Frosty winter days are fantastic until the combination of rainy afternoons and bitterly cold nights turns your garden into a hazardous ice rink. When this happens you have two options: hibernate for the winter or take precautions to make your garden as safe as possible. If you choose the latter, we can help you keep your family safe when the frost sets in with our top garden safety tips. Otherwise, we’ll see you next spring!

 

Make Anti-Slip Decking Your New Best Friend

If you’re planning on installing decking but stay in an area which is prone to particularly harsh winters (we’re looking at you Scotland) then consider using anti-slip decking instead of regular timber decking boards.

eDecks’ anti-slip decking can prevent your deck from becoming seriously slippery during spells of wet or icy weather. We use a highly durable resin and aggregate combination to give you unbeatable protection from the elements all year round!

 

Salt Rocks!

Rock salt is your number 1 ally in the fight against perilous paths this winter! A generous helping of rock salt will quickly defrost even thick patches of ice so you walk around the outside of your home without having to worry about falling head over heels with every step.

Using rock salt to de-ice your path is so simple that you’ll wonder why you didn’t attempt it before. Start by completely covering the icy ground with rock salt and wait until you see the thicker patches begin to melt away. Once the ice has begun to thaw, whisk it away using a shovel or brush, being careful not to slip on any patches that haven’t melted yet! Rock salt can be stored for a long period of time so it’s a good idea to buy in bulk if you live in an area where you’ll have to frequently de-ice your garden path or driveway

If you shop online for de-icing salt at eDecks, you can save money with our fantastic discounts across the entire range of rock salt! We know how important it is to quickly de-ice your outdoors surfaces when the frost sets in, that’s why our super-fast delivery service can deliver your rock salt within a few working days.

 

Helpful Handrails

Decking Handrails are one of the simplest ways to increase winter safety in your garden. Handrails are particularly useful if you have young children that might not be as careful as yourself when they are running outside to play in the snow. Just remember that you might have to de-frost your handrail if it’s practically frosty. We recommend using a spray de-icer to quickly de-ice your deck’s handrail.

 

Cover-Up (Your Pond)

To you an icy pond is a potential hazard; to your child it’s an impromptu skating rink! No matter how thick the ice looks, it can easily brake under pressure and plunge your child an unexpected plunge into the freezing water beneath.

Prevent your child from venturing onto the surface of the ice by covering up your pond with a bright, protective covering and if possible, use mesh or chicken wire as a protective barrier. Create your fence by spacing out timber poles at equal distances around your pond and securing them in place by driving them into the ground. Then stretch the wire mesh across the poles and secure in place with galvanised staples.

 

What are your top tips for keeping your family safe in the garden during the winter? Leave us a comment below.

Find fantastic discounts on rock salt, anti-slip decking and more at eDecks! Browse our range of garden supplies online today.

 
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To your child, your garden is one big play area waiting to be explored! Although potential hazards might be lurking in your garden, don’t curb their enthusiasm; with a few simple adjustments you can child proof your garden so they can enjoy their surroundings.
While nothing can replace adult supervision, here are some of our top tips for keeping your child safe in your garden:

Lock Up Garden Tools

Storing your garden tools safely in shed is the first step towards keeping your child safe in the garden but, curious children aren’t afraid to venture into sheds when they’re looking for new toys to play with! Make sure that your sharp tools like secateurs and lawnmowers are stored safely behind a locked door to prevent accidental cuts and scrapes.
If your child is helping you in the garden, don’t leave tools lying within their reach when you have to make a quick trip inside. Even if you’re only gone for a few minutes, your child could take this opportunity to play with sharp shears or, spiky garden forks.

Keep Garden Chemicals Out of Reach

The bright colours on the packaging for pesticides, weed killers and plant food can be appealing to small children. Ideally, you should store these dangerous chemicals behind the locked door of your garden shed. However, if this isn’t possible, the next best place to store these products is on a high self where they will be safely out of reach from small hands.

Watch Out for Toxic Plants

Lily of the Valley, Foxgloves and Azaleas might look beautiful but these blooms harbour a dangerous secret! Like many other common garden plants they are extremely toxic to children when ingested.
If you don’t want to remove these plants from your garden altogether, consider fencing them off using chicken wire or pretty trellis fencing.

Invest in Anti-Slip Decking

After spells of heavy rain, decking can become extremely slippery! If you live in an area where there is exceptionally high rainfall, consider investing in anti-slip decking. This ingenious solution is perfect for parents with active children who want to be outside as soon as the unpredictable British climate lets them.

Keep On Top of General Maintenance

Before you let your child explore the garden, take a walk around to see if there are any general repair jobs that are creating hazards in your garden. For example, are there any broken shed windows? Does your fence have any broken, jagged panels? Keeping on top of your garden maintenance jobs will go a long way towards keeping your child safe in your garden.

Keep your child safe in your garden with our fantastic range of high quality, discounted gardening supplies at eDecks.

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Is your garden under attack from pesky pests? Don’t take it lying down! With some clever pest control techniques you can save your vegetables and protect your plants from being wrecked by bugs and insects this summer.

 

Create Confusion

Usually invading garden pests are seeking out a particular type of plant or vegetable in your garden. Mixing different types of plants together will help prevent insects from honing in on a particular variety of plant. Increase the biodiversity of your garden by breaking up long rows of single crops with plants from different families. For example, plant onions alongside tomatoes or, intersperse your vegetables with low growing annual plants.

