Two Low Maintenance Garden Ideas

Large lawns and elaborate flower beds look beautiful, but they can be difficult to maintain if you don’t have the time to spend on your garden. If you lead a busy lifestyle, rent out your property, or are physically unable to keep on top of tough gardening tasks, then it might be time to think about creating a low maintenance garden. Fortunately, simple can still mean stunning and there are plenty of design ideas for gardens that require minimal upkeep. Madingley Mulch, who supply bags of gravel, mulch, decorative stones and sand to customers in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, bring you two low maintenance garden ideas to help you create the perfect outdoor space in time for spring.

The Zen Garden

Zen Gardens have been popular in Japan for centuries and promote peace and tranquillity. They can incorporate gravel, rocks, pebbles, sculptures and/or water features to transform even the smallest of outdoor spaces into a place of beauty. Whether you live in the town or countryside, it will provide a relaxing retreat to unwind in after a busy day.

This type of garden benefits from being low cost, low maintenance and provides an outdoor space for meditation and quiet thought. Often found in Buddhist Monasteries, Zen gardens generally have a gravelled area that represents the ocean, which the monks will rake over and over again to relax their mind as they trace the patterns of the waves. If you are planning on having a gravelled area, it is advisable to take the lead from the monks and mark out the waves with a wooden rake; you won’t get the same effect with metal prongs. You will need to rake the gravel fairly frequently as it can get knocked out of shape on windy days or during heavy rainfall. Artfully placed stones, as in the picture above, will create a focal point.

For best results, map out your Zen garden first to help you decide what you want to include and where. Be as imaginative as you like with this space. Some gardeners like to incorporate a water feature, such as fountain or a long, rectangular pond containing Koi carp. For the more adventurous, a small, curved bridge running across the centre of the pond looks pretty and will provide a place of contemplation. Another option is to include an element of surprise, such as a seated area concealed beneath a wooden archway, or a shaped lawn with a Buddha in the centre. This is particularly effective in country properties that have more than one garden, or a garden that is separated into different sections or zones.

The Paved Garden

The origins of this style of garden goes back centuries when the space was used for outdoor cooking. In the Roman era, householders used to have courtyard gardens with either a fountain or a well in the centre to catch rainwater.  Fast forward to the 21^st century and the paved garden is a popular choice for those who don’t have time to mow the lawn or tend to the flower beds. It is also ideal for gardens with limited space.

If you are opting for a paved garden, the first step is to decide on what type of paving slabs to use. At Madingley Mulch we have a full range of paving slabs in all colours, to create the ideal courtyard style garden. These include Rutland Oakham for a rustic look, Indian Sandstone, Textured Paving or Premier Riven Slabs for a more contemporary appearance and old grey Courtyard Paving for a romantic, traditional look.

You’ll also need to work out what to include in your garden. You may want to go for a minimalist look, with a gravel or coloured stone border and a focal point, such as a water feature or sculpture, in the centre. Another option is to include a bench or picnic table and to have planters containing vibrant blooms to add colour. If you are planning on doing lots of outdoor entertaining in the warmer months, a brick-built barbecue or pizza oven, along with comfy cushioned seating, might be the best option for this space.

About Madingley Mulch

Madingley Mulch provide outdoor garden supplies including bags of gravel, paving slabs, sand, decorative stones, cobbles and chippings to customers within easy reach of our Cambridgeshire based shop. Click on the link above to buy.

6 Tasks to Prepare Your Garden for Winter

Gardening is a year round job as your lawn and plants still need care and attention, even in the coldest months of the year. November is the time to safeguard your plants from frost, clear the leaves and prune trees, so that you can keep up the appearance of your outdoor space. Unsure where to start? Here are six priority tasks from Madingley Mulch, who supply high quality gardening products, including lawn top dressing, to customers in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex.

Clearing the Leaves

A top task before the onset of winter is to clear the leaves off your lawn. This keeps your lawn neat and tidy, prevents mould and ensures your lawn can ‘breathe’ so you can enjoy healthier grass in spring. You can either use a leaf rake to do this, or you can save money and space in your shed by investing in a high quality universal rake, such as our soil rake. Alternatively, to make the task easier, you can run over the leaves with a lawn mower. If your mower has a grass collection box, the shredded leaves can be collected for composting.

Tree Pruning

Pruning your trees is an important task, as it helps keep them in shape and promotes faster regrowth in spring. Late autumn is the ideal time to do this as the lack of foliage will make the shape of the tree more visible. A top tip is to start with the dead and broken branches first, then selectively trim the smaller branches to improve the light and air flow.  Tools you would need for the task include a tree pruner, with either a large or extending handle, or a lopper, which is rather like big secateurs. You can carry out this task yourself if you can keep both feet on the ground while you are pruning. For larger and more mature trees, however, it is always best to play it safe and call on the services of a professional tree expert.

Caring for Your Lawn

November is also the time to concentrate on your lawn. Start by removing the thatch (old grass clippings) with a rake as this will help strengthen the grass; any waste can go on the compost heap. The next step would be to get rid of any moss with a moss killer, then aerate the grass by punching holes in the lawn with a rake. This will reduce compaction on frequently used areas and improve drainage. To promote healthy grass growth, follow this up by with a lawn top dressing, spread evenly in a thin layer. This will also help even out the surface of the lawn and improve the quality of the soil over time.

Applying Mulch

This is another important gardening task as it protects plant roots from dramatic changes in temperature, improves drainage, and puts nutrients back into the soil. You might want to start by neatening the edges of your borders first, so they look tidy and presentable, before spreading an even layer of bark chippings or compost on your beds. You don’t need to mix this layer into the soil, just leave it to rot down over time.

Caring for Your Plants

It is a good idea to protect your most vulnerable plants (such as dahlias and begonias) from frost by replanting them in tubs and storing them in the greenhouse over winter. November is also the ideal month to plant tulip and daffodil bulbs, as it will give your garden a wonderful blast of colour when they flower in spring. Another top tip is to bubble wrap large planters to protect your plants during harsh weather. Your smaller pots can be raised on bricks to improve drainage.

