How to DIY a light-up outdoor bar using pallets & solar fairy lights

November 8, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

If you’re planning a festive get-together over the coming months, this light-up bar would make a great focal point to serve up cocktails. And even better, it’s made from pallets! So get out the drill, pop open that pot of paint and have a go at DIYing it for yourself…

7 Low-cost ideas for installing, salvaging & decorating garden decking

November 3, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

Garden decking can help transform your garden into an extra entertaining space. It makes it the ideal place to enjoy an alfresco dinner or to throw a garden party for your friends. Here’s how to install a deck in your garden at a fraction of the cost..

Add a water feature to your garden without costly running expenses

October 18, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

Garden water features are known for their visual appeal and can be a relaxing addition to the landscaping around your home. But it’s not all about luxury and aesthetics; when it comes to being innovative and money-saving, water features can help you save and conserve water too, with the help of rainwater tanks…

4 Tips to bring your lawn back to life as fast as possible

August 16, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Over the past few months, most people´s lawns have suffered. In the UK, and indeed in many other parts of the world, it has been hot and dry for a long time. For many homeowners, it has been impossible to water the grass enough, so now it’s bone dry and rather brown! There are few tricks you can use to help your lawn spring back to life so read on to get a head start on improving your garden…

How to style your garden like the Love Island villa

July 11, 2018.Reading time 10 minutes.

Do you dream of having a fresh, bright and colourful home just like the Love Island villa? Today I’m taking garden design inspiration from the Love Island complex and finding ways to recreate this Mediterranean paradise in your own garden here in the UK – starting with lots and lots of fairy lights..!

How to upcycle a shed + ideas for a low-cost garden

July 8, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

If you’re planning on landscaping your garden or installing features like a pond or patio, here’s my tips for doing it on a budget – with photos of my own attempts at salvaging a shed for the garden…

My little vintage caravan – a new (permanent!) place to park it

June 29, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’m finally making a start on my garden. This will be the second summer we’ve lived in our house and last year was completely taken up with renovating the interior. But now my attention has turned to the garden and the landscaping I’d like to do out there. But what about my little vintage caravan, I hear you ask? It’s very much at the centre of my garden design and here’s why…

Gardening on a budget – how to save money on plants, tools and compost

June 10, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

The average Brit spends £345 per year on their garden, however you don’t have to spend a small fortune to add colour and vibrancy to your garden this summer! Here’s how…

How to make a DIY pallet bench for your garden

April 29, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Ahh isn’t it nice when the sun shines? Don’t you just want to sit out in the garden and watch the world go by? Here are some ideas for making your own bench (using pallets – a big win for upcycling!) and finding lovely garden furniture if you’re on a budget…

5 Garden updates to improve your outdoor space this spring

April 26, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

There are some garden updates that every homeowner can benefit from and that’s especially true if you’ve been neglecting your garden for a while. Here are 5 ideas to help you get the most out of your garden this spring…

5 Things every fun outdoor party needs

April 12, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Hosting a big outdoor party is what summer is all about for many people and I can’t wait to get into the garden this year. Here are 5 easy ideas to help you plan a fun outdoor party…

5 Ways to transform your garden on a budget

February 6, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Spring is fast approaching and if your garden seems to be lacking lustre now is the perfect time to get started on those outdoor projects you’ve had in mind for some time…

How to build your own outdoor workshop

December 14, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

Have you been running out of room for tools in your home? Are you looking for a way to spread everything out and have space to work? If so, an outdoor workshop could be exactly what you need. You can build a workshop that is as small or large as you like and can be […]

A peek inside Kirstie Allsopp’s garden

October 30, 2017.Reading time 7 minutes.

Today’s blog post is a glimpse inside Kirstie Allsopp’s garden. I’ve been lucky enough to get some behind-the-hedge photos from Victoria Summerley, the author of The Secret Gardeners. If you missed my earlier blog posts, I’ve also shared a peek inside Prue Leith’s plot and Cath Kidston’s garden. Plus I’ve got two copies of the book to […]

A peek inside Cath Kidston’s garden

October 22, 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

Britain’s creatives reveal their private garden sanctuaries in newly released book The Secret Gardeners. This beautifully presented book is packed full of stunning photographs, and gives us an insight into how famous folk live. I’ve already blogged about GBBO judge Prue Leith’s garden last week, and today I’m giving you a peek into designer Cath […]

