July 3, 2024 | The Garden Guru

Keeping your dog calm on bonfire night

October 30, 2017February 3, 2020 Charlotte Hallam

Bonfire night is only a week away but the likelihood is that there will be plenty of celebrations going on during the lead-up to the big night itself. Although pretty, colourful and exciting for us, it’s a time of year dog owners dread. Fireworks are very scary for dogs and playful pups become petrified pooches at the sound of a firework bang. Although bonfire night is just one night of the year, it’s actually much more than that for pet owners. From Halloween to new year celebrations, the night sky…

Autumn/Winter Garden Security Tips

October 25, 2017September 17, 2018 Charlotte Hallam

Home security is number one on a lot of people’s priority lists. Under no circumstance do you want the safety of everything you work so hard for being jeopardised. You wouldn’t leave your house unlocked with all of your possessions on display, would you? With this is mind, the rules shouldn’t be any different for your garden. As the days are getting shorter and darker it’s much easier for an opportunist thief to get hold of your belongings without detection. The extra hours of darkness, coupled with the fact that…

Halloween at Home: Fun for Everyone

October 20, 2017October 14, 2017 Charlotte Hallam

At this time of year, heading out on a dark, cold evening is the last thing on your mind. Even more so when, as a parent, you’re faced with the task of trick or treating. So, this year, avoid walking the streets with your little monsters and have Halloween at home – don’t worry, with our tips it’ll be fun for you too. This year, Halloween falls on a Tuesday which falls right in the middle of half term for some, but for anyone not lucky enough to be off…

Getting Involved with National Baking Week (16-22 October)

October 16, 2017October 14, 2017 Charlotte Hallam

This year’s Great British Bake Off has been somewhat controversial, what with the channel change and Paul Hollywood’s new alliance with Channel 4. Anyway, whether you’ve loved it, hated it, vowed never to watch it again, or begun watching for the first time this year, it’s certainly inspired the baker in everyone. This week (16-22 October) is National Baking Week, so to get you started in the kitchen, here are some simply great bakes that even the most novice of bakers will be able to pull off as a masterpiece.…

Your Car: The Cold Weather Checklist

September 22, 2017September 30, 2019 Charlotte Hallam

Colder weather presents some of the most challenging driving conditions we face. Because of this, it’s essential to be prepared. You don’t need to be a boy scout, nor do you need to kit your car out with the latest gadgets. All you need are a few key essentials. Whether the road surface is covered with leaves, it’s raining, icy, snowing or slushy, every single journey through autumn and winter can be hazardous. Combine the many weather-related hazards with the fact that the days are much shorter and you’ve got…

Getting your garden ready for autumn

September 15, 2017September 8, 2017 Charlotte Hallam

The transition between summer and winter has begun and although the drop in temperature is a welcome change for many, this is the time of year when many people start to neglect their gardens. A lot of people give up on their garden maintenance during the autumn and winter because they feel their hard work will only be ruined by the harsh temperatures. However, autumn is possibly the most important time of the year for gardeners. The belief that all the hard work starts in spring is absolutely a myth.…

Garden Gadgets: The Essentials Guide

September 8, 2017May 7, 2019 Charlotte Hallam

Whether you’re a keen gardener or a seasonal flitter, everyone loves a gadget. Here’s a selection of the best garden gadgets available for taming, pruning, watering and decorating. Hozelock Auto Reel with 40M Hose If your garden is a small yard or a tiny patch of grass then we’d recommend checking out some cheaper, shorter hose options. However, if your garden is slightly larger, covering the area of a small town for example, then this 40m hose – sure to be one of the longest in the world –…

Backyard Bars: The 10 Coolest

August 25, 2017October 7, 2019 Charlotte Hallam

A while ago, we did a post on the newest sheddie trend of the year – the backyard bar. Today, our post is a little different to normal. We’re going all visual with an image based post of some of (what we consider to be) the coolest backyard bars around. Daily Mail Solar Power CEE Metro Apartment Therapy ReaderSheds Northern Design Awards Telegraph Thrillist Pubshed ReaderSheds Get in touch Cool, aren’t they? Let us know which one’s your favourite. And…

Autumn/Winter 2017 – The Home Accessory Trends

August 22, 2017August 5, 2019 Charlotte Hallam

Although the weather’s still fairly decent, as far as the Great British summer goes, we have had a few cooler days. As these colder days start to overtake the sunny ones over the next month or so, our minds start to wonder towards winter. Log fires, cosy blankets and knitted jumpers are all keen favourites. In this post, we’re going to entice your wintery senses with some of this year’s most popular interior winter trends. Grey Grey, as an interior colour, has boomed in popularity over the last few…

Unusual afternoon teas around the UK

August 18, 2017May 15, 2018 Charlotte Hallam

Afternoon tea is a quintessentially British afternoon delicacy. Nowhere else would you find finger sandwiches filled with cucumber, the option of loose leaves, bagged or even bubbles. However, even here, afternoon tea has changed somewhat from tradition. Of course, you can still get hold of all the ingredients for a traditional afternoon soiree. Some places still serve it exactly as originally intended. Handpicked Hotels, for example, offer a traditional afternoon tea at the majority of their venues throughout the UK; they also do an afternoon tea for kids, too. If…