DECKING - MORE GARDENING!

Two people asked me about top end of the market garden decking this week. I don't actually do gardens but I asked a man who does. Adam at http://www.bls1.co.uk/ gave me the bottom line.
1. Hardwood v. softwood: hardwood seems to be an allround winner, with the only possible exception of Cedar (which Adam says looks better in rustic/country environments).
2. Grooved v. flat: although the arguement originally was that grooves allow better drainage of rain water, Adam's take is that the grooves reduce the amount of foot grip and may therefore be more slippery; grooves also tend to collect dirt making it harder to clean the deck.
3. Types of hardwood: it's no conincidence that teak is mostly used on boats. Iroko and Greenheart were also mentioned. Clearly, the higher the content of oil the more durable the wood when exposed to the elements.
4. Reccomendations: great preparation prior to laying the deck will ensure lack of movement and absence of weed re-growth.

N.B. This is all fairly expensive stuff. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the trated softwoods and, somewhere in the middle, Ipe, Massaranduba, etc.

CHELSEA FLOWER . . . RICKSHAW 2007

True Chelsea residents are divided in two categories when it comes to the Chelsea Flower Show: those who put up with the week of confusion because they are garden enthusiasts (and will attend) and those who passively support the Spring fixture (but won't attend). Scenes of evening mass exodus await us: something vaguely resembling anarchy creeps onto SW3 pavements. This year the scramble has an eco-twist: the rickshaw. Wonderfully British vignettes were enjoyed by all on Royal Hospital Road around 8pm this evening (pictures record beautifully English fashions statements). "What about the gardens?" you may ask... They have been accurately and repeatedly documented by terrestrial TV, Freeview, Sky, radio, websites, podcasts and all kinds of publications. But.... maybe you live outside the little tringle squeezed between the Thames, Chelsea and Pimlico!? I guess you might, so here is the BBC link to most of the above: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/flower_shows/chelsea_2007/videopodcast_index.shtml

GARDEN DESIGN WEBSITE

Everybody takes up tennis during Wimbledon just as we all go shopping for plants when the Flower Show is on. Well...it's on! It might be an idea to let the professionals lead the way. Even if you are only looking for inspiration you'll enjoy a wander through this site
http://www.mylandscapes.co.uk/