Is winter a good time for a garden makeover? We all want to be able to go out at the beginning of Spring when the sun starts to make a reappearance and enjoy some time relaxing in our garden. We definitely want to be able to relax and enjoy our gardens in the summer! This is why winter is a good time to re-design or get some work carried out in your garden. By getting the work done in the winter you are there fully ready to enjoy your garden when the warmer weather arrives. Plus you won’t be using your garden as much at that time which is another reason why winter is a good time to get landscaping work carried out. You are able to get the work completed with minimal disruption. If you do have the work carried out in spring/summer, there will be a time whilst the project is being carried out that you won’t be able to use your garden quite as much. It will be easier for the landscaping team to work with your garden in winter rather than the summer as the plants and shrubs will be dying back making it easier to move around. The bare bones of your garden are exposed allowing you to see the overall structure and get good sight lines to see what is working in your garden and what isn’t. Plus there isn’t as much wildlife around to disturb which is an important point. This is also a good time if you need to move any trees or shrubs as they will be dormant so you will disturb the roots less. The ground is also softer due to the more frequent rainfall making it easier to excavate if you are having a new patio for example. Another important point to consider is that winter can be a quieter time for landscaping companies. Spring and summer are very busy times when landscaping companies get booked up very quickly, by having your project carried out in the winter you can ensure you can get your project carried out in the timescale desired. You may also find that you may be able to get a better deal on your project. It never hurts to ask to see if there is any wriggle room. Landscaping companies have the machinery and expertise to work in almost any weather so no need to wait until the spring/summer to undertake a project. They are very fortunate enough to be able to see and enjoy all the seasons whilst they carry out their work. Finally, a new garden re-design takes planning, so you can enjoy curling up snugly indoors and looking through magazines or online for inspiration with a nice warm cup of tea. So is winter a good time for a garden re-design? I think it is. Planning a garden makeover of your own? Get in touch via email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com to discuss your project with the experts and get a free quote for the works. Our friendly teams cover East London. We specialise in garden decking, paving and patios, garden fencing, brickwork, lawns, pergolas and raised beds.
How To Plan A Garden Makeover
Carrying out a total garden makeover is a very exciting and important project for your home. Take your time to think and plan what your dream garden will look like. What look would you like to achieve? Think about what you need your garden to be? Somewhere to relax, somewhere for the children to play? Take into account the size and shape of your space when planning. Do you like a traditional garden or a more modern contemporary look? Think about what would work well with your style of home. Carry out some research by visiting garden centres, open gardens, garden magazines and online and even the gardens of your friends and family for inspiration. A garden makeover can take place any time throughout the year. In the Winter the plants are dormant and so it is easier to work around the garden, or the Summer when you get the opportunity to really understand how to make the best use of your space. If you choose to carry out the work in the Winter this enables you to have your garden ready for when the Spring arrives to get the most use out of it throughout the year. In the Winter you may be able to negotiate more with your landscaper than in the Spring or Summer. Which hard landscaping do you want to introduce into your project? Do you want to be relaxing on a patio or decking area? Would you like a large lawn area to spread out on in the Summer and for your pets to have space to run around? Once you decide then carry out research on what materials you want to use for your project. There are so many options available so make sure you look at as many as possible. Carry out research online and also go into the local garden shops to take a look at samples. For decking do you want wooden decking or composite decking. If wooden do you want hardwood or softwood decking. Which do you prefer the look of, also what budget do you have for this part of the project as hardwood decking is slightly more expensive. Carry out your research to find out which type of decking suits your project and budget. There are many choices of wood available for both options. If you choose softwood decking we regularly use a decking board that allows you the choice to have a grooved or smooth finish so a further decision to make. What shape do you want your decking to be, do you want a curved finish or a standard rectangular shape flush to your home. Do you want to make additions to the decking by adding spindles and handrails, lighting, seating or storage. These additions can really make a difference to the overall project. They can always be added at a later stage if your budget doesn’t allow at the time. For paving there are many different designs and products. Which type of paving slab do you like the look of, which would work well with all the other materials you have chosen for your garden makeover project. Is it one patio needed or maybe two, one outside the back door and one at the end of the garden where the sun trap in your garden is with a path connecting the two. Then you need to decide which way you want to lay the paving as that can create a totally different look too. Do you want a square or rectangle patio or a circular one. Maybe one area of the garden as a patio and a decking area as well. Fencing plays a large part in the look of your garden so consideration really does need to be given to this area of the garden. Do you like the traditional fencing or the contemporary look of the horizontal slatted fencing. Which would work best with your overall design. There is also the choice with the traditional fencing of whether to go with concrete or wooden posts. One area that might not be considered is waste costs for the project. If you require a skip will you need to contact your local council to purchase a skip permit and do you also need to include bay charges if there are parking restrictions in your area. Do remember to include waste removal costs into your budget. If you would like to discuss a garden makeover then please get in touch with us to discuss and we can arrange a consultation to talk through your project. Email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413.