A peek inside Prue Leith’s garden

October 15, 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

Ever wanted to nose around the gardens of the stars? Have you wondered what Sting’s back garden looked like? Or wished you could peep into Richard Branson’s Or poke around in Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall’s veggie patch? Well, the good news is that ‘The Secret Gardeners’ by Victoria Summerley does just that. And more good news – […]

5 Tips for building a shed in your garden

October 6, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

A shed can be used for a multitude of things, which is why people like to build them in their gardens. Aside from the functionality and the extra space it provides, a shed also adds value to your property. Depending on the size, building a shed may take quite some time (and some serious construction […]

5 DIY projects where renting equipment may help (+ save you money!)

September 30, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

Some DIY projects can be completed with minimal equipment, time, and effort. However, there are other projects that can take more time, effort, money, and equipment to do it right. Whether you want to build a retaining wall, get rid of dead trees, or landscape your garden, there are many DIY projects that may require […]

Making progress in the garden & a new place to relax

September 13, 2017.Reading time 7 minutes.

Remember I said that we’ve put our house DIYing efforts on hold during August (apart from decorating our guest room, of course) so that we could enjoy the summer? Well, it turns out that the extra time we had gained by not filling, sanding or painting allowed us to do a little work on the […]

Simple garden spruces to start planning for Autumn

August 31, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

Having a gorgeous garden is a huge blessing. During the summer months, you can often feel completely humbled by being able to sit out in the sunshine and enjoy the peace. But the beauty of having a garden doesn’t just end with your summer fun. There are lots that you can be doing to your […]

Long-term improvements to beautify your garden

June 7, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

We all want beautiful gardens, don’t we? It’s so lovely to take a walk in our garden during the summer and smell the freshly bloomed plants that we started growing. And surely sitting back and relaxing in a deck chair, soaking up in sun in our tranquil space has got to be the ultimate garden goal. […]

Get your garden summer-ready with these quick tips

June 1, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

The winter is now a distant memory, and I can’t wait to spend more time outside. I know that many of us don’t work in our gardens during the colder months so you might have to create a plan and do some work before your outdoor space looks summer-ready. Still, the suggestions in today’s blog post […]

10 Low-maintenance flowers to grow in your garden (that you can’t kill!)

May 30, 2017.Reading time 7 minutes.

Not quite green fingered as you would like to be? Creating a fantastic garden is as much about experience and experimenting with plants, as it is about skill and in-depth plant knowledge. I’ve teamed up with Rattan Direct to bring you this list of 10 easy to grow and easy-to-care-for plants, so you can have […]

Creating a cheap & simple eco pond – No matter what size your garden

June 1, 2016.Reading time 6 minutes.

Ponds are a fantastic addition to any garden, whether you’re looking to add a beautiful and relaxing focal point or to attract pond dwelling wildlife such as amphibians or insects, or a combination of both. While I have only a little knowledge of garden water features, thankfully the lovely experts at Swell know all about it. […]

Weekend DIY project – Welly boot plant pots

March 20, 2016.Reading time 6 minutes.

Everybody knows wellington boots are an amazing accessory for any wet day, but unfortunately we tend to find ourselves only wearing them a handful of times throughout the year. As a result of this, especially with the little ones, the next time you go to pop them on they’re too small. Well, if you find […]

Top 5 easy to grow vegetables for your home veggie patch

March 14, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

The attraction of growing your own vegetables appeals to many people. Whether you’re a trendy hipster with a passion for subsistence living or you have a family allotment that the kids enjoy, there is a gardener in all of us. Just starting out? Don’t worry – you don’t need to be a green-thumbed garden wizard to grow these […]

Spruce up your garden in time for Easter

February 24, 2016.Reading time 7 minutes.

Believe it or not, winter is almost over! It’s nearly time for those lighter evenings and sunny mornings and I actually cannot wait. This does mean that the long awaited (by children mainly) Easter holidays are creeping up on us, and we can almost hear the cry of ‘I’m bored’ in the background. There are […]

How does your garden grow? Doorway to a secret garden

September 5, 2014.Reading time 3 minutes.

We’ve been working on our garden all summer: we’ve put up a fence and painted it, moved my caravan workshop, laid a patio, built raised beds for a veggie patch, installed a greenhouse and planted a herb garden. And now, I want to enclose the garden and make it into the extra ‘outdoor room’ I’d […]