Feeding the Birds

If you don’t want to neglect your feathered friends over winter, now is the time to give your bird table a good scrub and hang seed out for them to peck at. You can either buy or make your own bird feeders with nuts and lard: it is easy to do and you can be as creative as you like with your design. Just make sure the feeders are regularly topped up throughout the season, so the birds don’t go hungry.

Cambridgeshire-based Madingley Mulch supplies a full range of outdoor supplies, including bags of bark, mulch, soils, compost, aggregates, lawn top dressing and winter fuel to customers in the surrounding area. Just click on the link above to view our complete range of products and order online.

Keeping Your Greenhouse Interior in Shape this Autumn

‘Out of sight, out of mind!’ This statement often refers to clutter in the home, but it can equally apply to the garden. Aside from the shed, another frequently-used garden building that may need some TLC after the summer period is the greenhouse. Are you keen that your glasshouse and its plants look their best over the winter period, but not sure where to start? Here are five priority tasks from Madingley Mulch, suppliers of high quality garden products including bark mulch in Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

Give it a Good Scrub

It may seem obvious for a glass building, but cleaning the windows inside and out should be top of your list of things to do before winter sets in. You can either use a commercial cleaning product for greenhouses, or just use soapy water and a sponge. Making sure the glass is clear helps the sun filter through on cold days and also helps prevent the spread of bugs and disease. While you have all your cleaning tools to hand, you may want to sweep the floor and give the shelves a good scrub too.

Put Away Protective Covering

If you used protective covering over the windows of your greenhouse during the summer, (to prevent your plants being scorched by harmful rays), now is the time to take it down. Packing away the shading will help make the most of natural light – even on the shortest days of the year – and will help keep frost at bay.

Invest in a Heater

The inside of a greenhouse is generally 5C warmer than the air outside, but you still might want to invest in a heater to keep your plants protected. Heaters of all sizes are available and are priced around £35 upwards. Small ones are ideal for sectioned areas of the glasshouse, and the larger ones can keep the whole area warm. They have a dual purpose: they not only keep plants warm, but they also prevent the build-up of fungi.

Bring Your Plants in

October is the ideal month to bring your most vulnerable plants inside, to shield them from the cold and wet (as wet plants are more likely to freeze than dry ones). Among the plants that you may want to keep warm are herbs, such as mint, parsley and chives, rocket salad leaves, perennials and alpines. A top tip is to space your plants apart in the greenhouse, as this will help prevent the spread of disease and keep the air flow constant. Meanwhile, it is a good idea to mulch the soil around plants that you are not bringing into the greenhouse.

Check Your Plants for Pests

Before you bring your plants in, check each one for pests to prevent a bigger problem a few months down the track. Pests that you should watch out for include white flies, slugs and aphids (also known as plant lice). Aphids can hitchhike on clothes or incoming plants and move around as they look for something to feast on. They thrive in a greenhouse environment and can reproduce quite quickly too. If you find plants with these mites, there are insecticides available that are suitable for use on aphids.

About Madingley Mulch

Madingley Mulch  provides a wide range of garden products in the East Anglian area including paving, fencing, turf, decorative stones, cobbles, soil conditioners, compost and bags of mulch for delivery in the Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire area. To view our complete range of products and to order direct from us, just click on the link above.

Clear Your Garden Shed in 5 Easy Steps

Is the inside of your shed so cluttered you can hardly get through the door? A shed that is in need of a clear-out is not only time-consuming, but costly too. For instance, have you ever spent hours searching for tools or items of equipment that you later found concealed under a mountain of soil bags and broken garden furniture? Did you end up abandoning your search and buying new tools instead?

If this is you and your outdoor storage space is in need of some TLC – don’t worry, we have the solution! Here are five easy ways to organise your shed from Madingley Mulch, who provide outdoor supplies and bark for gardens in Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Get Rid of Clutter

October is the ideal month to start a good clear-out, as it is generally a quiet time for gardeners. If you find yourself with a spare, dry weekend, why not use it to sort through your shed and get rid of anything you don’t need? Chuck away tools that can’t be mended, seed packets that are several years old and opened, and anything you know you won’t use again. You could either donate old garden furniture and tools to friends, family or your local charity shop, or sell them on if they are in good condition.

Mend Tools

As you sort through your shed, you might find broken tools and equipment that are easily fixable. Mending these items will save on the cost of buying new. There are a host of businesses that service and repair lawn mowers and strimmers and sharpen shears. However, if your equipment looks tired and you would rather buy new, at Madingley Mulch we sell a range of high quality Spear & Jackson garden tools. Just click on the link to buy.

Sweep the Cobwebs

Before you start putting the items you want to keep back in your shed, it’s a good idea to give your building a good sweep, so it gets a thorough clear-out. After all, you never know what you might find at the bottom of your shed. You might come across nuts, bolts and screws hidden beneath the cobwebs that could come in handy later. Or, if you are looking for an old tool part, it could well be lurking in a neglected corner.

Install Hooks

Once your shed is clean and clear inside, you might want to think about hanging hooks up. This will keep some of your tools off the floor, so you can safely get in and out of the building. To save on space, hang two rungs of hooks near the door for easy access. The higher of the two can be used for small tools, such as trowels, and the lower rung for spades, hoes, rakes and forks…not forgetting a waterproof hat and jacket for rainy days.

Put up Shelving

Another simple way to re-organise your shed is to put up shelves. How much shelving you need will depend on how large your garden is and what you intend to use your shed for. There are all sorts of shelf tidies you can buy, including compartmentalised boxes for nuts, bolts and screws, and large plastic boxes for bigger items such as grass seed boxes, weed killer and weed membranes. Don’t forget to label each of your boxes with what is inside, as this will be a useful time saver.

Cambridgeshire based Madingley Mulch sell outdoor supplies such as fencing, turf, log rolls, soils, soil conditioners, compost, aggregates, paving and bags of bark in East Anglian region, including Essex. Just on the link above to find out more about our products.