Garden Makeover in East London
Here we look at a garden makeover in East London. Our client was looking for a total garden makeover of her outdoor space. She chose January to carry out the work to get her garden ready for the Spring. The first step was a consultation at her home to look at the garden space and discuss ideas and plans. The property was in East London and was an older property and the owner was keen to combine the older character of the property with some modern additions and was looking for some ideas. To keep in character Charcoal Cobbles were laid as paving stones coming straight out from the back door and side recess to create a great entertaining space. This included steps up to the lawn area with red brick edgings. The original walls were kept and horizontal slatted fencing was installed throughout above the walls to provide privacy but also an aesthetic addition to the space. The mix of the wood and the brick provides a lovely look. The horizontal fencing was also used to create a storage area which flowed seamlessly with the fencing. A new lawn was laid and raised flower beds built from railway sleepers were installed all ready for planting up. If you would like to discuss a project we provide landscaping services in East London . Get in touch for a free initial consultation to discuss your project. Email us office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413.
Time For a Garden Makeover
Now could be the time for a garden makeover. It’s been a hard Winter. The ‘Beast from the East’ hit gardens just as the first signs of Spring had begun to appear. Bitter arctic winds played havoc with fences, while blankets of heavy snow followed by the impact of rain and thawing snow compounded any existing problems with patios, paths and decking. As the ground surfaces dry, the results are now becoming apparent. Fences may have become unstable, decking wood might have been damaged, paving stones dislodged. Worse still, the sheer amount of water in the ground and encountered over the past few weeks could well be the last straw for fence posts that had begun to rot in previous years. A slight push or a strong March wind can easily bring down such fences. It is not just the existing hard landscape that will be looking a bit sorry for itself. Trees, shrubs, flowerbeds and lawns will also be suffering. Walk on a lawn and often you sink into the ground or find yourself slipping on muddy surfaces. All this makes it an ideal time to consider a garden makeover. Replacing problem areas that have arisen as a result of the hard Winter is essential for the security of your property, as well as the pleasure of having a nice garden. But while doing so, it is worth considering whether paths ought to be re-routed to make access easier, fences totally replaced, or whether a new patio or decking is required in a different spot which would make cleaning, maintenance and relaxation much easier? Perhaps you are thinking of doing some entertaining this summer? Extending an existing patio area could make it much convenient by providing additional seating space that can be used all year round. After all, gardens are flexible areas and often need adjusting as your personal requirements change. The arrival of young children can lead to a need for safe play areas, while less able householders may need safer paths to decrease the risk of falls. Calling in a specialist contractor such as C&J Landscapes Ltd can make this task much easier. Not only will they be able to undertake the work quickly and efficiently, they can call on years of experience to provide the advice and information you need. They can make recommendations on just how to transform your garden to suit all your requirements. If you would like to discuss a project please get in touch by calling the office on or emailing office@eastlondonlandscapes.com. We provide a free initial consultation.
