We just received this lovely review from a happy client in East London. We installed a new lawn in their back garden: “The latest review from a happy client “Great service and really reliable – the work was done on time and to a very high standard. We’re really pleased with our new lawn, which looks lovely!” If you would like to discuss a project please get in touch via email at office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413. We provide landscaping services in East London and West Essex. We specialise in decking, paving, fencing, driveway installation, turfing and brickwork.
28
Feb
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.
22
Jan
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.
26
Nov
Getting Your Garden Ready For Winter
Getting your garden ready for Winter. If you would like your garden to look great in the Spring then carrying out some work in the Winter to prepare your garden for the cold spell will really help it. Here are some tasks to consider undertaking: 1. Give your paving and paths a good clean. Take off all the furniture and planters, clear out all the leaves, give it a good brush down and a clean with some soapy water and a stiff broom. If you have a pressure washer this will make the job a lot quicker and easier for you. 2. Give your decking a good brush down, firstly take off any chairs or tables or planters, then getting into the corners to remove any dead leaves or debris. Finally give it a wash down with some soapy water and a stiff broom or a pressure washer if you have one available. 3. Take a walk around your garden and take a good look around the boundary of your fences to check that the posts are still in good order and the fence panels do not need repair or for any to be replaced. 4. Lighting will really brighten up your garden in the Winter so is something to consider adding if not already there. The nights draw in fairly early now. 5. For your lawn go over the entire area with a rake to remove thatch and moss allowing it to breath and grow. Aerate and give it an Autumn feed. 6. Trim your hedges before the frost hits. 7. For your trees remove any dead or damaged branches. 8. Tidy up your borders by removing any weeds or dead foliage and leaves. Remove any annual plants and cut back herbaceous perennials. 9. If you have a compost bin now would be a good time to clear it out and spread it across your beds ready for the Spring. This also helps to make the beds look a little more presentable over the Winter. 10. Now is the time to plant out your Spring bulbs before the Winter kicks in. Once Spring arrives your garden will be alive with colour. 11. Take a look at your shed or greenhouse to see if the wood needs a coat of paint or any repairs need to be carried out. Now is a good time to give it a tidy up and clean inside and get all your tools in order. Consider adding shelving to make things easier to find. 12. For any delicate plants wrap them up in fleece ready for the Winter or move them to the greenhouse or conservatory. 13. If you have a pond try to keep it clear of leaves and place a ball in there to float on the surface to stop it freezing over completely. 14. If snow does arrive, and it seems to be more likely each year, then knock the snow that is resting on the leaves of your plants to try to prevent severe damage. If you are thinking of a new project for your garden like adding in a decking area in a sunny corner or a patio area to create a great entertaining space then now is a good time to get the work carried out whilst the garden isn’t getting as much use. If you would like to discuss please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413 to arrange a free consultation and a quote for the works.
28
Aug
Decking or Paving. Which is Best.
Decking or Paving. Which is best? It can be very hard to choose. Both look great, easy to install and simple to maintain. Both are natural products, and are environmentally friendly. A pretty area of decking, or a smart paved patio or driveway definitely adds value to your home. It makes sitting outside even more fun, and provides a safe play area for kids without having to worry about problems of muddy grass. Decking is very appealing. It can be a pleasure looking at natural wood, with its gently tawny shades or you can paint the wood almost any colour you want. Smooth and slightly warm to the touch, it looks good all year round. Decking is ideal if you have a sloping area, as it can be easily adjusted to cope with uneven surfaces. It is also easy to modify in years to come when your needs change, for example if you need extra space to cope with children or plan more entertaining. Decking is very durable and retains its appearance as long as you do not mistreat it! Paving is very strong and hard wearing albeit a little less forgiving if you fall! Paving stones can be cut to suit a wide range of different shapes and sizes allowing you to create a variety of patterns and designs to give a very individual, bespoke style. You can even co-ordinate that design across your paths and driveway as well as a patio. It can look very visually striking and impressive. Paving makes the perfect choice for driveways as it is extremely strong and hard wearing. Keeping paving or decking clean is important. No matter whether you have chosen paving or decking, algae can build up during the winter time or after heavy rain and make surfaces slippery. A good clean and brush over will quickly deal with the problem. Choosing between decking and paving is not easy. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to making a final choice. It is very much a matter of personal preference. What do you like best? What will suit your home and your circumstances? A chat with a specialist supplier and installer can be of immense help. They can offer suggestions and advice that you might not otherwise have considered. Whichever you choose, installation is quick and easy – just call in the professionals who can install it for you giving you the garden of your dreams. If you are thinking of a decking or paving project for your garden please take a look at our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com and contact us by email at office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call us on to arrange a free consultation and quote. We provide hard landscaping services in East London .