7 Garden Tidy-up Jobs for Autumn

October is the perfect month to start garden related cleaning, clearing and maintenance jobs that you haven’t had time to do over the summer. As ‘out of sight means out of mind,’ some parts of the garden – including sheds and greenhouses – are often neglected when it comes to keeping your outdoors in order. So, here is a checklist of garden tidy-up jobs that are ideal for cooler weather, by Madingley Mulch, bark mulch suppliers to customers in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Bedfordshire.

The Greenhouse – Autumn is the time to turn your attention to your greenhouse so you can nurture any plants inside. If you have a spare weekend, try to empty out your greenhouse and get rid of anything that you don’t need, such as broken pots or dead plants. Next, give your greenhouse a good scrub inside and out. This will maximise the light filtering in through the windows to benefit plants that you are growing through the winter, such as herbs or alpines.

The Shed – It is easy for the contents of your shed to become chaotic over the spring and summer months, as frequently used tools don’t always get put back in the right place. If your shed is in a complete jumble, you might want to clear it out completely so you can give the interior a thorough tidy. One tip is to take a trip to your local DIY store and invest in hanging hooks for larger tools, such as rakes and spades, and place storage boxes on shelving to keep smaller tools in one place. This will leave the floor clear for your wheelbarrow, lawnmower, children’s toys and garden furniture.

The Tools – Organising your shed gives you an opportunity to check your garden tools and get them sharpened or repaired ready for next year. You can either do this yourself, or there are some companies that will do this for you. If you need to replace any garden tools, we sell high quality Spear & Jackson Tools at Madingley Mulch – just click here to view. October is also the ideal month to get your lawnmower serviced as it will save you time in spring.

The Pond – Another key job in autumn is to turn your attention to the pond. This is because fish are less active in the colder months as their metabolism starts to slow down. You can stop leaves falling into the pond by covering the water with netting (as decaying leaves will affect the water quality). Another way to keep your pond looking its best is to remove any dying plants from the water before they start to decompose.

The Lawn – If you have any deciduous trees in and around your garden, you’ll frequently need to rake leaves off your lawn. If your garden is in its infancy, however, the autumn months provide the best temperatures to lay turf (i.e. not too hot or cold). At Madingley Mulch we sell quality turf… and you can have a lawn that is ready to walk on in as little as two weeks!

The Patio – A patio that is full of moss, weeds and muck can spoil the look of your garden, and although it might not be top of your to do list, it is worth addressing. Set aside some time, if you can, to give your patio a good scrub with a broom and soapy water to shift any surface dirt. Pull up any weeds by hand, or remove them with weedkiller, such as Roundup Weed Killer that you can buy through Madingley Mulch. If you have plans to build a new patio, we sell a full range of paving slabs to suit any style of garden.

The Fence – As autumn is a more relaxed time for gardeners, this is the season to turn your attention to your fencing and to replace any broken panels. We sell a fantastic range of high quality fencing, including picket panels, professional lap panels, ultimate lap panels and trellis. We also sell everything you need to build a new boundary including concrete mix and fence posts. Just click on the link above to buy.

The Soil – Mulch doesn’t just neaten the look of your garden, but it also protects your plants. Laying mulch in autumn will help protect the roots of plants during winter and should be laid at least 2 inches thick on damp or moist soil.  As bark mulch suppliers, we deliver bulk bags to customers in Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

Nine Reasons to Use Garden Compost

As a keen gardener, the chances are you will either buy or make your own compost to improve the soil in your garden. But do know just how many benefits there are of composting? Here, Madingley Mulch, who sell quality outdoor supplies to customers in the Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex and Bedfordshire areas, outlines nine good reasons to use garden compost.

Limits Weed Growth – When used as a mulch, compost helps to control weeds. To keep weeds in check, spread a thick layer on top of the soil (up to 4 inches thick is ideal). Keep topping it up in spring and autumn as the compost will slowly sink into the soil.

Improves Soil Composition – Some parts of Cambridgeshire have heavy, clay soil. Compost helps to loosen the soil in these areas and improve aeration and drainage. Our Spent Mushroom Compost is the perfect choice for this type of soil and is a mix of animal manure and decayed straw.

Helps the Environment – As a gardener, you know that every little helps when it comes to making a positive difference to the environment. Recycling and composting are becoming more and more popular to reduce solid waste being dumped on the landfill. So by composting you are taking steps towards a better future!

Reduces Temperature Extremes – Compost can be used as an alternative mulch, and just like mulch it helps stabilise the temperature of your soil. Using compost helps to keep the soil warmer in winter, and cooler during the hottest days of the year. It also serves to protect plant roots from wind damage.

Saves Water – Compost helps to increase the organic matter in your soil, and this in turn assists the soil in retaining water, which is particularly beneficial in the summer months. It works just like mulch in this way, and reaps big rewards as ultimately you won’t have to water your plants as much!

Enriches the Soil – A ready mixed compost has a host of nutrients, including potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous, so it eliminates the need for chemicals such as synthetic fertilisers. In the long run your plants will thank you for it as you can expect healthier flowers, fruit and vegetables.

Wards off Disease – Compost helps to keep plant diseases at bay because of the amount of nutrients it adds to the soil. A study featured in organic pioneers’ Rodale Institute’s online News & Research pages showed that compost not only helps to keep plants healthy by limiting disease but, according to a team of researchers from Idaho, it can even help to eliminate certain strains of E.Coli.

Provides a Habitat for Worms – Compost provides a habitat where earthworms and other organisms can thrive. Worms, nicknamed ‘nature’s ploughs’ by Charles Darwin, aerate the soil and break down organic matter to release the nutrients.

It Works for Potted Plants Too! – Using compost in your plant pots and hanging baskets helps to enrich the soil and improve plant growth. It can be mixed with potting soil to benefit all potted plants, including houseplants.