 

Cut Back on the Mulch

If you’re using an organic mulch it will be doing wonders for your soil but, the warm, damp conditions under the mulch could make it a breeding ground for young insects such as slugs and sow bugs! If these pests become a problem in your garden, reduce the amount of mulch used and, move it back at least two inches from young seedlings and delicate plants that are susceptible to disease.

 

Keep Your Vegetables Undercover

Ward off invading garden pests such as cucumber beetles and squash bugs by going undercover! Use row covers to keep bugs away from your vegetable rows and new seedlings. As an added bonus, this pest control technique can speed-up crop growth by trapping a blanket of warm air around your plants and vegetables.

 

Invest in a Pesticide

If you have a busy lifestyle you need a quick and hassle free way to win the battle against garden pests. Invest in a good pesticide to instantly get rid of troublesome garden invaders. When you are choosing a pesticide try to get one that is tough on bugs and insects yet, gentle on your plants. Don’t buy an all-round pesticide unless you really need to; if you are having trouble with a particular type of pest, a bug or insect specific pesticide will be far more effective.

What’s your favourite pest control technique? Tell us how you protect your garden from invading bugs and insects!

Visit eDecks today for a fantastic range of garden supplies at great discounted prices.

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“Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James

There is nothing more satisfying than enjoying your beautiful garden in the sunshine. After you’ve carefully tendered to young plants, meticulously mowed your lawn and fought with wicked weeds; it’s time to sit back and reap the benefits of your hard work.

To help keep your garden in tip-top shape we’ve pulled together a few handy tips to help you maintain that beautiful green glow in your garden.

Spot Signs of Drought

Like the rest of us, Lawns and plants, need plenty of hydration during long periods of sunshine. Don’t let drought ruin your beautiful blooms; check your plants’ leaves and flowers for the early signs of dehydration. It’s time to water your garden when:

• Plant leaves are wilted, even when the sun goes down
• Look out for the leaves of your plants turning yellow and then brown
• Flowers have become shrivelled and have started to die off
• Your fruit trees are dropping more fruit than usual

Garden lawns are more resistant to long periods of dry weather than plants and flowers are. However, you know your lawn is parched when you notice your grass is turning yellow then brown, becoming limp and in extreme cases, developing bald patches!

Protect your Plants

During the warm summer days it’s important to help your plants retain as much moisture as possible. When the weather heats up, your plants can quickly loose moisture through their leaves. A good starting point is to protect them from excessive sunlight and heat. The sun’s rays are most intense during the afternoon so, move delicate pot plants and hanging baskets into a cool, shady area to protect them from damage.

If you are unable to move larger flowerpots, try adding a light shade to your plastic pots to help deflect the sun’s heat and harmful UV rays. Taller plants or trees in your garden are perfect for protecting young or small flowering plants.

Wind is another problem for your plants during the summer as it can also strip away any moisture retained in the leaves.

Our top tip is to cover delicate plants with a light polythene sheet to prevent wind damage which could stunt their growth.

Respect the Roots

Almost every drop of water plants need to survive is taken in via their roots. Encouraging your plants to develop strong, deep roots will make it easier for them to absorb essential moisture in the soil during dry spells in the summer.

Try to use large flowerpots where possible to encourage your plants to grow wide roots that reach deep into the soil.

Create the best conditions for your plants by loosening chunks of hard-packed soil to make it more porous. This will allow the soil to fully absorb the water so it reaches deep down to where your plants roots are.

Another way to improve the condition of your soil is to add a thick layer of organic mulch. This will provide the soil with the necessary nutrients needed to nurture your new plants and, reduce the amount of moisture lost through evaporation.

Avoid Wasteful Watering

Even in times when gardeners aren’t restricted by hose-pipe bans, using the right amount of water is essential for your plants’ survival this summer.

A good thorough watering of your plants twice a week is far better than a daily sprinkle from the hose. Soaking the soil thoroughly will encourage your plant’s roots to grow deep into the soil as they won’t need to come up to the surface for water.

The most effective time of the day to water your plants is during the evening or early in the morning when the cooler temperatures will allow the soil to absorb the most moisture. If you water your plants mid-day the heat will cause the water to evaporate and your efforts will have been in vain.

We always check to see if the top of the soil is damp before watering. If it is, then move on however, if you see a plant withering, you should water it immediately.

Try to avoid watering plants when the leaves are in direct sunlight as the sun will cause scorch the leaves and will do more harm than good.

Of course, if you are away on your travels over the summer, make sure to move your plants to an area where they will receive regular shade.

Love your Lawn

Taking care of your lawn is just as important as caring for your flowerbeds.
If your grass still shows footprints after a couple of days after it has been trodden on, it’s a tell tail sign that your lawn needs a bit of TLC this summer. Although grass is better equipped to handle long periods of drought, your lawn still need a bit of love and attention during the summer.

Help to ventilate the soil underneath your grass with a garden fork. This will also help water to penetrate the surface of your lawn. The best time to water your lawn is during the the evening and, avoid walking on it if possible immediately after it has been watered.

It takes a lot of energy for grass to grow back after mowing, which is an issue in a demanding summer’s day. The trick is to try to cut less frequently than you would normally expect to.

Raise the height of the lawn mower blades so they won’t demand as much energy to grow. As an added bonus, that the extra length of grass blades will also protect the grass roots from the strong sun.

Our final tip would be to kill any weeds or patches of moss you see developing as they have a bad habit of stealing moisture from your lawn. If you need a quick and easy way to get rid of weeds , why not have a look through our available effective and fast acting weed killers.

Please add tips or inspirations that have helped you grow your garden!

You may even feel like taking a tour through our website to see a brilliant range of garden furniture and accessories.

Photo Credit: Marina Del Castell & Dia