Post ID: 983
Years ago we were able to list the “mad houses” dotted around Ireland who went all out for christmas by decorating and lighting up their homes outside like “the Americans”. For fun, for charity, for Christmas it was brilliant.
Now we’re all at it, more and more homes are going all out for Christmas with festive lightening from roof to ground, trees, bushes and hedges lit up so brightly it can confuse pilots and front door wreathes which we used to make around the kitchen table to current day garland wrapped, holly covered, led lit wreaths seen from a mile away!
Whatever side of the fence you sit below are some links to ideas for making your outdoors festive this Christmas.
Can I just add my favourite is and always will be the kids home made decorations – this year’s project is outdoor snowflakes, wish me luck!
For festive lighting indoor and outdoor try the Irish suppliers festivelighting.ie
American site for Christmas decorations and good images to spark the imagination! Click here
Honestly 27 ideas for outdoor decorations? What’s not to love! Click here
To clean up your garden and get it “festive ready”
Post ID: 975
Fill your garden with wildlife this winter!
One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to attract wildlife into the garden is to feed the birds. Really good way to have fun with the kids and get them to engage with nature and understand the trials our feathered friends experience during the harsh frosts. Apart from that there is nothing nicer than looking out on a winter garden to see birds fluttering around the feeder, really raises the garden spirits across the winter months.
Here are our top tips to help you when you welcome the birds into your garden this winter.
The robin… a garden favourite
1. Be consistent, teasing isn’t fair!
It takes time for birds to search and find a new food source. Once found they develop a reliance on it following regular visits. So if you make a decision to feed the birds – don’t stop. If you wish to stop wait until alternative food is available in spring but of course you don’t have to stop. The joy can continue year round. The birds will get used to you and will quite happily eat away while you potter around the garden.
2. Place your feeders where you can see them
My in-laws have a great window looking out over their garden from the kitchen. Its fantastic to wash up or have the cup of tea and chats while a bevvy of birds flutter around the feeder.
It also means you and your kids can identify each new bird family and keep a log across the year.
“While winter is the most important time to provide food for birds, it is not a problem to feed them throughout the rest of the year too, if you wish. If you do, make sure that you never leave out whole nuts, as baby birds often choke on these: always use a fine wire mesh feeder that has been designed to allow birds to feed on peanuts safely.” – Birdwatch Ireland
3. Variety is the spice of bird life!
To attract different bird types make sure you give them different food from seed mix or peanuts to meal worms, fat balls, even kitchen scraps – its not just the four legged friends who devour the left overs! NOTE avoid high salt content food.
4. Water is as important as food
Water can be difficult to find in the winter. Ensuring your garden has fresh water will mean they don’t have to try and find it elsewhere which also means they save energy.
5. Not too much and just enough
The birds tend not to clean up after themselves! Its therefore best to avoid leaving to much food so they don’t drop the residual waste which might attract rats and other unwanted guests.and online shop.
6. Have fun!
Most of all enjoy the feathered visitors, chart their visits, photograph their stay, identify the types and open your garden to the delights of winter wildlife!
Post ID: 969
As winter rolls in and temperatures drop, while it looks as if all activity in the garden has stopped, there’s a lot going on under the soil until it freezes. Fear not you can prepare your garden with these helpful tips.
Trees and shrubs which were newly transplanted some perennials and even the hardier of bulbs are all growing roots, drawing on soil nutrients and moisture around them. Even the animals like earthworms and various microbes (yes all gardens have them) in the soil are still processing the organic material they’re finding.
Plants need protection from the cold, frigid weather. Perennials are the easiest of all to prepare for winter; they simply need a little cutting back and mulching to protect from the cold winter ahead, but may need a little more maintenance if they are used to warmer climates.
Mulch bulb beds with fallen leave or evergreen small branches etc to protect the soil. Of course plants, especially small, shallowly-planted bulbs, can be lifted for storage. Dig up other bulbs you wish to replant and gently brush off any excess dirt, wrap in newspaper and store for spring.
Make sure you store your bulbs in a breathable container, such as a cardboard box; storing the bulb in a plastic bag will cause the bulb to rot. Place newspaper in between the layer of bulbs—the bulbs should not be touching.
Choose a cool, dry area to store your bulbs.
Trees need to be transplanted focusing on shrubs and especially young trees – of course this only works if you have the space! Make sure to water ahead of the ground freeze, they will like a lot of water! When the first freeze starts to hit, add the mulch when the first frosts hit making sure its at least 6 inches thick – chopped leaves perfect. Always good to add some fertiliser before mulching.