Garden Compost – The Quick Solution

Do you want to improve the condition of your soil, but don’t feel that you can dedicate the time to making your own compost? Buying readymade compost offers the perfect solution, particularly if you have a small garden with limited space, or substantial grounds. At Madingley Mulch, we can deliver bulk buys of garden compost direct to your door in parts of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex.

Six Lawn Maintenance Tips for Autumn

As the lawn takes up the majority of the outdoor space in most gardens, looking after it is often a top priority. Whether your grassed area is traditional, geometrically shaped, or is just a small patch of land, the way you maintain it makes a significant difference to the overall look of your garden.

Of course, creating a lush, green lawn takes time, and there’s far more to it than running a mower up and down it every now and again to replicate the perfect stripes of sports stadiums and golf courses. Madingley Mulch, suppliers of garden products including top dressing soil in Cambridge, looks at some of the ways you can keep your garden looking immaculate this autumn. 

Mowing

The growth of the grass will start to slow down, but you still need to keep mowing weekly in September. It’s also a good idea to raise the height of your lawn mower blades, and if your lawn is moss prone, you should raise the height of your blades even more. If you want to create the neat, stripped look to your try alternating the way you mow your lawn. Mow left to right one week, and up and down the next (or north to south, then east or west). This keeps your lawn looking flat and prevents the bumpy ‘washboard’ effect which can spoil the look of your grass.

 Edges

Another way to create a pristine garden is to cut the edges of your lawn as regularly as you mow it. This also means cutting parts of the lawn where the mower can’t get to, such as around trees and hedges. There are electric or manual tools available, and the one you choose will depend on the size of your garden, and your budget. For a tidy finish, you can collect up all your grass cuttings and throw them on your compost heap.

 Aerating

September is also a good time to aerate your lawn, and you should do this once a year to keep it healthy, especially if your lawn is prone to heavy footfall. To do this, start by using a rake get rid of the thatch – as this will help the grass grow stronger. Next aerate your lawn, which involves punching small holes in the soil to prevent compaction and ensure that water and nutrients can get to the grass roots. You can do this by using a garden fork or, for larger gardens, a specialist lawn scarifier. It is also a good idea to apply top dressing after any lawn maintenance work.

New Lawns

Spring or autumn are the best seasons to lay new turf as there are plenty of rainy days to keep it watered; to make life easier, you can buy high quality lawn turf in 1 square metre rolls from us for home delivery. This is also the ideal time of the year to grow a lawn from seed and we sell economy bags of grass seed, tools, as well as top dressing soil from our Cambridge shop to help you create the best environment for your grass to grow.

Watering

How much you water your lawn, depends on how much rain that you have had this month. It’s a good idea to keep the lawn watered in advance of any lawn maintenance, such as aerating or sowing grass seed. Whereas in summer, it is best to water in the evenings (so the sun doesn’t cause evaporation), in autumn the reverse is true: it’s a good idea to water in the mornings.

Pests

Keep using nematodes on your lawn this month to combat lawn chafer grubs, which feed on the roots of grass, creating yellow patches. They also attract crows who feed on them and damage your lawn in the process. For best results water the lawn before and after using nematodes.

Madingley Mulch sell a wide range of lawn maintenance products, including soils, conditioners and fertilisers, garden tools, lawn turf, grass seed and Evergreen 4 in 1. Just click on the link above to buy.

 

This Year’s Top Garden Trends

This year has seen some exciting trends emerge in garden design. Most of these are easy to incorporate in your own garden – from brightly coloured flower beds, to curved pathways made from natural paving, and vegetable plots for even the smallest of gardens. Here Madingley Mulch, near the Bedfordshire and Suffolk borders, looks at four of this year’s popular garden ideas.

The Curved Garden

Gone are the days of poker straight garden paths and flower beds. Now curved lawns, twisting pathways, rounded water features and archways are the fashionable way to add interest to your garden. One example of an outdoor space that includes all these ideas is the Butchart Botanical Garden, 4,500 miles away in British Columbia, Canada, which draws one million visitors a year. Of course, your garden might not be on this scale, but you can draw inspiration from the picture above for your own grounds. In the above photo, the curved natural paving and shaped lawns gently draw the eye from one area to the next. There are surprises on every bend, making the outdoor space look even bigger than it really is – something which you can do with your own garden.

One of the ways to take this curved look a step further, while also neatening the edges of your rounded lawns and flower beds, is to use log edging, which you can buy direct from our store in Cambridge.

The Oriental Vegetable Garden

People have long been turning patches of their own land into vegetable or herb gardens. But in recent years – and thanks to chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall – growing your own has had a major revival. Even in the smallest of gardens, green-fingered cooks have set aside, at the very least, a planter, pot or window box to grow vegetables from seed. This year, however, we have seen a surge in interest in growing oriental vegetables such as Chinese cabbage or edamame. There are all sorts of kits you can buy to help you get started.

The Colourful Garden

Vibrant, bold gardens have also risen in popularity in East Anglia, with a number of UK gardeners transforming traditional wooden fences and seating with a pop of paint. This year blue and green have led the way as the colours for borders, window boxes, arbours and/or planters, with brightly coloured flowers also getting a look-in. While tulips and dahlias are a great choice for vivid flower beds, you can also add colour to paths and driveways with our decorative slate chippings such as our red granite 20mm chipping.

The Relaxation Garden

 Gardens are increasingly being seen as an extension of the home, and are great way to bring the indoors outside in sunny weather. Love seats, benches in hideaway corners, and garden furniture with soft cushions to sit on are becoming all the rage. People are also taking a leaf from our Mediterranean neighbours and creating designated outdoor dining spots in a shaded area, with a built-in barbecue nearby. It is easy to turn any paved or decked areas into an outdoor entertainment zone.

Madingley Mulch supplies all the garden and landscaping products you need from natural paving to bulk bark, garden tools, compost, mulch, decorative stones, soils, conditioners, fencing and turf. Click on the link above to view our complete range of products and to order from us today. Alternatively, why not visit our shop on Madingley Road, Coton, Cambridge, which is also within easy reach of Bedfordshire and Suffolk?

