Latest news with #DinoDecking
The Sun
26-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
I'm a gardening expert – the free, easy way to keep pesky birds off your plants this summer
WITH spring in full swing, gardens will be enjoying a burst of new life - but there can be a few unwelcome visitors. Unfortunately for green-fingered Brits, birds are drawn to ripening plants looking for a tasty snack, often stealing crops before they have the chance to be picked. 2 2 To help, Richard King, garden expert at Dino Decking, has revealed a fun and family-friendly hack, which is gaining popularity on TikTok and Reddit. This trick is to use painted rocks as decoy fruit to keep birds at bay. The gardening professional explained: 'By painting small rocks using waterproof paint, gardeners can create realistic-looking decoys that resemble ripe fruit such as strawberries, tomatoes and more. 'These colourful fakes lure birds in early, only for them to be met with a hard, unappetising surprise and over time, conditioning birds to associate those bright colours with disappointment and avoid the real thing altogether. 'It's a brilliantly simple deterrent that's eco-friendly, safe for wildlife, and surprisingly effective. 'Plus, it's a great way to involve children in the garden. They get to be creative, learn about nature, and feel like part of the growing process.' Richard shared five easy steps to creating the bird deterrents in your garden… 1. Choose the right stones Start by collecting smooth, rounded stones that closely resemble the size and shape of the fruit you want to imitate, such as strawberries, tomatoes, or apricots. 2. Paint and add realistic fruit details Use outdoor-safe acrylic paint in bright colours so they are easy for birds to spot, think red for strawberries, yellow for apricots, or deep purple for plums. Be sure to apply an even coat and decorate them with fine details like seeds, stems, or shading using smaller brushes or paint pens to make your painted rocks more convincing. Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Garden Pest-Free 4. Seal for durability Once the paint has dried completely, protect your work by sealing the stones with a clear, waterproof sealant. A shellac glaze is particularly effective for long-lasting, weather-resistant results. 5. Place them in your garden Set the painted stones among your plants early in the growing season, ideally before any fruit begins to ripen, to train birds to avoid the area. For example, placing strawberry rocks in your garden about three weeks before your real strawberries begin to turn red can help deter birds just in time to save your crop. IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
I'm a garden expert and this is how to revamp your outside space and bring old lawn furniture back to life without breaking the bank
The sun is shining and the birds are chirping, which can only mean one thing - BBQ season is around the corner. Those planning to host guests in their garden, enjoy an al fresco picnic on the lawn or even just have people over for picky bits outside may be feeling the stress of whacking the mower out and pruning away at flower beds - but experts have shared simple yet effective ways you can spring your green space back to life. From upcycling old lawn furniture to touches of DIY paint - or just a little scrub down with soap and a cloth - select connoisseurs say a little effort goes a mighty long way. Elsewhere, being strategic with the flowers and shrubbery you plant could not only be a visual game changer, but make maintenance that much easier. According to the pros, now is a better time than ever to get sprucing, and if costs are your worry, much can be achieved with the little you have at home. Here, British gardeners have shared the easiest tips and tricks to get your lawn from an overgrown mess to a chic outdoor space... Give your outdoor decking some TLC Speaking to FEMAIL, Richard King, director of Wigan landscaping company Dino Decking said that one of the simplest tasks you can do to 'elevate your garden's appearance is to give furniture some much-needed TLC (tender loving care)'. 'Cleaning outdoor decking not only maintains the appearance of your garden, but it also helps to improve the safety of your decking too,' he explained. Similarly, Heather Nixon from eco-cleaning company Bio-D says the trick to cleaning wooden garden furniture is to 'look out for furniture polishes that contain linseed oil, which nourishes and protects wood'. She advised using a 'clean rag or clothing item made from soft materials' to ensure a smooth, even clean. However - the expert warned to 'stay clear of scourers which could mark the wood and wipe down the furniture until the grime has disappeared'. 'Once dry, use a clean rag or clothing item to polish the furniture,' Heather continued. Plant colourful flowers Samantha Richards, a garden gazebo expert at Gazeboshop in Banbury revealed that a great way to elevate your scenery is by planting an array of colourful plants. 'Early bloomers such as crocuses come in a variety of pinks, oranges, yellows, blues and purples, which are ideal for adding brightness and warmth to your garden,' she explained. 'These plants not only look beautiful in bloom, but are also perfect for attracting pollinators.' The expert however warned against planting darker-hued flora - such as deep reds - as they 'will do the opposite and actually detract pollinators from your garden; so avoid this shade if you want your space buzzing with wildlife. 'Helleborus are another great addition to plant in your garden this time of year,' she suggested. 