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Tag Archives: oxfordshire

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 27-29 January 2023

by George Smith / on 25th January 2023 / in Blog, environment, Gardens, Wildlife, winter

Why you need to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch

Birds in the sky and on the land around us are one of the most important indicators of the health of our surroundings. They live on the plants, insects and animals that grow on our wild and cultivated land. Birds are in trouble and we must help.

In the last 50 years the UK has lost nearly 40 million birds across many different species. Birds that live in upland areas, woodland birds, wetland birds, those that live on farmland and garden birds – all are declining. So how can we keep track of what’s happening and what can we all do to stop the decline?

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How can a new garden help the environment?

by Jo Smith / on 15th December 2022 / in Blog, climate, environment, garden design, Gardens, planting, Ponds, Wildlife

Photo Credit: GreenArt

You can be forgiven for thinking that digging up an established or even brand new garden to plant new plants in another layout is an indulgence.  However, when a garden is not designed with the environment in mind, a change is what is needed to allow your garden to make a positive impact on the world around it.

One of our core values at GreenArt is all about taking care of our environment.  It is easy to see a shiny new garden in our images, but a great deal goes into our designs to ensure they do their bit for the environment.

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Low Maintenance doesn’t mean No Maintenance!

by George Smith / on 10th November 2022 / in Blog, garden design, Gardens, planting, plants, pots, Tips

It may not come as much surprise to hear that we are often asked for a ‘low maintenance’ garden when it comes to designing green spaces.

This may be due to many reasons; being new to gardening, having a young family, older age, restricted mobility or simply not having enough time.

For a keen gardener, tending to borders and lawns is a much-enjoyed pastime, but for a lot of people managing a garden can often feel overwhelming and all too often a chore, rather than a pleasure.

Here we discuss some low-maintenance garden design considerations without having to turn your garden into a concrete jungle!

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Spring Blooming Bulbs

by Gavin Stanton / on 21st September 2022 / in Blog, Bulbs, planting, plants

Vibrant colour in the garden is often, and most easily provided by bulbs. Hyacinths at Christmas, Crocus in the New Year, Daffodils in Spring and Tulips in early Summer.

Many of these bulbs are planted in Autumn and are dormant through winter. These bulbs need cold temperatures in order to produce a flower bud for spring which is part of the reason they are planted at this time of the year.

So now’s the time to start planning your bulb planting scheme ready for next year.

What bulbs will you be planting this Autumn?

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GreenArt Garden Care & Maintenance

Nurture your lawn with these 5 tips

by Gavin Stanton / on 20th September 2022 / in Blog, lawncare, Tips

Grass is a wonderfully resilient plant that has surprised many over the past weeks, I am sure you will agree.  The small respite in the long hot dry summer has at last allowed lawns to begin to recuperate.

With little rain forecast and a hosepipe ban still in force across parts of England, we want to help you nurture your lawn back to good health. 

Follow these 5 tips to ensure your lawn comes back fighting fit.

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Hedges and Garden Design

by Gavin Stanton / on 7th July 2022 / in Blog, borders, garden design, Gardens, large gardens, plants, trees, Wildlife

Whether it is formal or informal, the right type of hedging plants have the power to completely transform your garden.

Hedges are a great habitat for wildlife, provide privacy and security as well as protection from wind for tender or less hardy plants. They can also be a central feature of a garden design and an opportunity to be creative with shape, form and structure that will last for years to come. Whatever purpose your hedge will serve, there is a large choice of hedging plants for your garden, so choose wisely.

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Keep Weeding – A summer garden maintenance tip.

by Gavin Stanton / on 24th June 2022 / in Blog, Gardens, Invasive Plants, Tips

Summer is a time when we want to be enjoying our gardens and it is also the time when weeding is required the most, because weeds get everywhere! The seeds often lie dormant in the soil waiting for their chance to flourish. With all the recent rain we have had, and now the warmer weather, it’s fair to say the weeds are currently flourishing!

Of course there are physical preventative measures, like weed mats, that you can use to reduce the need for weeding, however they do not suit all locations and require some preparation. A solution for next year perhaps, but not right now.

You may also be tempted by herbicides, however here at GreenArt we do not use herbicides as they significantly impact the surrounding environment and wildlife. 

So it is our job as gardeners to keep weeding during the growing months. But keeping your weeds under control doesn’t have to be an onerous task if you follow these simple guidelines. 

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watering the garden

Garden Care During A Dry Spell

by Jo Smith / on 27th May 2022 / in Blog, borders, climate, environment, Gardens, lawncare, plants, pots, Tips, trees, Watering

With Summer on the horizon and temperatures on the rise, now is the time to get organised to ensure your garden is getting enough water to keep it looking at its best.

Watering your trees, shrubs and plants can feel like a thankless task. And don’t forget your lawn, particularly if newly laid, which needs regular watering to keep it green and healthy. Watering doesn’t have to be a chore, however, as there are many watering and irrigation systems out there to make our lives a lot easier.

Knowing when to water and what to prioritise will not only save you time, but also help conserve our precious water reserves.

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Babylon Nursery Garden Ideas

Blooming Marvelous Planting Scheme Ideas

by George Smith / on 25th May 2022 / in borders, garden design, Gardens, planting, plants

As a Trainee Designer at GreenArt, part of my job is to work with our Garden Design team to create planting schemes for our clients. These can be schemes to refresh an existing area of a garden or as part of a completely new Garden Design.

I recently visited our local wholesale nursery Babylon Nursery  to source herbs for a customer’s vegetable garden. Whilst there I took the opportunity to have a look around and see if anything in bloom caught my eye. Here’s what I found that sparked some fresh ideas for planting schemes.

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A Garden design to improve quality of life while adding value to a home

by Jo Smith / on 10th April 2022 / in Blog, garden design

A Case Study: Why a new garden design was needed.

Steve and Jane came to GreenArt in search of a new garden design in the Autumn of 2021 after seeing the work of the Care & Development garden maintenance Team at another property in Benson.

They had lived in their 1930s’ home for over 10 years, during which time they extended and fully re-furbished the interior, to create a family home that would see them into retirement. An outdoor office built in 2018 allows Steve to work from home, but the view into the garden from both home and office was uninspiring.

The 50m long garden was substantial and well-established but provided little visual stimulation when working from home, nor was it practical for entertaining or to have a place to relax in after work.

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