21
Mar
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.
15
Aug
Dining Out In Your Garden
Now that the rain has gone and the sun has reappeared we can look at dining out in your garden. Hot summer days bring out the fragrance of the flowers in your garden, the gentle sweetness of roses and philadelphus, lavender and buddelia. It makes an irresistible backdrop to dining outside, enjoying the fresh air and warmth. A beautiful patio or decking area complements that experience. It provides a place to sit and relax, enjoying the meal in comfort. But before you start planning your outdoor dining, check out the space. Is the patio big enough for all your guests? There is nothing worse than dining outside and finding there is not enough room for everyone you want to invite. A cramped table squashed into a tiny patio or decking creates the wrong impression, and destroys your enjoyment. Is the area clean and tidy? Are there any broken paving stones, or damaged planks of wood in the decking? Are any steps safe? Do the steps need handrails? Does the appearance of your decking look a bit jaded and tired? All these factors are often overlooked in the hurry to dine outside, but can make a tremendous difference to the experience. A quick chat with a hard landscaper can solve the problem. New patios and decking can be installed quite quickly, and often at short notice. You can even arrange to extend existing patios or decking, or add an extra section else where in the garden to take account of special views. A hard landscaper can provide lots of ideas as to how to improve your facilities, the colours that would blend in best or provide a contrast if that is your style preference. They can even add in extra pathways to make your garden more accessible. While planning your dining outdoors activity, think too about the little extras that can give your garden that extra special touch. Perhaps some lights twinkling in the trees, or winding through the shrubs. Try some pretty night light style candles edging pathways. Burning citronella candles will help keep the flies away, and add to the pleasing fragrance around your dining table. If you are having a barbeque remember to have some water and sand at hand, ready to put out flames in an emergency. Follow Food Safety Authority guidelines and don’t leave food out in the sun for too long, otherwise bacteria will start to develop. Ideally, food should be left outside for no longer than two hours. With a little bit of thought, dining outside in the garden can be a fantastic experience taking advantage of the pleasures of your patio or decking. If you would like to discuss a project please get in touch via email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call our office on .
27
Mar
Getting Your Patio Ready For Spring
We can feel the days getting slightly warmer and the evenings becoming lighter so our thoughts turn to the garden. One of the jobs to be done so that you are ready to open up your garden is to get your patio area clean and ready for full use in the Spring and Summer. Below are some tips for getting your patio ready for Spring. Remove everything from the area, all chairs, BBQs and plants and pots to create a clear space to work in. You can’t do a thorough job moving around objects. Then give the area a really good sweep. Making sure you get into all the corners and remove any leaves or debris that have accumulated. Remove any weeds that have come up over time whilst the garden hasn’t had as much use in the Winter. Try to get the root out or as near to the root as possible. If you have sand filled joints and the weed takes some sand up with it remember to replace the sand. Do not leave this partially filled. Alternatively use a weed killer to remove. To bring your patio back to life after the Winter one of the quickest ways to do this is with a jetwash. This provides a really deep clean and will bring up the colour of the paving beautifully. However if you don’t have one of these a good old bucket of water with some paving cleaner or washing up liquid and a stiff brush will work wonders too. If using a paving cleaner always check that it is suitable for the paving so that you do not damage the stone. Apply a sealant if needed. Take care to use the correct one for your pavers. There are many options available in the DIY shops and garden centres. You may need to repoint between the paving stones. If this job is needed it will be worthwhile as it will really refresh the look of the paving. Give all your chairs and tables a good clean before returning them to the patio area. Rinse and wash your garden umbrella as it has probably accumulated some dirt and grime and probably bird poo! Firstly rinse with a hose, give it a good wash over with some cleaner then rinse off and lay out to dry thoroughly. Now the fun stuff. Buy some new planters and some new plants to welcome in the Spring. Might be time for some new furniture to freshen up your look. String up some outdoor string lights to create the perfect atmosphere for relaxing and unwinding. Remember that as with your house your garden needs regular maintenance to keep it in tip top condition. In particular for your patio keep brushing regularly to avoid dirt, moss or weed build up. If your patio is past just a spring clean it might be time to look at repairing or replacing it. If this ends up being the case you could look at a different type of paving for a totally new look to your garden or a complete overhaul and replacing it with decking instead. If you would like to discuss a project please get in touch via email to office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call our office on .