Of course the quickest, easiest, less mess and way to the perfect finish is to call us to do it for you……!
Paul Dunne Landscaping on 045 8451727 or 086 2844175
Post ID: 955
We’ve updated our Privacy Policy – you can read all about it here if you really want to!
Suffice to say, we’ve got you covered, we will never share your details or tell anyone you’ve been in touch and we don’t keep you on file for anyone other than to let you know about our great offers coming up!
Post ID: 946
Nowadays the outside is coming in! Garden’s are becoming the next room of the home. Used as much as the TV or playroom, it is a space that has been crying out for attention and deserving of the investment. The reasons to upgrade your garden are plentiful, not alone for the benefits to home life nor just for the aesthetics but also for the additional value it adds to the home.
Part of a garden design or redesign is lighting, if it is something that you want to include in your garden it then becomes as important as the lighting in the home. Here are our tips on how best to light the outside space.
- Laterns or hurricane lamps are fantastic and a low cost way to add that romantic and beautiful feel to your garden
- Spot focus on individual plants from the bottom up – its eye catching and spreads light across the plant and surrounds which is very impactful
- Be safe – make sure your lights are certified for outdoor use!
- Avoid switch use lights or if you can’t avoid ensure the electrical link is indoors or inside your outdoor shed
- From a aesthetic and security viewpoint putting lights at the top of gate posts or key points around the perimeter of your garden not only makes the home look lovely but deters unwelcome visitors too!
- Put a spotlight in a tree to create pools of light and make sure you only point the light downward
- Ensure the colour temperature of all your LED light sources match. Nothing worse than an array of colours throughout a garden, I like off white – but some love the white bright look while others prefer greens or blues
- It’s always a good idea to contain electrical cables within tubing. It protects accidental damage when digging or from pests like foxes (who love to chew cables)
- Make sure your electrician seals all of the electrical connections so that they are totally waterproof
- If you’re putting anything in the ground make sure there is ample drainage so that water doesn’t build up
- When lighting steps, we suggest lighting every other step which means you can see each step but the effect is softer
We’ve done a number of homes and the results have always been dramatic from a before and after viewpoint. If you would like a consultation call us 045 845127
Post ID: 920
When you are designing your garden sound isn’t an element that springs to mind but think of the benefits of birds singing, wind rustling, trees swaying and water flowing. Here’s is our thoughts on adding a water feature to your garden.
It might sound like a adding water for the element and benefits of sound itself is a surprising dimension to a garden but listening for the sounds of your garden keeps you alert and so, more in tune with the other elements of your garden and of the seasons.
Here’s a few pros and cons to different features we’ve worked on, please do contact us if you are looking to redesign or design your garden and would like help with the decisions, design and build.
Ponds: A pond is a popular landscaping feature. Generally in its most simplistic we would line a hole with either a rigid or flexible material, include a submersible pump and filtration system, and add any additional elements, such as a fountain or artificial waterfall.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Natural looking
- Add planting to keep algae to a minimum
- Adds life to a garden
- Spot for fish or frogs
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Cons
- Flexible liners are vulnerable to punctures and leaks
- Filtration systems can be noisy
- Keeping your water clean and preventing algae can be a challenge
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Wall Fountains: These space friendly water features are perfect for smaller gardens and patios.
Pros
- Great for small spaces
- Easy to install
- Beautiful to look at
- Adds another element to a garden installation
- Can be closer to the house
- Attracts birds which can be gorgeous to see
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Cons
- These can be costly at times
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Streams: For gardens with a more space, a stream could be just the backyard water feature you are looking for.
Pros
- Bespoke design or using natural elements
- Capable of building off existing water features
- With the right accessories, your man-made stream can look natural
- Can enhance natural water features within the garden
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Cons
- You will need to install a pump and filtration system
- Requires a lot of digging
- Building and maintaining can be required
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If you have any questions, contact 045 845127
Post ID: 916
Does your lawn have to be the real thing? Synthetic, fake or artificial lawns are increasing in popularity, we’ve installed 100’s of gardens over the years for families who are looking for a year round solution without the need for mowing, maintenance, mud or mess.
So why artificial grass? Easy – you can relax in the summer, kids can play outside whatever the season (think of our summer and autumns with rain on one day and heat on the next but the grass is already a wet mess), pets love it, there’s no maintenance and it really extends the beauty of your home……from the outside in and visa versa.
Benefits of fake grass
- No more mowing; no more heavy lawnmowers or strimming.
- No more weeding or pesticides.
- Artificial grass also avoids use of fertilisers.
- Maintenance free means more money and time
- Easy on the environment.
