Hardwood decking is the most luxurious decking material that you can choose – and that’s not without good reason. It usually lasts longer than softwood decking, with less maintenance needed, and many people simply love hardwood for its beautiful colour and finished aesthetic. Continue reading
As Autumn falls behind us and Winter fast approaches, more and more of us will be cranking up the gas or electric heating and hibernating indoors by the warm glow Continue reading
As we gear up for summer, the thought of labouring away and maintaining the garden can be a daunting prospect for some. Others, on the other hand, relish the chance to get their hands dirty with some good ole’ DIY. However, there comes a point where each DIYer is faced with weighing up the benefits of synthetic grass vs. real grass.
Both have their merits, but which one is the right fit for you?
It’s not uncommon for many areas of the United Kingdom to experience all four seasons in one day. Us Brits have managed to adapt – with the invention of waterproof cagoules and fold-away brollies, but unfortunately, grass has yet to follow. Consequently, the harsh conditions of British weather can strip away at lawn vegetation and, even with the tender loving care of avid gardeners, lawns can become dry, cracked and unsightly.
For this reason, even those blessed with the greenest of thumbs turn to synthetic grass in order to spend more time tending to other more fruitful activities, without having to worry about battling the hostile elements to ensure the lawn stays a healthy green.
One of the biggest advantages of synthetic grass is the massive reduction in dirt and mess being dragged back into the home. For gardens that are well-loved by children and pets alike, artificial grass comes without the muddy territory – a massive timesaver for busy parents (and pawrents!)
Furthermore, synthetic grass gardeners save on the bills by no longer having to water, nurture and mow the lawn. This is particularly ideal for those who are time-strapped and often only bring out the lawnmower once the garden looks like a small jungle.
For many, the biggest disadvantage to using synthetic grass is that of the environment and local eco-systems. Many wildlife activists advocate the use of real grass for the reason that using a synthetic lawn removes the habitat which plays home to many insects and birds.
On the flip side, some may argue that the use of a lawnmower in fact adds to the carbon footprint, and those interested in helping to preserve the local eco-systems can add items such as bird-feeders and flowering plant life to their gardening regime to help prevent the decline of local wildlife.
For many, the biggest concern about having a garden with synthetic grass is the finished product looking and feeling “fake.” Fortunately, in the recent years artificial grass has evolved to be almost indistinguishable from the real thing – and prospective buyers’ fears can be assuaged by ordering inexpensive grass samples.
Ultimately in the debate of synthetic grass vs. real grass, the decision to go for the real deal or fake it is very much down to each individual and their personal requirements.
Keen to try a synthetic grass garden but not sure what to pick? Why not get in touch with our friendly customer services team on 0844 474 4444 or dive right in and nab a bargain from our great selection of artificial grass on sale now?
What separates a good deck from a great deck? Forward-thinking design. If you’re gearing up to start your own decking DIY project, then you’re in luck! Join us as we share our top tips to help you design your own deck!
You may already have a rough idea of what you want your deck to look like, but ordering a load of materials and diving straight in isn’t the best approach. Instead take the time to gather inspiration and consider what sort of decking fits in with your garden and home.
Social DIY havens such as Pinterest are a great place to begin gathering inspiration. Create a mood-board of your ideal decking and collate ideas into different collections. As you gather more and more photos of decking, you’ll be able to identify common themes and establish quickly the sort of materials you’ll need to craft your vision.
Once you’ve taken the time to curate your own decking mood-boards, the next step should be to compare your inspiration to your garden. Be realistic and compare the scale of your inspiration decking to what is viable for your garden – going too big will dwarf your garden, and going too small will look out of proportion.
Begin “brain-dumping” your ideas onto paper – draw sketches of your garden to help you establish the optimum size of decking for your backyard.
When planning to design your own deck, be sure to factor in considerations such as the time, budget and manpower available to assemble your decking.
Not sure where to begin? A brilliant place to start is with our customer projects – all of which detail the cost, number of people required to build, length of time to complete and even the very materials used!
Also consider safety requirements and ask questions like: will the deck attached to the house comply with building regulations? Will the decking require security railings? How will the changes in level be handled? Will there be any additional features to enhance the aesthetic?
Designing your own deck can seem a tad overwhelming. If you’re feeling a bit out of your depth, our super-friendly eDecks Sales Team are only a phone call away and would be delighted to give a helping hand! Get the ball rolling and give them a call on 0844 474 4444!
Already prepared with your decking design? Head on over to explore our cheap decking supplies to crack on with your project here.
Are you planning to design your own deck? Or do you already have a plan in place? Share your top tips with us in the comments below!
We know we’ve only just bid farewell to our massive Turkey roast from Xmas day, but as ever it’s on-wards and up-wards in the land of DIY and garden maintenance and you’ve probably got a million and one plans already in the making. But first, let’s sort out that poor Xmas tree recycling. Join us as we delve into eDecks top 5 tips for recycling your tree, making sure it’s being put to it’s best use all year round!
If you’re like us, then winter can be a worrisome time. Will some of our more fragile plants make it through any forthcoming heavy frosts? Well, why not use some of the longer branches from your Xmas tree to form a light covering shelter. It could just make the difference between a plant making it through the winter. Blooming great!
Feeling crafty? Suddenly your troublesome tree becomes free material for a host of indoor and outdoor projects. How about sawing up the trunk of the tree to create two inch discs which can be used to separate beds, line paths or walkways? Thinking indoor? How about going a little thinner on the discs and creating super cool rugged coasters? We’d recommend coating these in polyurethane just to make sure any residual sap doesn’t make it’s way onto your nice new coffee table!
Chipping your tree to create your own garden mulch is easily the simplest way to use the trunk and larger branches. This can be used for mulching paths, topping off borders and generally tidying up drab areas of the garden. If you don’t own a chipper, then why not look to share the cost with neighbours, family and friends. Xmas tree chipping party anyone?
We can’t forget about the little birdies can we? How about turning your old tree into an awesome bird feeder. Use the branches to hang your feeders, or create your own using pine cones, peanut butter and bird seed! Looking to attract some shyer feathered friends? How about placing the feeders towards the edges or more covered areas of the garden? Some birds are more likely to approach food if it’s not located smack bang in the middle of the garden.
Finally, we at eDecks know that the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Sometimes life just gets in the way, but that doesn’t mean you have to ditch the plans altogether. Here’s our Xmas tree cheat sheet…shhhhh, don’t tell anyone! Find your nearest recycling station here! Ain’t nobody got time to mulch! Let us do the work for you!
Do you plan to recycle your Christmas tree this year? Why not share your xmas tree recycling top tips with us on Twitter, or even the comments below!
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