How to make the most of a garden of ANY size to grow-your-own
If you’re spending more time in the garden at the moment, here’s how to combine relaxation & plant growing to get the most out of your garden (of any size!) this summer…
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DIY Pallet bar project – Spanish wine tavern with beach holiday vibes
If you’ve spotted my pallet bar around the internet (and on the TV now, thanks to Kirstie Allsopp!) you may be interested to see today’s pallet project – a Spanish-style wine tavern pallet bar with summery stenciled pattern…
Read MoreHow to upcycle a cable reel into a coffee table for your garden
I’ve been DIYing in the garden again and this time I’ve made an outdoor coffee table using an old wooden cable reel that I found in a skip. Plus, I’ve created a cosy corner for drinks and chatting outside on my deck (featuring my ‘new’ coffee table, so here’s how I did it…
Read More5 Garden DIY hacks to get your outdoor space ready for summer
Is your garden looking a little tired or uninviting? With summer almost upon us (at last) now is the time to ready your outdoor space for the months of summer fun ahead! If you look at the state of your garden and your heart starts to sink, then don’t worry; there are plenty of ways you get your outdoor space ready for all the activities, drinks with friends, family BBQs and outdoor fun that’s to come. Here I’ve gathered 5 super simple hacks that will help get you started. Enjoy!
Read MoreBringing a touch of shade to my garden with a banana parasol
What on earth is a banana parasol? I had no idea until I began researching ways to bring shade into my garden. Here’s how I got on when I decided to create a shaded picnic spot on my new lawn…
Read MoreDesign research and inspiration for my garden ‘exterior decorating’ project
I’m currently working on landscaping my garden so if you too are working on a garden revamp this year here are some of the exterior finishes and accessories that are on trend for 2019…
Read More2019: The Year of the Garden (at least, it will be for us at Cassiefairy HQ!)
We’re only three weeks into the new year and already there have been massive changes afoot at Cassiefairy HQ. We’ve been DIYing in earnest and I’m exhausted just thinking about it! You see, we’ve decided that 2019 will the be the ‘year of the garden’ and we’re tackling a landscaping project for the first time. Here’s what we’ve got planned and how we’re getting on…
Read MoreHow to DIY a light-up outdoor bar using pallets & solar fairy lights
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…
Read More7 Low-cost ideas for installing, salvaging & decorating garden decking
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..
Read MoreAdd a water feature to your garden without costly running expenses
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…
Read More4 Tips to bring your lawn back to life as fast as possible
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…
Read MoreHow to style your garden like the Love Island villa
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..!
Read MoreHow to upcycle a shed + ideas for a low-cost garden
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…
Read MoreMy little vintage caravan – a new (permanent!) place to park it
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…
Read MoreGardening on a budget – how to save money on plants, tools and compost
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…
Read MoreHow to make a DIY pallet bench for your garden
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…
Read More5 Garden updates to improve your outdoor space this spring
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…
Read More5 Things every fun outdoor party needs
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…
Read More5 Ways to transform your garden on a budget
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…
Read MoreHow to build your own outdoor workshop
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 […]
Read MoreA peek inside Kirstie Allsopp’s garden
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 […]
Read MoreA peek inside Cath Kidston’s garden
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 […]
Read MoreA peek inside Prue Leith’s garden
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 – […]
Read More5 Tips for building a shed in your garden
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 […]
Read More5 DIY projects where renting equipment may help (+ save you money!)
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 […]
Read MoreMaking progress in the garden & a new place to relax
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 […]
Read MoreSimple garden spruces to start planning for Autumn
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 […]
Read MoreLong-term improvements to beautify your garden
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. […]
Read MoreGet your garden summer-ready with these quick tips
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 […]
Read More10 Low-maintenance flowers to grow in your garden (that you can’t kill!)
Not quite as 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 […]
Read MoreGuest post: Creating a cheap & simple eco pond – No matter what size your garden
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 […]
Read MoreWeekend DIY project – Welly boot plant pots
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 […]
Read MoreTop 5 easy to grow vegetables for your home veggie patch
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 […]
Read MoreSpruce up your garden in time for Easter
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 […]
Read MoreHow does your garden grow? Doorway to a secret garden
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 […]
Read MoreHow does your garden grow? My greenhouse
Last week, I mentioned that we’d finished off the raised beds for the veggie patch and were in the process of completing the gravel path. The side border hadn’t been finished off so I today wanted to share some photos of the side raised bed ‘before and after’ and let you know that I’ve finally planted some herbs […]
Read MoreHow does your garden grow? Don’t fence me in…
No, actually do fence me in. That’s exactly what the next step is – adding a fence to the side of the garden. Even though it was great having some new-found privacy with the back fence, it looked a bit odd in the garden without any sides to the fence, so we started putting up a […]
Read MoreFairy, Fairy, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?
Welcome to my new series of blog posts all about my plans for my garden makeover! I know there are probably lots of historical and underlying meanings that you can read into this nursery rhyme but I am simply using it to set the tone for summer, because with the holidays comes the opportunity (both […]
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