Here are our winter care tips for your lawn so that it will be looking its best when spring arrives. Avoid Walking On The Grass A big one is to avoid walking on the grass if you can. If the grass is wet and waterlogged walking on it could cause compaction. Your lawn needs a good distribution of air pockets to thrive so you want to avoid compacting the grass which stops the grass from growing. If you get to spring and find that there are puddles on the lawn then use a garden fork to aerate the grass. If there is frost on the grass avoid walking on it as you will break the grass and leave brown patches. Once the spring does arrives if you have been left with patchy or brown areas on your lawn you can rectify this by applying a grass seed or patching in turfs to the damaged area. Get The Leaves Off The Lawn Rake or use a blower to remove any fallen leaves from your lawn as they can block the light to the grass and prevent moisture getting through which can lead to bare patches appearing. Leaves can also encourage disease to the grass. Not only leaves but try to keep the grass area clear if you can over the winter by removing any furniture or toys that are laying around. Remove Any Moss If you see moss on your grass, when the conditions are favourable, gently use a rake to drag it off. Once raked use a fork to make lots of holes into your grass and then brush in some compost or horticultural sand to improve drainage on your lawn. Stop Mowing It is best to avoid mowing in the winter to avoid any damage to your lawn. Only mow if the conditions are favourable and it is necessary and ensure that the cut is around 25% higher than during the summer. With any temperatures below minus 5 degrees your lawn should stop growing and will not need mowing. Fertilise in Spring Wait until the spring to add a treatment to your lawn. Spring and Autumn are the best seasons for treating your grass. These winter care tips for your lawn will help you to take good care of your lawn. Spring will stimulate new growth and your lawn will start to recover from the winter.
Paving Trends For 2023
Patios provide a great space for relaxing and entertaining in your garden. Here we take a look at paving trends for 2023. Always a popular choice, porcelain paving is going to big again in 2023. Porcelain looks great and provides a modern look to a garden. It is a very low maintenance option and a tough paver too, being frost resistant, non-porous and scratch resistant. If you are looking to bring the inside out at your home porcelain is a good choice and if you are keen to try to improve your carbon footprint then consider these pavers as they are made from natural raw ingredients with minimal waste and contain no waterproofing agents, resins or varnish. We will be using a lot of natural stone for our patio projects again this year. Indian Sandstone is very popular as it very versatile and comes in a variety of colours, sizes and finishes to suit all types of garden design. Hand-cut pavers work well in a traditional garden and sawn sandstone suits a more modern look with its clean lines. Sandstone has a long life span as it is a natural stone created over millions or years. When cleaning your sandstone patio avoid using acidic substances and harsh chemicals. Granite is another popular natural stone. Being a natural stone, the composition and colour of the stone will vary and it will have subtle sparkles. It is very hard wearing, heat resistant and there are good slip resistant finish options available. It is another low-maintenance paver. Regarding colour grey paving remains a popular choice as it works well in both modern and older properties. Black is also going to be seen a lot this year, providing a sleek look to your garden. Think porcelain, limestone or granite paving. When planning your new patio area think about your budget, the style and colour you are looking for, the size of the paver and the best location in your garden for the patio. If you are looking to install a new patio and would like a consultation with one of the team to discuss the different products please send an email to office@eastlondonlandscapes.com to arrange a free appointment. We cover East and North London.
Garden Design Trends 2023
At the start of the new year we take a look below at some of the trends for gardens for 2023. The garden has become an even bigger part of the home as we are spending more time at home for work and leisure. Renovations This year many people will be adding to their garden space rather than looking to move home due to higher interest rates. Making their gardens a beautiful oasis to relax and enjoy time with family and friends rather than doing the garden purely for kerb appeal. This can be achieved with a total new garden design or by adding features to your existing space like a new patio or decking area in a beautiful spot in your garden or buying a fire pit or installing a new pergola. If not planning a big makeover, you can add to what you currently have in your garden to create the right mood with new lighting, string lights look great, or by adding new cushions to your existing furniture or painting your fencing to introduce a new colour or look to your garden. The colour of 2023 according to Pantone is Viva Magenta. Wellness Gardens Gardening can be a great stress reliever. Being outside in the fresh air is very relaxing and therapeutic, helping us to feel more positive and hopeful. Make your garden a secret sanctuary by creating a calming space to relax and unwind. Plant beautiful, scented plants to stimulate the senses. Create a shaded area for peaceful contemplation. Add some seating or a water feature as the sound of water is very soothing. Environmentally Healthy Gardens We are moving away from last year’s ‘rewilding’ approach. Wildlife and insects don’t care if our gardens look wild or are more formal. They are looking for shelter, food sources and habitat and they don’t care how our gardens look to find it. This can be found amongst a wilder relaxed garden or achieved in a more structured space. Growing vegetables in urban gardens is on the increase and you don’t need a massive space to do this. Raised beds work very well, however if you are tight on space these can be grown in window boxes. Trailing strawberries hanging down from a window box look good and taste great too! Using Natural Materials With the importance of nature and the environment there has been a rise in the use of natural materials for garden projects. These materials help create a natural look and can prove relatively inexpensive. Adding rocks or pebbles to garden beds or installing a natural stone pathway to meander through your garden. Bringing the Inside Out Using the same or very similar materials to flow seamlessly and bring the inside out. Look at installing the same materials on the floor of your kitchen that follow out to your patio outside. Similar furniture and colours that you use in both your home and garden. Outdoor Living Rooms and Outdoor Kitchens Following on from bringing the inside out, outdoor living rooms and outdoor kitchens are going to be big this year as people plan to spend more time entertaining at home. If not a full outdoor kitchen look at adding a pizza oven or fire pit. Pergolas and Going Vertical To make the most of the space in their garden we are moving vertically in our gardens. Installing pergolas with climbing plants, fence shelving or living walls to add more greenery. With the Summers now getting a little warmer, pergolas provide a bit more shade and extend your living space. You can create a new entertainment space and add definition to your garden. By adding screens or drapes you can increase privacy. Garden Sculptures Adding artwork through a sculpture in the garden is a growing trend for 2023. Adding personality to your garden and providing a focal point. Drawing the eye to an area of your garden that might otherwise be overlooked. Sculptures are also good conversation starters. These are just some of the trends for this year. Design is a very personal choice and you can take ideas from these or have your own.
