Blog | Designs 4 Gardens

Wooden fence – pros and cons

April 22, 2020/in Blog /by admin

The traditional wooden fence works especially when we want to shield the property from eyes of neighbors or passers-by. However, wood provides the possibility of constructing not only very tight fences. At the same time it is a very decorative material, which thanks to its color and texture provides various visual effects.

Wooden fence fits stylistically to the garden in the country or Mediterranean style. It also works well in modern arrangements, because it can be shaped in various ways and combined with stone, metal and gabions. The wooden fence consists of rails or boards, of various shapes and types, which are attached to the crossbars vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Depending on how you want to cover the property, we can choose a full or openwork fence. The wooden fence can be made of boards mounted to posts embedded in the ground, vertically placed rails, narrow boards mounted on a wooden frame or ready-made elements.

Many advantages, several disadvantages

The biggest advantage of a wooden fence is its low cost, huge decorative value and versatility. We have an almost unlimited selection of shapes and colors of wood that allows you to build the most fanciful and original forms. The wood is easy to process, so you can make the entire fence yourself and make repairs yourself. Wood preservation is a fairly simple task. Well-protected and regularly preserved wood is relatively durable. In addition, wood can be renewed and changed its color many times.

The disadvantage of fences made of wood is their lower durability and the need for regular maintenance (minimum once every few years). Wood, especially poorly protected, is subject to biological corrosion under the influence of weather conditions. It falls prey to mushrooms and bark beetles, especially after long and wet winters. After a few years of use, it can crack or rot. But well maintained and cared for can last for several dozen years. The disadvantage of wood is also its flammability.

Types of wood

Wood for fence construction must be properly seasoned and protected against moisture, fungi and insects. It’s best if it is factory impregnated. Rails that are close to the soil are particularly vulnerable to moisture. Such fences must be built of the most durable wood. Less durable wood can be used for a fence supported by a foundation. Fence elements are most often built of deciduous or coniferous wood. Harder and more durable exotic wood (giant thuja, merbau, tatajuba or massaranduba) does not require impregnation and can be renewed less often.

However, it is chosen less often because of the high price. Of the national deciduous species, oak is the most durable, and of coniferous species larch. For rails and planks, less hardy but cheaper hardwood (acacia, elm or ash) or coniferous (pine or spruce) are most often chosen. Popular alder or ash wood is also less durable. Birch, linden or sycamore boards should not be used as they deteriorate quickly despite regular maintenance.

Spring garden – what you need to know?

April 5, 2020/in Blog /by admin

For obvious reasons, spring is the busiest time in your garden. It is then that nature comes to life and prepares for the summer season. That is why it is particularly important to help plants during this period. The appearance of our plot in the summer will depend on spring garden works. How to care for the garden in spring? We present some tips that will guarantee your plants healthy development at its earliest stages. Although it might seem that there is still some time left to the real madness in the garden, the work done in the early spring period will have a huge impact on the appearance of the garden in the full season. It should be remembered that an impressive garden is not only planting and caring for plants, but also a series of seemingly invisible works.

1. Spring fertilization

At the turn of March and April the first fertilization should be done, which supports the growth of plants and makes them more resistant. The fertilizer should be spread around the flowers and dig the soil in the highest layer. Natural fertilizers such as compost or compound fertilizers will work best, which, thanks to properly selected proportions, do not poison plants, but guarantee their proper development.

2. General cleaning

As you can guess, garden care in the spring must be started with general (not without reason called “spring”) cleaning. Rakes and pruners should move. At the very beginning we have to clean the garden of everything that winter has brought to it. Let’s pick up the branches we have picked up, pick up rotten leaves, pine cones and fruit and fix the elements of the garden building. After these initial actions, we can get on with the real spring cleaning of the garden. Our task will be to rake the remains of plants and dig those that did not survive the winter. Despite our best efforts, it happens that frosts, wind and the weight of snow will be destructive for plants. Then we should get rid of damaged roots and dried bushes.

