Tag Archives: raised garden beds

Raised Garden Beds in Shropshire

Got a Raised Garden Bed in Shropshire?

Do you have a raised garden bed in Shropshire or a surrounding area?

It is without a doubt one of the quintessential sights of any British garden; a beautifully painted raised garden bed proudly sporting a small selection of flowers.

With summer just around the corner; you will want to make sure your garden beds are in prime condition.

Fortunately, at Weston Sawmill we would like to share some informative tips and tricks you can use to showcase your soon to be perfectly maintained raised garden beds. 

The Cleaning Procedure 

When is comes to maintenance on your raised garden beds in Shropshire, the first item on the agenda will be to ensure that beds are properly cleaned before you even consider planting your flowers and soil. 

Some experts would recommend using a solution mix of water and bleach, however, most household cleaning products work perfectly fine. Now your bed is clean, you are ready to move to the next step.

Think of the Soil 

Soil is one of the most important components of your bed. Because of this, you should pay particular attention to soil you wish to populate your soon to be garden bed masterpiece. 

It is recommended that you use a midweight soil that holds moisture, is a chock full of organic matter and has plenty of air pockets. 

Add a Layer of Mulch 

You will want to keep your soil moist. An effective and proven method to do this is by adding a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around your plants. By doing this, you are likely to need to less water and there will be less of a need to pull out weeds. 

Ensure Your Plants are Fed

When you are hungry you are not yourself. The same is to be said of plants. Without frequently watering your plants, they are unable to grow and subsequently they could ruin your garden bed.

You will want to pay particular attention to overfeeding your plants however. This can drastically weaken your plants and in some cases it can prevent growth. 

Beware of Pests

Daily checks to your beds are of paramount importance. Not least because your raised garden bed is the perfect hunting ground for potential pests. 

If pests get into your beds, they can spread diseases and undo all of your hard work. We would recommend a sufficient pest control routine. 

Contact Us

We hope this has been informative and you are well on your way to priming your raised flower beds in Staffordshire and surrounding areas.

If you have any questions; please let us know and why don’t you check out of extensive range of raised garden bed in Shropshire. 

Raised garden beds in Wolverhampton

The Best Reasons to Use Raised Garden Beds

While raised garden beds are not a new idea, they continue to be a big discussion point amongst avid gardeners.

By definition, they are a garden bed that is built up instead of down, into a position that solves all manner of gardening challenges. They offer a host of benefits to gardeners, which we will discuss throughout this blog.

9 Ways to Utilise Raised Garden Beds

  1. No Tilling is Better for Soil – A raised bed is a great way of setting up your soil for the easiest gardening session. Instead of tilling up the soil every year to add fertiliser and amendments, you can maintain them by adding materials on top. Compost, mulches, manures and other soil conditioners can all go directly on the top few inches of soil without any extensive work. Your soil is capable of doing its own tilling as worms and roots push their way through. Regular tilling by human hands depletes the soil structure and does nothing to build up the organic component of your soil over a period of time.
  2. Prevent Back Pains – It is surprising how much back and knee strain happens when weeding your garden – especially in larger spaces. A raised bed can resolve back and joint pain plus it is a way to get younger children involved in gardening through hand weeding. Investing in raised beds is an investment in your health.
  3. More Aesthetically Pleasing – If you live in a busy city, having raised beds looking great as well as being practical. They also make pathways easier to maintain as there is a definitive line between the bed and the path.
  4. Keep Away the Critters – Although slugs can climb, the tall sides of raised garden beds slow them down and give you the opportunity to stop them in their tracks. You can also install hardware cloth on the bottom of the box to prevent crawling critters such as groundhogs from stealing root crops. Because of their elevated height dogs are also less likely to urinate on plants. There is also the option of adding plastic hoops for bird barriers, cold frames or row covers.
  5. Raised Soil Means Better Drainage – If you live in an area prone to flooding or in marshy yards, raised beds are the best way to have a full growing season. They also tend to drain better generally, even in heavy rains.
  6. Fewer Weeds and Crab Grass – Tilling will create more weeds as it buries weed seeds and gives them the perfect chance to propagate. One of the best ways to battle crab grass is with raised beds, as its raised barrier stops the grass from infiltrating.
  7. Plant Earlier in the Season – Because of the better drainage in the soil, early planting is possible as the soil will dry out faster in the spring and warms quicker for planting than soil at ground level.
  8. Avoid Contaminated Soil – Many different vegetables, especially roots, tomatoes and greens, absorb heavy metals from contaminated soils which can cause a serious threat. Bringing in raised beds allows you to bring in new soil that has not been subjected to toxicity from elsewhere. You can also greatly reduce toxicity by adding compost which dilutes any concentrations of contamination over time.
  9. Great for Gardening Beginners – Raised beds are great for anyone looking to get into gardening without any prior experience. By adding a box, some soil, compost, seeds and water, you will start growing in no time.

Get in Touch With Any Questions

If you have any questions about raised garden beds, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Weston Sawmill are also the leading providers of fencing and decking for customers across Shropshire and Staffordshire.

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The Best Plants and Displays for Raised Garden Beds

Bedding plants will give you a decorative summer display for raised garden beds, borders, containers and hanging baskets.