03
Mar
Patios and Paving
Stone patios can look lovely, and are certainly hard wearing. The hardest part is actually laying them correctly. If you look at DIY websites and books, it seems to be a fairly straightforward task. In reality – it can be very difficult for people who don’t possess the skills, equipment and background knowledge to choose the right stone and lay it correctly. Over the past few years, the range of stone on the market has expanded substantially. It is no longer just a few traditional stones local to this country. Paving stone is being imported form all over the world, particularly India and China, and such stone is not always suitable for every location. There is, quite simply, no one size fits all approach to stone paving. Each job now has to be assessed individually, with specific site conditions such as sub-soil and soil type needing to be taken into account. Sub base levels can vary considerably. Then there is the question of the aspect of the garden, and which way it faces. Northern facing gardens experience slightly different climatic conditions to those gardens that face south. What about sealing the stone? Is it a good idea or not? Under what circumstances should natural stone be sealed? Faced with this plethora of questions, more and more people are turning to professional landscape contractors to do the job. Trained landscape contractors have the skills, knowledge and equipment to lay stone paving of any kind correctly and efficiently. They can also advise on the choice of stone, ensuring that it is suitable for your particular garden requirements. Using a landscape contractor reduces the risk of unexpected problems occurring during construction. If any such problems occur for example the discovery of hidden foundations underground, or unexpected pipes and wiring; a landscape contractor will know how to respond immediately. Another advantage is the simple fact that a landscape contractor may be able to take your ideas and make the final result even better than expected. Instead of laying a mono-colour block, the contactor could create patterns, or introduce some additional colour, which you might not otherwise have considered. Using the right product for the location can make a lot of difference to the long term maintenance thus keeping patios and stone pathways looking good for much longer. Talking to a hard landscape contractor can make financial as well as visual sense! If you would like to discuss a project please get in touch via our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com, email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413 or to arrange a free consultation.
13
Sep
Your Garden in Autumn
Your garden in Autumn. What to do now. Here we look at how to plan ahead. Now that the kids are back to school and days are getting shorter, gardens are being used less. It is a perfect time to stand back and think about work that needs to be undertaken in the garden. There may be fences that need a little maintaining – it can be less expensive to replace part of a fence than face replacing the whole fence, and possible deal with security breaches as well. There may be broken sections of decking or damaged flagstones in paths. Taking quick action in dealing with loose boards in sheds, or replacing shed roofs will prevent further decay over the coming winter. If you are unsure about the extent of the damage, it is worth talking to a landscape contractor like C&J Landscapes who can advise on the best course of action. Yet it is not just time for maintenance checks – this is the ideal time for dealing with those issues that have arisen over the summer. How often did you think – perhaps having a slightly wider patio would be useful when entertaining? Or that path really needs replacing with a better, long lasting material? Or that decking project you have always dreamed of with the build in bar? Or how a gazebo in a sunny corner of the garden would have improved your enjoyment throughout the summer? Taking action now means that you still have time to enjoy those new features before the onset of winter. It also means that you can choose the best landscape contractors to undertake the work since most people leave this type of project until the last minute, and then find that good landscape contractors are often fully booked. The project then has to wait until the contractor is available. Timescales are always important. With the British weather, no one can ever rely on having a long period of sunshine, or simply a period of dryness during which work can be carried out quickly and efficiently. Sudden heavy rain can cause unexpected delays. Calling in the landscape contractors now means that you can take advantage of the drier autumn days, when the ground is still firm and work can be carried out with the far less mess and risk of winter delays. A good landscape contractor can ensure that your project is completed quickly and efficiently so that you can enjoy a Halloween or Bonfire Night party in your garden without worrying about space or safety. If you would like to discuss a project please do not hesitate to get in touch to talk through your ideas www.eastlondonlandscapes.com. We provide landscaping in East London .