3. Pruning trees

One of the most important cleaning points in the spring garden is pruning plants. In order for them to grow healthily throughout the whole season, their development should be facilitated. Before we pick up the scissors and saws, we must remove the winter covers from the bushes. It’s best to do it when temperatures stabilize already in the black – most often at the end of March. Let’s choose a cloudy day so that the sun does not damage the shoots that have developed under the covers. The date of pruning plants should be selected depending on their type. The earliest – because at the end of February – we can get on the fruit trees. Make sure that as much sun reaches the crowns as possible. Thanks to this, the fruit will be more shapely and tastier. We should also remove wolves, or annual shoots growing from the trunk, which do not bear fruit. In early spring in the garden, it’s best to take care of apple, pear and plum trees. Other fruit trees can wait until summer.

4. Planting first plants

If the early spring is extremely warm and sunny, you can be tempted to plant the first plants. They must, however, be varieties resistant to low temperatures, which are not in danger of freezing, such as violets, asters or irises. Species more sensitive to thermal changes can be covered with agrotextile or planted in pots and put on the window. At every stage of garden preparation for the season, gardening equipment such as saws, pressure washers, sprayers, rotary tillers and scarifiers will also be necessary.

5. It’s time to take care of the lawn

A properly maintained lawn can be a showcase of our garden. For this to happen, proper gardening should be done in the spring. In addition to raking, which we have already mentioned, we can aerate our lawn, if the March temperature allows it. The next step will be fertilizing the grass – it’s best to do it before the expected rainfall, so that the fertilizer will be dissolved immediately. It is also important to mow the grass in places where it is apparently lacking. In winter, the lawn may have been damaged, and early spring rodent activity is also significant. It is also worth cutting the edges of the lawn with a special shovel.

When the temperatures are good for spending time outside, it’s a good idea to look after your garden, not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for relaxation. Light, undemanding work and being among green plants will allow you to calm down and de-stress. If the garden is to look beautiful in the summer, pre-spring work is even necessary so that the plants can adapt accordingly.

What are the services of garden design companies?

March 11, 2020/in Blog /by admin

Having an attractive garden in which you can spend time pleasantly and relax after the hardships of everyday life is very important for many people. However, not everyone has the time or skills needed to set up an attractive garden. Specialist companies that offer professional services in establishing and arranging gardens come to the aid of such people.

On the Internet, the press and other media, you can find many ads and announcements of companies that deal with gardening and their arrangement. Therefore, it is worth considering what the work of such companies looks like. It turns out that it is divided into several stages.

Preparation of the garden space design

As with other activities, also when arranging gardens, the basis is to prepare the appropriate design. Specialists operating in the field of arranging garden spaces consult with the client and prepare the project taking into account the garden area and all tastes of the owner. Elements such as lawn, trees, garden plants and, of course, furniture, decorations, paths, lighting, etc. are taken into account.

Acquiring plants and other things

After the project is prepared and confirmed by the client, the gardening company starts working. Its first stage is soil preparation and obtaining plants, garden furniture, stones for marking paths and other elements of garden arrangement. Often, such companies independently sell such products or have extensive contacts among the best suppliers. So let’s pay attention to specialists who are able to provide the highest quality garden furniture, plants, lawns, etc.

Implementation of the garden arrangement plan

After preparing the area and obtaining all the necessary things from suppliers, employees of the gardening company proceed to the implementation of the plan. Good service providers have many years of experience and know how to prepare land, plant trees, plant lawns and erect garden constructions such as arbors, pergolas and tool sheds. Thanks to modern equipment, such companies are doing much faster and better than inexperienced owners doing it themselves.

Further customer service

After completing the garden arrangement, the customer has the option of ordering further garden care services. Thanks to this, it will look attractive and will be properly prepared by experienced staff for the next seasons.

If we do not have time to plan the garden ourselves or we lack gardening skills or knowledge, the project is best ordered from a professional such as Designs 4 Gardens.