Reasons to Choose Wooden Fencing for Your Cambridge Garden

If your garden needs a facelift, one of the best ways to improve its appearance is to replace any old, broken or battered fencing. At Madingley Mulch, we supply a range of styles of wooden fencing panels and posts from our Cambridge base. Here we look at some of the main advantages of installing a new fence or replacing old panels or posts. 

Enhancing Appearance

Wooden fences are a versatile and natural choice to surround a garden in the town or country. Wood is very attractive in itself and will contribute to the appearance of the garden, toning in with the other natural elements which surround it. Using decorative fence panels can create a different look. Another option is to use trellising within or alongside the fence, making it easy to grow a variety of climbing plants.

Trellises can also be mounted on a garden wall, or as another alternative you could use pieces of fencing to section off different areas of your garden. A picket fencing panel is ideal for this as it is light and open in appearance, or you could put up a trellis. This works well if you have a kitchen garden where you grow vegetables and want to keep it separate from nearby flowers, or if you want to add shade to an area for eating outside.

 Improving Privacy

Privacy in the garden is a major consideration for many people, since we like to regard our outside space as extensions of our homes and relax in peace without worrying about the neighbours. Putting up a fence can improve your enjoyment of your garden and also benefit your neighbours, since they will have the same advantages of privacy too. Having said this, it is always advisable to talk to your neighbours before putting up a new fence and check they are happy. The usual planning rules are that fences can be up to two metres tall at the back of a property and up to one metre at the front without the need for planning permission.

 Improving Security

Gardens without proper fencing can offer burglars a way in, with crime statistics showing that most break-ins take place from the back or side of a home. Having a good fence and gate will help to keep them out, and police advice is to ensure fencing is in good repair. Fixing trellis panels securely to the top of a fence can act as an extra deterrent, since trellis won’t carry the weight of anyone climbing up. If you grow a thorny plant on the trellis, this will be still more off-putting.

 Marking Boundaries

One of the main advantages of a fence is that it shows which area is yours and keeps your garden separate from that of the neighbours. It also keeps children and dogs safely within your garden, and helps to deter other pets which might be tempted to wander in from outside!

Madingley Mulch stocks a range of wooden fencing supplies including picket, lap and trellis panels, fence posts and tools for putting up fences. We supply customers in Cambridge and the surrounding area, including Suffolk and Essex.

Wooden Fencing Cambridge – See our range of garden fences and tools.

Seven Top Tips for Caring for Garden Turf

Laying turf creates a lawn very quickly, rather than having to wait for grass seed to grow. However, new turf needs proper care to ensure it takes root and flourishes. As turf suppliers based in Cambridge, Madingley Mulch also provides a whole range of products to care for your grass, including top dressing for lawns.

Here are seven top tips for looking after turf.

1. Prepare the Soil – For good results, it’s essential to have a good soil base ready before the turf is laid. The sand and soil mix provided by Madingley Mulch is ideal for creating the right conditions, because it is light and has a good level of drainage. Digging or rotovating the ground can help to improve its condition, as can digging in well-rotted manure or other organic matter. Preparation work also includes getting rid of weeds such as couch grass or bindweed, but you need to avoid residual weedkiller, as this could potentially stop the grass from being established.
2. Lay within 24 Hours – We offer turf for both collection and delivery, which is all grown in the local area within East Anglia and of good quality. Some times of year are better for laying turf than others, particularly spring and autumn. Ideally, new turf should be laid within 24 hours of delivering or collecting it, as this leads to the best results. This means it’s important to have the ground prepared in time for its arrival. Before the turf is laid, it should be stacked up and stored in a shady area, as this will help to avoid it drying out too much.
3. Avoid Walking on the New Turf – Walking on new grass before it has had time to establish itself can damage it, with footmarks sinking into the turf and causing dead patches. However, it’s possible to guard against this by using boards or planks when you need to access the lawn and making sure you only stand on the boards. It can be difficult to keep pets and children off the new turf, but they will also need to steer clear for at least the first week!
4. Watering – To take root properly, new turf needs to be kept moist. This is one reason why spring and autumn are more popular seasons for laying it than summer, with the higher risk of drought. When watering new-laid turf, you will need to use a hosepipe to be sure of getting enough moisture into the ground. Once the turf has been laid, it should be watered every day, but, if the weather is very hot, watering might need to be carried out twice daily.
5. Mowing – The first cut will usually be needed after about a week, but first check that the roots have gone into the soil properly. To guard against cutting away too much of the new growth, you need to adjust the mower’s blades to a higher setting for the first cut. It’s also advisable to mow in a different direction each time during the first few cuts.
6. Top Dressing – Top dressing for lawns can also help with the condition of the turf, especially if there are dry patches showing. If you want advice about lawn top dressing mix or other products which could improve the condition of the grass, please contact us by phone at our site in Madingley, Cambridge, for a reliable and friendly service.
7. Ongoing Care – Even after the turf has taken root and turned into an established lawn, it will still need ongoing care. Regular fertilising can help to create a beautiful green lawn, with many gardeners feeding the lawn for the first time within 4 weeks of laying the turf, and then applying fertiliser every 2 or 3 months after that. As well as fertilising, watering and mowing regularly, you also need to watch out for any lawn pests or diseases. If you notice anything you are worried about, then it’s best to get advice early so you can tackle any problem before it becomes established.

Top Dressing for Lawns Cambridge – Click to see Madingley Mulch’s range of garden products and tools, or click here to learn more about our turfing supplies. We supply customers from areas including Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.

 

Nine Gardening Tips for September

If you are a keen gardener, you’ll never have a dull moment, as you’ll always find something to do whatever the time of year. From composting to collecting plant seeds and harvesting, September is a busy month, as this is when you round off the summer season and prepare for cooler weather to set in. Wondering what the top priorities are for autumn? Here are nine gardening tips by Madingley Mulch outdoor gardening supplies, Cambridge.