Bedding can be grown from seed, purchased as -plug plants or purchased as pot-grown specimens (often in multi-packs and cellular trays) that are ready for planting.

For our latest blog, Weston Sawmill is going to recommend suitable plants for bedding.

6 Plants Ideal for Bedding

If you are looking for easy growing flowers and foliage, we would recommend one of these six bedding plants –

  1. Frost-tender half-hardy annuals – This can include cosmos, nemesia, marigolds and tobacco plants which complete their life-cycle during one season. If they are grown from seed they are typically sown indoors.
  2. Hardy annuals – Hardy annuals can be sown outdoors directly into the soil during the Spring where they are to flower. The beauty of this type of plants is that they can withstand frosty conditions without protection.
  3. Hardy biennials – These can be short-lived perennials that complete their life-cycle across two seasons. Plants such as Alcea, Dianthus, Erysimum, Myosotis and Ornamental brassicas fall into this category.
  4. Half-hardy perennials – This type of planting will live for several years, typically flowering from their second season. Examples include Bellis, begonia, Pelargonium and lobelia. You can also grow Bellis, busy Lizzies and Viola as annuals or biennials.
  5. Half-hardy or tender sub-tropical plants – Banana plants, cannas and palms can form the focal point of a bedding scheme with succulents useful for creating patterns.
  6. Hardy perennials or shrubs – Add valuable flower and foliage colour throughout the winter with Erica, winter-flowering heather, euphorbia and heuchera. For beds and containers can have agave, dwarf conifers, cordylines, Phormium and ornamental grasses to enhance its appeal.

Bulks can also be mixed with biennal bedding plants and give you a bright combination of colours. We would recommend planting allium, Anemone Blanda, crocus, hyacinth, early-flowering Iris reticulata and tulips.

For Raised Garden Beds Talk to Weston Sawmill

If you are considering investing in raised garden beds to enhance your garden over the summer, get in touch with Weston Sawmill.

Weston Sawmill - 2020 inspiration

Have a Garden Revamp in 2020 with Weston Sawmill

One of the most worthwhile New Year resolutions you can make is to transform your garden into the ultimate outdoor living space.

Here at Weston Sawmill, we have got all the components to help you every step of the way, no matter what style of garden you want to have.

7 Must-Have Items for Your New-Look Garden

As garden experts, our team has devised a comprehensive list of seven items you will need for your garden in 2020.

Decking – If you are craving an outdoor space where you can enjoy daytime and early evening drinks in the summer; decking is the smart and classy choice.

Outdoor Dining Benches – Keeping with the timber theme, outdoor dining benches can go anywhere in your garden and can be used by the entire family.

Raised Garden Beds – Do you want to start growing your own fruit and vegetables in 2020? Installing raised garden beds is the best and safest method; especially if you have any mobility issues.

Swing Seats – Swing seats are great for those glorious summer nights where you can gently rock back forth and watch the world go by.

Pergola – Installing a pergola into your garden is a real statement which will impress guests and neighbours alike.

Log Roll Fencing – Log roll fencing is the best way to finish off borders in your garden with a touch of class.

Panel Fencing – Weston Sawmill stock a wide range of panel fencing which can suit any style of garden you desire. We also offer a made-to-measure service to ensure your new fencing fits with your home and garden.

Need More Inspiration? Get in Touch Now

If you need more ideas of how you can give your outdoor living space a facelift, please contact us today and we can answer all of your questions.

Alternatively, come and pay us a visit in Weston-under-Lizard on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border and see our products first-hand and get your creative juices flowing.

raised garden beds

Plan Your Crop Rotations with Raised Garden Beds

January is the perfect time to plan your crop rotations for the year ahead using raised garden beds from Weston Sawmill.

Raised garden beds manufactured from the finest timber will guarantee they last all year round plus they are ideal for anyone with mobility issues or struggles to bend down.
If you have never considered having raised garden beds, here are some ideas of what you can start growing –

• Soft fruits such as blackberries and strawberries
• Root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and radishes
• Leafy greens like spinach, kale and lettuce
• Onions, potatoes and tomatoes

We would recommend planning your crop rotations for any of these fruits or vegetables before the growing season begins so you know where to plant each crop.

What are the Benefits of Crop Rotations?

Our team of experts understand the benefits of crop rotations in your garden, here are three main ones –

Soil Fertility – Different crops have different nutrient requirements. By changing crops annually you will reduce the chances of particular soil deficiencies developing as the balance of nutrients that are removed from the soil will even out over time.
Weed Control – Crops like potatoes and squashes with dense foliage or large leaves suppress weeds which reduces maintenance and weed problems in the next batch of crops.
Pest and Disease Control – Soil pests and diseases tend to attack specific plant families repeatedly. By rotating these crops between sites and pests will decline in the period when their host plants are absent which helps to reduce the build-up of damaging populations such as spores, eggs and pests. Common diseases this helps to avoid by rotation include clubroot in brassicas and onion white rot.

Want to Know More? Get in Touch

If you would like to find out more about Weston Sawmill’s range of raised garden beds, please contact us today.