Then decide exactly what you want your lawn to look like: we offer lots of different options and variety, meaning you can choose everything from the exact colour of your new lawn to the thickness and length of the ‘grass’. We also offer our Cut to Size service, which will save you lots of your precious weekend by having everything cut to your specifications rather than you having to do it.

Step 2: The Digging

Once you’ve measured it all out, ordered your new grass and are waiting for its delivery you should get the area ready (although you’ll have to be quick as our delivery is famously fast!). Start by removing the old lawn, if there is any, and then dig out the soil that was underneath that. Not only will this remove all roots and other weeds, but it will give you room to add in a base layer, for a better looking lawn.

Step 3: The Base Layer

Once your area is dug out, you need to make sure there’s a firm base layer. This will ensure that your lawn is smooth and level, with no strange lumps that could damage the grass or make it uncomfortable to walk on. It will need to be compacted and flattened, so allow enough time for this and for it all to set firmly.

If you want your lawn to be even softer, you might want to consider adding in a base layer of shock pad matting to make it even more comfortable to walk on – it works the same way as the layer under your carpets.

Step 4: Laying your Lawn

If you’ve used our Cut to Size service, this next bit is easy (providing you roll it out the right way!). Start at one edge, and simply roll out the grass, ensuring that any joins are secured discreetly. For larger and thicker lawns, it’s worth remembering that your rolls of artificial grass are going to be heavy – get someone to help you, as it’s all too easy to injure yourself!

Step 5: Securing and Filling

Once your new artificial grass is rolled out, it’s time to secure it. Using Ground PINS, your lawn will be easy to secure and won’t be going anywhere. Space them out evenly around the edges and throughout your lawn to make it firmly held down, remembering to hammer them in flush to the base of the lawn so they cannot be seen.

Step 6: Enjoying!

With your new artificial lawn now in place all you have left to do is sit back and admire your handy work, or better still get the whole family together for a barbecue safe in the knowledge that your grass will not become patchy with people walking over it.

How to Install Artificial Grass – Stock Up!

Now you know how to install artificial grass, head on over to stock up on artificial grass essentials here.

Winter Garden: 5 Top Tips to Repair and Prepare

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Winter Garden

We all know it’s the toughest time of the year for our beloved winter gardens, but fear not, we at eDecks have compiled this handy list of winter garden top tips to help your garden flourish throughout the coming months.

1. Spruce Up Your Garden Pathway!

Yes folks, it’s time to dig out that tub of elbow grease and find your trusty old stiff brush, as we recommend getting to grips with that garden path and restoring it to it’s former glory with a good old fashioned sweep. Use this time to clear out any growing moss, lichen and weeds that have taken root during the year and have that path looking spic and span for the forth coming new year. A clean path to the New Year.

eDecks tip: Use rocksalt to keep all paths clear and safe for when the ice and snow arrives!

2. Can You Dig It? We Recommend You Do!

Provided your soil isn’t waterlogged or frozen, we recommend giving your beds a good clearing out. Dig and fork the soil to loosen it up, allowing you to clear out any weeds and look into adding compost or manure to start the process of building up the soil structure. This will also help to create a moisture and food reserve for your plants and vegetables.

eDecks tip: Brighten up your garden with winter bedding, such as sweet peas and pansies.

3. Let the Pruning Commence!

Yes, it’s time to get out those pruning shears and start trimming back those bushes and trees for the winter. We recommend starting off by clearing all dead and diseased branches, then moving onto removing any buds facing into each other. This makes sure you won’t have any damage as the buds begin to flower later in the year. Finally, it’s always good to look at reducing any particularly long branches, we suggest cutting back a third of their current length.

eDecks top tip: Make sure your pruning shears are sharp to avoid crushing and tearing areas, as this can lead to disease and frost damage.

4. Don’t Have a Compost Bin? Start Now!

Winter can be the perfect time to kickstart your compost bin and start feeding back the nutrients from your garden waste, right back into your plants, trees and shrubs. The trees may look a tad bare right now, but it’s a good chance to take advantage of all those fallen leaves which can be gathered up and added to your brand new compost pile!

eDecks top tip: Buy the right composter for your gardening needs and be sure to pick up one of our ‘one size fits all’ covers!

5. Don’t Forget our Feathered Friends!

Yip, our last and final tip is obviously the most important as we strongly recommend you provide for the birds needs during what can be a difficult time for our flying friends. Turn this into an event with the kids, laying out food and making sure that water supplies are kept fresh.

eDecks top tip: Water baths keep freezing over? Place a floating ball on the surface to stop the water freezing… and hey, if it does freeze over, simply remove the ball to leave a gap in the ice!