Composting

Now is the perfect time to invest in a compost bin, in advance of all the fallen leaves that you will collect in your garden this autumn. A top tip is to place it somewhere in the garden that is easy to reach, such as within easy distance of the kitchen. Otherwise, the chances are that you won’t use it. If you don’t want to do your own composting, we have a variety of excellent soil conditioners and compost, such as our popular own brands Denise’s Delight and Tony’s Tonic.

Dead Heading

Keep your garden neat and tidy by continuing to dead-head your plants in pots and hanging baskets as container plants will keep going for a while in autumn, usually until the first signs of frost set in. Dead-heading means removing flowers when they are wilting or dying, to encourage more growth. It is easy to do and can either be done with your finger or thumb, or with secateurs.

 Greenhouses

If you find yourself with some time to spare, you might want to turn your attention to your greenhouse. Clearing out dead plants and emptying containers of old compost will help keep pests at bay over winter. Another top tip is to water your greenhouse plants in the morning or early afternoon to discourage botrytis – a type of fungus that thrives in damp and chilly environments.

Harvesting

This month you’ll still be busy harvesting your home grown fruit and vegetables, such as apples, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, figs, onions, carrots, peas, salad leaves and runner beans. If you find yourself with an overspill, you can either freeze or preserve the excess or distribute it among friends, family or neighbours, who will be delighted with your gifts.

Herbs

Now is the time to take cuttings from perennial herbs (these are ones that live for more than two years), such as rosemary and sage. You can plant these in a pot of compost, and put them somewhere warm until the roots grow. If you cook with herbs such as parsley and mint regularly, it’s a good idea to keep them indoors over the colder months.

Lawns

Spring or the beginning of autumn is a great time to sow grass seed or lay turf, as the weather is not too hot or cold. At Madingley Mulch, we sell excellent quality lawn turf in 1 sq metre rolls for collection or delivery in the Cambridgeshire area. If you prefer to grow your lawn from seed, we also sell boxes of grass seed and large economy bags.

Pots

Raising your pots on bricks or slates will prevent the soil getting too wet. In spring or summer, however, it is worth lining terracotta pots with a plastic bag with holes in the bottom, as terracotta dries out much quicker than plastic or ceramic pots. This technique will help the soil maintain its moisture.

Pumpkins

Are you keen to grow the best pumpkin in time for Halloween? One of the ways to help your pumpkin ripen before the big event is to get rid of any leaves that are growing over your fruit. Also, before you eventually store your pumpkins, leave them out in the sun for a while to let the skin of the fruit harden.

 Seeds

This is a good time of year to collect seeds from annual plants. However, a top tip is to make sure they are completely dried out before storage. Once dry, put your seeds in an envelope and store them in an airtight container away from light and heat (a fridge is perfect). To keep your seeds dry, one method is to wrap powdered milk in tissue and to place this in the container with the seeds.

Madingley Mulch sells a wide range of outdoor gardening supplies in the Cambridge area including mulches, soil, soil conditioners, paving slabs, barks, aggregates, decorative stones, chippings, cobbles, fencing and turf. Just click on the link above to buy.

 

How to Create the Perfect Patio

With warm weather continuing, now is a great time to take advantage of the sun’s rays and think about re-designing your garden to create a beautiful patio area. Whether you have excellent DIY skills or would rather employ a professional for the job, we have a fantastic range of paving slabs to create any style of patio, from traditional to modern. Our products include premier riven slabs, textured paving, courtyard slabs and Indian paving and can be delivered, along with associated products, to customers in Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Essex or Cambridgeshire. Most of our paving stones come in a variety of colours and sizes, so you can easily find what you need direct from our store at Madingley Mulch.

The History of the Patio

Patios have been around as far back as ancient times, and indeed the word ‘patio’ stems from the Latin word ‘patere’ which means to lie open (to the elements). It was a feature of affluent Roman homes, where there would be an atrium, or central courtyard, with rooms leading off it. Courtyards later became integrated into Spanish architecture, and there is even an annual Patio Festival in May in Cordorba, Spain, where cash prizes can be won for the most striking patio. Nowadays, a patio is regarded as a paved area, usually close to the house, which can be used for al-fresco dining, or simply as a space to sit and relax on warmer days.

Where to Site Your Patio

For anyone redesigning their garden to incorporate a patio, the first thing to think about is where to site your paved area. The majority of UK patios are at the back of the house to ensure privacy, but there are some pretty cottages in East Anglia with limited outdoor space that have a small paved area at the front of their property (particularly in seaside towns or villages). If you like the idea of making the most of the sun, ideally the patio should be south facing, but it really depends on the type of garden you have and what you intend to use your patio for.

In Britain, patios are mainly used as an extension of the house, and will often feature a chair and table set, and sometimes a built-in barbecue. If this is how you intend to use your patio, the ideal place to site it would be close to the house, with easy access via sliding doors to the kitchen or dining room so you can quickly take food to and from the table. Placing an umbrella in the centre of a picnic table might provide enough shade to ensure all family members are comfortable as they dine.

Alternatively, a patio can be used as an outdoor retreat, a space for relaxation. This gives you more scope about where to position your patio. You may want to make it the main feature of your garden, with a pathway leading to steps up to a shaped raised or sunken area, such as a curved or circular patio. As patios can be sun-traps, you may want to build a wooden cover, or simply have a bench under an archway or pergola to keep out the sun’s rays.

Old Style Patios

For traditional gardens that are designed to evoke the feeling of bygone years, old grey courtyard paving  is the ideal solution. It is an excellent choice for courtyard style gardens, particularly those with features such as fountains or wells, and can be decorated with planters or pots adorned with flowers. Just add a few chairs and a table, and a patio heater, and you have the perfect space to relax in all year round. Our courtyard paving is available in two sizes: 300mm x 300mm or 450mm x 450 mm, and also in 7.2sq metre packs with a dozen 600mm x 600mm slabs and 16, 600mm x 300mm paving stones.

