Gardening Tools, Equipment & BBQ's

Approaching the grill for the first time? Or maybe you’ve grilled before but were less than thrilled with the results. Either way, relax. With these tips you’ll soon be brandishing the tongs like a pro.

Starting Up
Charcoal: On the charcoal grate, place crumpled newspaper or fuel cubes. Cover with charcoal briquets to form a pyramid. (If you are using lighter fluid, soak the briquets with a liberal amount. Tightly recap and store fuel container far from the grill and any flames. DO NOT ever add lighter fluid to a lit fire.) Light the charcoal. Charcoal is ready when briquets are coated with a light grey ash, in about 25 minutes.

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Direct (Grilling) vs. Indirect (Roasting) Method
Weber charcoal grills and Weber gas barbecues give you great grilled results every time because they are designed to give you ultimate control of your grilling temperature and cooking method. Here we explain the secret to great grilling. (Remember, whether you’re cooking by the Direct or Indirect Method, always grill with the lid on.)

Direct (Grilling) Method
The Direct Method is similar to broiling. Food is cooked directly over the heat source. For even cooking, food should be turned once halfway through the grilling time. Use the Direct method for foods that take less than 25 minutes to cook: like steaks, chops, kabobs, sausages and vegetables. Direct cooking is also necessary to sear meats. Searing creates that wonderful crisp, caramelized texture where the food hits the grate. It also adds nice grill marks and flavor to the entire food surface. Steaks, chops, chicken pieces, and larger cuts of meat all benefit from searing.

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Recipe provided by Weber BBQ’s
INGREDIENTS
1 side of salmon (chef to cut in portion sizes)
A dash of olive oil
Salt & freshly ground black pepper

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Encourage birds into your garden and they in turn will help reduce your pest problems.

The way you choose to plant and cultivate your garden can increase the number of birds which visit. To maximise the number of birds of your garden, ensure you have a good selection of native plants. Larger trees such as beech and oak are perfect, but if you have a smaller less established plot, try and use smaller native plants such as holly, hawthorne or silverbirch.

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Why not try your hand at growing your own strawberries in a handy tub.

Strawberries can be easily grown in a strawberry tub, these are recognisable as urn shaped pots with small pockets down each side. Strawberry tubs come in many different sizes allowing you to find the perfect one to suite the size of your garden.

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Not only are roses adored worldwide, but they symbolise romance, love and passion. Add interest to your garden by growing some for yourself.

If you have not planted roses before, speak to your local florist or garden centre to establish which plant would be best suited to your soil type and climate. They may advise that you invest in a disease resistant type as these will require less maintenance and are ideal for beginners to grow.

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Why not stimulate your senses by creating a herb plot in your garden. Add interest with an abundance of different scents, colours and textures to liven up any outdoor area.

Not only do herb gardens create an attractive focal point in your garden but they can also be a welcome addition for use in your kitchen and through out your home.

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Having a water garden or pond is very rewarding and can add beauty to your garden. But it is essential to keep up maintenance throughout the year, and each season brings new challenges alongside changing weather conditions. As spring approaches, the outside temperature starts to warm up and heaters can be replaced with pumps, which ideally you would have removed from the pond when you turned it off at the onset of winter. In addition remove the netting from winterizing your water garden. If you didn’t winterize with netting, it’s good time to clean dead and rotting leaves that have accumulated during the winter.

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Cold weather, particularly frost, causes the water in plant cells to freeze, damaging the cell wall. Even hardy plants and tough evergreens can be damaged by prolonged spells of severe cold when soil becomes frozen. When freezing temperatures are expected, gardeners must take measures to protect outdoor plants from freezing. Protecting plants from the cold for a short period of time is fairly simple and Keengardener have a new range of tunnels which will last through the season and many more to come.

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One of the most interesting features that you can have in your home is a garden. However, there are a lot of things that you need to take into consideration when growing one. For example, how are you supposed to create the garden layout? What are the features that you need to incorporate in the garden? How about outdoor furniture pieces? And which garden plants should you grow – herbal, ornamental, vegetables or flowering shrubs? Finally, what are you supposed to use to feed the soil and get rid of the possible pests to harm your plants? It’s the last part that we will try to discover here.

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It is achievable to create colour all year round in your garden with a little careful planning.

At the start of spring, colour can be injected into your garden with the use of planters, bulbs and spring flowering shrubs, all of which are a welcome addition and add vibrancy after the long winter months.

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With the long drawn out winter showing little signs of subsiding, it is essential to protect your garden form the harsh drop in overnight temperatures.

Through out the winter plants such as soft woods, actively growing bloomers and potted plants are the most likely to be affected by the frost. Low overnight temperatures freeze the moisture on plants, leaves and buds, resulting in a blackened or mushy appearance.

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Children are never too young to enjoy the outdoors, so experience the joy of gardening with the whole family.

There are many fun projects and activities to help get those little green-fingers twitching.

Why not try your hand at making your own compost. Children will love to see the gradual change in its composition and the benefits of the end result. This is a fun way of introducing children to the natural cycle of plant decay in a way they will understand.

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There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when walking past a sweetly scented plant.

HOW SCENTED
Scented plants can vary from those with strong scents you can smell from ten metres away, through to delicately scented flowers that can only be enjoyed when you put your nose right up close.

Make sure you choose a suitable place when planting a scented plant. A strongly scented Wisteria or Jasminum can be overpowering if planted too close to the house, whereas the delicate perfume from a Daphne or Bouvardia can be delightful to have just next to the front door.

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You can either buy advanced plants or grow fast growing plants.

In a temperate climate most trees and shrubs will take at least a few years from planting to fill out and make a garden look established.

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