Winter Garden – Further Help & Advice

Preparing your winter garden can be a labour of love, however, armed with the right tools and tricks, it will pay dividends in the later months. For more top tips on taking care of your winter garden and more, why not visit our blog on extending the life of your plants in winter?

Bonfire Night Safety Tips for Garden Parties

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Remember, remember the 5th of November! Bonfire night is nearly here and we want to make sure your night goes off with a bang. If you’re having a fireworks night party in your garden, follow these simple garden safety tips to make sure you have an unforgettable bonfire night for all the right reasons.

 

Keep Bonfires a Safe Distance from Timber Structures & Trees

When you’re building your bonfire, it’s all about the location. If there any trees with overhanging branches or wooden sheds nearby it’s just asking for trouble! Before you start building your log pile, look around your garden to see if there are any potential fire hazards lurking nearby and make sure you build your bonfire as far away from them as possible.

 

Check for Hedgehogs Hiding in the Bonfire

You see a log pile for a bonfire, hedgehogs see a cosy shelter from the winter weather. If your wood pile has been left outside for a while, check the base to make sure there aren’t any hedgehogs hiding under the timber before your light it.

 

Keep Fireworks a Safe Distance from Building and Trees

You can’t have a bonfire night safety guide without taking about fireworks. If you’re ditching an organised fireworks display to have your own at home, make sure to light them a safe distance away from trees and wooden buildings like sheds so you don’t need to worry about a stray rocket causing havoc!

Remember the age old warning for when you’re using fireworks, never ever go back to it once it’s been lit.

 

Keep Pets indoors

Pets and fireworks don’t mix well. The loud bangs and bright lights can be frightening to animals especially dogs and cats, and the last thing you want is scared pets running around the garden when there’s a bonfire, sparklers and fireworks around! Play it safe by keeping your pets indoors on bonfire night. Your pet will thank you for it.

 

Supervise Children with Sparklers

Kids love playing with bright sparklers on bonfire night but don’t forget that sparklers can cause serious burns if they’re not careful! Keep your kids safe by making sure they wear gloves when handling sparklers. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your child once it’s been lit to make sure they’re playing with it safely. We recommend talking to your children before giving them sparklers so they understand why they have to be careful with them.

 

The team at eDecks hope your bonfire night goes off with bang! Tell us how you’re planning on spending bonfire night in the comments section below.

 

How to Extend the Life of Your Plants in Winter

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Have you been wishing that there was a way to extend the lifespan of your late blooming plants? You’re in luck! If you don’t want to leave the last of your summer blooms to the mercy of the elements, there’s a few simple tricks you can do to protect your plants from the harsh autumn climate.

 

Bring them Inside

If you can, move your potted plants inside and re-pot any remaining plants from your hanging baskets so you can bring them in from the cold. The golden rule when you’re rehoming your plants inside is to place them in a room with windows so they can still get lots of sunlight and, don’t place them too close to any heaters! Too much heat is just as bad as not enough as central heating can quickly dry out your poor plants if you’re not careful.

 

Use a Greenhouse Heater

Most greenhouse gardeners will call it a day once the days get colder and the nights get longer however, some dedicated gardeners refuse to let the seasons dictate when they can use their greenhouses. What’s their secret? They invested in a greenhouse heater. Add one to your greenhouse to turn it into a tropical paradise for the last of your summer flowers. As an added bonus, with a greenhouse heater you’ll be able to grow your own vegetables for Christmas dinner.

 

Tuck them in at Night

Protect your plants from the frosty autumn nights by using a light covering to keep them warm when the temperatures plummet. If you’re worried about damaging the delicate leaves or petals, use bamboo canes to construct a frame to drape the covering over. Most garden centres stock covers but if you have a spare sheet or a fleece lined blanket lying around the house, you can save some money by using that instead.

 

Prevent Saplings Becoming Lunch

When the winter sets in and it becomes difficult for wild rabbits to find food, the soft bark on your recently planted saplings will begin to look pretty tasty to passing wildlife. Prevent your young trees becoming the dish of the day by constructing a protective guard made from galvanised chicken wire around the base of your saplings. Make sure you install it as close to the young tree as possible and set it deep enough into the ground so it can’t be knocked over by gusts of wind.

 

Build a Cold Box

If you’ve been growing vegetables that can’t be moved but still aren’t quite past their best, why not build a protective cold box to keep them warm on frosty days? Cold boxes are available in most garden centres but if you’re a dab hand at DIY, it should be no problem to construct your own. Just use planed timber and galvanised nails to construct a box frame and top it off with a lid made from a pane of glass or a sheet of hard plastic.

 

Extend the lifespan of your late blooming plants with eDecks. Browse our range of premium garden supplies at discount prices online today.

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