Rustic Patios

Rutland Oakham is the perfect choice for cottage style gardens. Rustic patios surrounded by natural fencing and featuring climbing plants look stunning and make the space appear larger than it really is. By adding well-chosen lighting, you will be able make the most of the space long into the evening. We sell Rutland Oakham in two colours and 4 sizes: autumn gold and mellow stone in sizes 300mm x 300mm, 450mm x 450mm, 600mm x 300mm, 600mm x 600mm. You can also buy Rutland Oakham in a circle design to create a garden feature.

Family-Friendly Patios

If you are looking for a patio that best suits the East Anglian climate, Indian Paving is ideal as it is relatively slip resistant, so it can be used all year round. For this reason it is a great choice for families with young children, who like to play outside with their toys whatever the weather. Indian sandstone also comes in a variety of colours to complement all types of housing designs or create subtle contrasts. We sell 15.25 square metre packs in four colours: Raj, camel, mint and grey.

Modern Patios

For a contemporary look to your outdoor space, Textured Paving  is a great choice. It’s also another non slip solution for family homes, and is available in natural, yellow, and dark grey, and in sizes 450mm x 450mm.  Add a feature barbecue, modern garden furniture, and a shaded area, and you have the ideal outdoor space for relaxation and dining. If you are keen to create a modern patio quickly, however, Premier Riven Slabs are a great low cost option and are available in one size (450mm x 450 mm) and in four different colour options: natural, stone, red and dark grey.

We deliver a full range of garden patio products including paving, sand and cement, which we can deliver to homes within a 15 mile radius of Madingley Mulch, just outside Cambridge.

How to Care for Your Greenhouse and Its Green Residents

Here at Madingley Mulch we dedicate ourselves to helping you create the perfect outdoor space, be it a patio, lawn or flower bed. We are providers of building, outdoor and gardening materials, such as paving stones, sand, concrete, compost, and soil, in Cambridge and the surrounding area. Here, our experts have delved into the world of greenhouse growing to give you a helpful guide on how to care for your greenhouse and its green residents this month.

Cleaning

Your greenhouse is likely to need a thorough clean annually, if not twice yearly, depending on how clean you like it! For a deep clean, empty your greenhouse, and give all the windows and shelves a good scrub with a plant-safe cleaner or with warm soapy water, followed by a good rinse.

As well as improving the look of your garden, a regular deep clean offers protection from rotting for wood-framed greenhouses. It’s also important as dirty windows can alter sunlight levels which can, in turn, damage your greenhouse’s plants.

Pests

Pests can be a nightmare for gardeners. Tools, potting shelves and trays for seedlings can all house pests and bacteria, which can attack your plants when you’re least expecting it. Regular cleaning of these little parts of the greenhouse can help you maintain a good level of control and protect your plants from unwanted pest invasions.

Plants

There are certain crops that, for best results, are suggested to be grown in a greenhouse over the summer, such as cucumbers, aubergines, tomatoes and peppers. These kinds of plants prefer potassium-rich fertilisers, such as tomato feed, to produce the best crops and maintain strong stems. We recommend using our very own blend of soil for greenhouse vegetables: Denise’s Delight is a peat-based mixture of black fen soil and manure for optimum nutrition and good moisture retention.

If you’re planting seeds, they are likely to grow much quicker in this environment than they may outside. You could also use a greenhouse to harden plants that you’ve germinated indoors, or to protect sensitive plants that might be affected by unruly weather.

Humidity

Sudden changes in temperature can cause problems with the growth of your plants, so, if you can, try to avoid watering plants with water straight out of a hose. Hose water is often very cold and can shock the roots of plants and cause stunted growth. A mist sprayer, or damping the floor of your greenhouse, makes a good alternative. It gives a moist humidity to the air of your greenhouse, and often plants will prefer this over a dry heat.

Another way to control the temperature of your greenhouse is by installing extractor fans and automatic vents. If you prefer to manage this yourself, place a thermometer on either side of the room and open and close vents or windows manually to keep the interior at a suitable temperature for your plants. Different plants prefer different temperatures, and sometimes managing the temperature yourself can give you more confidence in your results.

Watering

In hot weather, it might be worth waiting until the evening or early morning to water your plants. If you water in the middle of the day, this could actually end up harming your plants by scorching the leaves in the sun, and, in the worst case, it could even kill off a few plants. Watering is often made easier using special plumbing systems and gentle automatic sprayers that allow you to time your watering with much less effort. We’re all tempted to water plants when the surface soil is dry. However, soil will often appear dry when it doesn’t need watering. By poking your finger into the lower layers of the soil, this will tell you if your plants are thirsty.

Shade

The usual aim of a greenhouse is to produce the best crops possible. If you’re worried about your greens getting scorched on warmer days, you can protect them by draping a net or thin sheet (like a very thin curtain or bedsheet) over the roof of your greenhouse. This will slightly shade the plants from direct heat.

Madingley Mulch is an independent supplier of outdoor materials for gardening and landscaping, including compost, barks, mulches, and soils in the Cambridge area.  Click here to see our full range of conditioners, soils and composts for your garden.

Which Plants Do Best in Different Types of Soil?

Gardeners in Cambridge, Suffolk and across East Anglia successfully grow a wide range of different crops, from fruit and vegetables to all kinds of flowers. But sometimes you might find that a particular crop is struggling, and wonder if you need to try soil conditioners or compost, or buy a different type of topsoil. So how do you go about finding out which type of soil is best for your garden?

Madingley Mulch stocks various different types of quality garden topsoil, as well as soil improver and our own specially-produced soil mixes which contain conditioners. Any of these can improve the condition of your soil and restore its quality and level of nutrients. Here we look at which type of soil is best for different plants.