'With their green, pink and white blooms, these flowers will help brighten up any day, especially if you're planning for a BBQ and get met with rainfall instead!' Add lights Luxury decking and landscaping expert, Simon Parr suggests adding lights to your garden to elevate its overall look. 'Add strings of solar lights or a selection of lanterns to highlight pathways, seating or special features,' he revealed. 'As well as helping to create a more relaxing atmosphere, this will also extend useable garden time long after dusk.' He said this crafty hack transforms any garden, no matter how small it is, adding that the key is to 'define' different areas with your garden space, as this ensures an immediate and total revamp. 'Consider separate areas for relaxing, cooking, dining and socialising,' Simon added. 'A pergola or deck could be perfect for creating the look and feel of an 'outdoor room'. Heighten your garden This tip is especially prevalent for anyone with a modest-sized garden who is hoping to visually transform it. Simon explained that 'vertical gardening not only maximises your garden space, but also adds 'visual interest' - especially in small or flat gardens. 'Think about adding trellises, wall planters or hanging baskets to get some foliage and colour in,' he added. DIY paint job Garden gazebo expert Samantha Richards says a DIY paint job can instantly transform your garden without breaking the bank. However she advised using only certain colours in order to maximise the visual impact. 'Whether you're adding a fresh lick of paint to upgrade a weathered look or you fancy a new colour to reflect the summer months ahead, paint is one of the most effective ways to completely transform a space,' she told FEMAIL. 'Before you decide on a colour, think about what mood you are aiming to achieve first. For instance, if you want to create a calming zone for reading and gardening, or instead a social hub fit for hosting friends and family, you can tailor your colour scheme to suit.' She said colours such as 'royal blue, pale green and sunshine yellow' were ideal parings for the spring and summer months. 'Also, these pops of colour can look particularly striking when the natural light hits against it,' she added. Samantha also shared a genius hack for making your garden look and bigger: 'Opt for off-white or neutral tones to give the illusion of the space opening out more.' However, where possible avoid using brilliant white - 'as this can often appear quite stark and create harsh lines for the eye'. Gravel your garden If you're trying to achieve an expensive-looking, stylish garden but are worried about spending a fortune, gravel is the perfect choice as it's both easy to lay and affordable, explained Samantha. 'Coming in a wide variety of colours, shapes and sizes, gravel helps to add texture and personality to an outdoor space,' she added. She listed various types such as marble, slate, pea and granite, and suggested selecting a variation that worked in tandem with the design of your garden. Another appeal of adding gravel to your garden is that it is pretty low maintenance - the most you are required to do is dust it every now and then, as well as a bit of weeding. Clean your garden furniture Gardening expert Richard King says at this time of year most people are battling decaying lawn furniture after many months of heavy rainfall, high winds, and significant temperature drops owing to the winter months. For this, he advised mucking in with a good old scrub down - a hack he says will bring your furniture back to life in an instant. 'Use a mild soap, cloth and soft sponge to clean off any built-up dirt, pollen or surface mould from your furniture,' he simply advised. 'Depending on how dirty it is, a simple hose-down afterwards may suffice, with a pressure washer handy for muckier items.' However, the expert warned not to scrub your delicate items too aggressively as you could end up permanently wrecking it. 'Avoid using abrasive brushes like wire brushes, as they can damage the wood fibres and strip protective coatings,' said Richard. 'Instead, use a soft-bristle brush and apply gentle pressure. 'The method and products used for cleaning decked areas can have a huge impact on the outcome, and using the wrong techniques can lead to poor results or even damage to the decking'. Sharpen lawn edges Simon told FEMAIL that another way to beautify your garden is by sharpening up the edges of flower beds and lawns, which can instantly make your garden look more 'polished'. Ways to achieve this include using tools such as a spade, or a specialist item such as a half moon or edging shovel to create a clear defined line. You can sharpen these up further by decorating edges with bricks, stones or edging roll. Artificial grass Busy schedules, tough daily commutes and other tiring conflicts render lawn maintenance a challenge all year round. Add in factors like surprise sunshine and general unpredictable British weather, knowing the right time to repair your lawn can be tricky. To remedy this, Samantha suggests switching your lawn to artificial grass. 'If regular lawn-care is something you struggle with and your grass is constantly looking, it might be time to consider artificial grass instead,' she said. 'Not only is artificial grass low maintenance, aesthetically pleasing and pet-friendly, it doesn't have to be costly either. 'Make sure you are, however, taking into consideration garden size, the cost of fitting the grass and the type of grass you opt for, as all of these factors will influence the price point.'