- Doesn’t need watering – so your lawn will remain green even in droughts. (feck off Irish Water!)
- Perfect for older people and those with reduced mobility
- Pet perfect too!
- Cleaner and more hygienically safe
- Can’t be dug up by dogs
- Can be played on all year round, and is soft on hands, kness and paws
- Hypoallergenic, which means people and pets with hay fever can enjoy their garden in summer
- More time to relax and enjoy your garden
We install the grasses for you, there is a range of grasses available and we can help you choose for your budget, lifestyle and asethically too!
Call us on 045847127 to secure your quote
Post ID: 907
Hedging is a much sought after addition to most gardens. Providing privacy, with beautiful coverage, hedging can look really well in large and small spaces alike.
For those with patience depending on the type of hedge chosen you can choose to plant for future growth e.g. Red Robin grows up to 1-2ft per year and when maintained can become a year round, sturdy and private hedge from a plant size originally no more than inches high.
While available for those of you who have less patience and an wish for the “final full growth” instant hedging can be installed which gives immediate privacy and finishes the garden post design and build, it is of course a more pricey route.
Of course fencing can look fantastic, climbing flowers can be planted to soften the look but today’s blog isn’t about fences – we’ll touch on that in a later post.
Pro’s to hedging
- Can be less expensive route than fencing
- Can be easier to maintain depending on height and if you have the right equipment, naturally we also maintain!
- Depending on the choose of hedging it can look really well, can give a beautiful scent and has a really nice aesthetic quality
- We prefer ones that are year round and never loose all their leaves, e.g. aforementioned Red Robin variety
- Unlike fences – hedges are planted to last, rooted in the earth can withstand the strongest of weathers and don’t weather over winter!
- Can outlive fencing
- I love seeing what wildlife is hidden in our hedge and the amount of nosey robbins that pop out while we’re gardening!
Cons to hedging
There’s only really two/three negatives to a hedge outlined below but as with everything inside your home, the garden is no different. It is personal choice, budget, aesthetic value and time.
- Maintenance, prune, trim, fertilise its all got to be done. We can do that for you or indeed for those green fingered among you it can be a pleasure job or a biquarterly nightmare
- It takes time, time to establish, time to plant and watch grow but they do say all good things….
- Space, depending on the type you choose a hedge plant will take 2 feet minimum from your garden
Post ID: 900
Delighted to be back working on the highly popular “Into the Badlands” series, filmed in Ireland and New Orleans . This is our 3rd year now and fortunate to provide the commercial landscaping and design support for such a project.
To quote “Wikipedia”
Into the Badlands is an American television series that premiered on AMC November 15, 2015.[1] The series features a story about a warrior and a young boy who journey through a dangerous feudal land together seeking enlightenment.[2] AMC renewed the show for a 10-episode second season, which premiered on March 19, 2017.[3] On April 25, 2017, AMC renewed the series for a 16-episode third season.[4]
Post ID: 511
One of the biggest decisions we tend to have is whether to patio or deck. Naturally it comes down to our clients preferences, look of the design and versatility of both. We thought we would put together some pros and cons to make your decision easier. You should know we love working with both and have often combined both in some garden designs.
Patio Pros
- Easy maintenance (if you’ve chosen a good quality paving)
- Good choice of colours and textures
- Depending on the Paving choice and quality it can look good with almost all selection of property styles
- Stands the test of time (if you’ve chosen a good quality paving)
Patio Cons
- Can be more detailed building and construction requirements, especially in areas with a lot of ground movement where reinforcement is needed
- Costs tend to be higher and the better the quality the higher the cost
- A consideration is the impact on the environment
Deck Pros
- Quicker to install and can be easier build and construction route
- Its a very natural looking material
- Depending on choice it can be slightly cheaper depending on wood used
Deck Cons
- Many of our clients are looking for an Eden that doesn’t require too much maintenance – decking does require annual oiling, can require sanding and a re-varnish too
- If you decide not to do the maintenance, which we can also do, untreated wood particularly softwood decking won’t last as long as it an
- If you have kids, or elderly people living with you wood can be very slippery in winter
So think about the type of house you have you may well have the type of house that will suit either paving or decking. If that is the case it comes down to personal taste. If you still haven’t made up your mind look at is the style of garden is it a traditional design you prefer or a more modern garden type?
Do you like simple, clean lines or lots of interesting details and textures? It is easier to create interesting patterns and textures with paving than it is with decking. However, if you like clean lines and minimal detail, then decking is great for this.
Lots of things to think about and of course we are always on hand to help with design and design choices!