•  Black Fen Soil – This peat-based blend is Madingley Mulch’s best-selling variety of topsoil, and is a local product only available to gardeners in the Cambridge area. Its richness in nutrients means it is suitable for growing vegetables, including carrots, celery, radishes and most root vegetables. This screened soil is also an ideal choice for hanging baskets, which need a nutritious soil. Black Fen Soil can be added to existing soil to improve the quality and is also suitable for growing grass, so it is often chosen as a base for both turf and lawns grown from seed.
• Loam Soil – This soil type is perfect for growing most flowers and plants, thanks to its good natural drainage, and is also a popular choice for some fruits and vegetables. Plants that do well in this type of soil include Wisteria, Dahlias (pictured), Delphiniums and Lilies, as well as herbs including basil and chives. Vegetables which grow above ground, such as peppers and cucumbers, also do well in a loam soil, as do fruit trees including apples and pears.
• Denise’s Delight – This is our own specialist blend of soil and is made up of a mix of Black Fen Soil and rich soil conditioner. The organic material included in this soil includes horse manure which has been well rotted, together with wood shavings, plant matter and humus. Its rich composition means it can be used to improve your soil and is also ideal for raised beds, whether these are being used to grow vegetables, soft fruit or flowers. Crops which will flourish in this soil blend range from potatoes to roses and shrubs planted in flowerbeds. Geraniums, Irises and Helenium are among the many flowers which this blend suits, together with Japanese Anemones, which are known for their beautiful pink and white flowers lasting from August right through to October.
• Soil/Sand Mix – A sandy blend of soil is ideal as a base for grass, because it doesn’t get too wet. Other plants which will do well in this kind of soil include many trees, conifers and other evergreens. Shrubs also like a well-drained soil, including Buddleia, popular because of its ability to attract butterflies to the garden, and English lavender varieties. Poppies also prefer sandy soil because of its good drainage, while Cleome, nicknamed American spider flowers, are a more unusual variety which likes this type of soil. Soils in East Anglia often tend to have a high clay content, so using a soil/sand mix can lighten the composition for areas where you want to grow these types of plant.

In addition to these specialist types of soil, we also stock brown soil, a heavy grade garden soil which can be used for filling in larger patches within the garden; for instance if you are getting rid of an old pond or have a gap where a tree has been removed.

We also sell a selection of soil conditioners, including Tony’s Tonic, which is made to our own recipe from a mix of thoroughly-rotted horse manure and wood shavings and is suitable for growing roses. Other products we stock include lawn dressing, which will feed your grass, spent mushroom compost, ideal for root crops, and horticultural grit to break up clay soil.

Soil Conditioners Suffolk – Follow the link to see Madingley Mulch’s range of topsoil and soil improver products, available from us in Cambridge for gardeners in the surrounding area.

What Not to Do When Laying Mulch

There are many reasons to mulch your garden, from boosting the condition of the soil, controlling weeds and improving crops to creating an attractive appearance. Madingley Mulch has a great choice of mulches available for gardeners in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex and Bedfordshire. This includes a variety of bark mulch products, pathway chips, decorative and rustic mulches, as well as soil conditioners and composts, including spent mushroom compost.

However, although mulching is highly beneficial to your garden, there are some possible pitfalls to avoid when laying mulch. Taking a few simple precautions can ensure your garden gets the full benefit. Here is our guide to errors to avoid when you are treating your soil with these valuable and versatile natural products.

• Leaving Weeds in Flowerbeds: One of the most popular reasons for mulching is to control weeds. When you have a layer of mulch on your soil, it will reduce the need to carry out weeding. However, it’s advisable to remove any existing weeds before you initially lay the mulch, to avoid them growing through the layer of mulch. Also, pulling out weeds will make it easier for the mulch to lie flat on the soil, excluding light and making it harder for the seeds to grow through. Even after mulching, you may still need to carry out occasional weeding, going over your flowerbeds about twice a year and raking your mulch at the same time.
• Laying Mulch on Frozen Soil: Mulch helps to keep the temperature of soil even. This is a good thing at most times of year, but is not so desirable during cold snaps, when the ground is frozen. The problem is that mulching could keep the soil frozen and delay the thaw, affecting the growth of spring plants. It’s much better to lay the mulch before the freezing weather arrives, as it will then insulate the plants from the worst of the cold and help to keep them warmer.
• Mulching on Un-Watered, Dry Soil: A well-known advantage of mulch is that it helps to retain moisture within the soil. But, to make sure it does this effectively, you need to ensure the soil is moist before the mulch is laid, watering it if needed. It will not be so easy to carry out watering of the soil once the mulch is in place. However, once it is laid, you won’t need to water so often because the mulch will protect the soil against the sun, preventing it from drying out.
• Laying Mulch Directly on Stems or Tree Roots: It’s a good idea to lay mulch around newly-planted trees and shrubs during autumn, as it will help to protect the roots from frost. When doing this, however, you need to avoid putting mulch directly on to the tree roots or next to the bark, as this could potentially soften the bark and cause the roots to rot. Instead, it’s best to leave a gap of several inches around trees or woody perennials.
• Letting Mulch Dry Out Once It’s Laid: After you have laid a bark mulch, it will need to be well-watered without delay. Mulch can reach high temperatures while in storage, so it is a good idea to moisten it thoroughly after it is laid. This will prevent it drying out, which could carry the risk of encouraging unwanted fungi.
• Laying Mulch in Piles or Mounds: To improve the condition of your soil overall, mulch needs to be laid evenly rather than in piles or mounds. If mulch is piled high, for instance near to a tree, it can attract rodents and could also make the tree too damp, again with a risk of causing rot. Even spreading will avoid this problem and make sure the mulch works well, while at the same time looking good.

Although there are some problems that need to be avoided when laying mulch, it is a simple way of nourishing your garden and brings multiple benefits. If you want to keep soil moist and aerated, suppress weeds and improve the look of your garden, as well as protecting plants against temperature extremes, mulching is a great way to achieve all of these gardening objectives.

Based in Cambridge, Madingley Mulch sells a wide range of mulch products including bark chippings and bark mulch. We have customers from all over the region including Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Suffolk.

Bark Mulch Bedfordshire – Click to see our range of quality products.