You work hard to give your fish a clean and healthy pond environment. So install a pond heater deicer to make sure they don’t freeze in the winter. I review heaters that warm up much of the water in your pond as well as deicers that heat just a localised area of your pond’s water and thaw out a small area of surface ice. Knowing which type you need is what really matters. I list…
If you are tired of heading outside every day to check on your plants and water them or you are simply are not always around to do it, one solution is to install an automatic watering system in your garden. You can use multiple methods to install a simple system that either drips water regularly or alternatively uses a spray system to water a large area, for example, a lawn or a large flowerbed. You…
Continual cold drinks in summer, cocktails with just the right size of ice shards and slushies or snow cones, which my kids simply can’t get enough of. These all can be yours easily with an ice crusher/shaver. I review both electric and manual models, giving each’s pros, cons and features before my top recommendations. My Buyer’s Guide unpacks the confusion that leads to the difficulty of purchasing just the right ice crusher model for you.…
I recently talked about how I choose a pond filter, but the easiest way to keep your garden pond clean and healthy with the least work is with an all-in-one pond pump and filter system and combine this with the best pond skimmers which I recently tested here. As most of these units also have a UV light to do the job of a Pond UV Clarifier as well, that’s three water cleaning systems within…
I have used many propagators over the years, from the standard tray propagators with no heat to the more professional large heated propagators from Hotbox. This was an amazing propagator but at over £500, it isn’t really what most home gardeners are going to be looking for. In this review, I have focused on the smaller, domestic use propagators. These propagators can be unheated or heated (also known as electric propagators) but models some take…
Gathering around a fire pit on a cold day or night is very rewarding. There is something about watching flames consume fuel for the heat that is quite relaxing. Instead of digging holes in our garden for bonfires, fire pits provide the perfect solution without damaging the surroundings. They can also be used as barbecue grills if you find a sizable grilling plate. This makes them dual-purpose items that add value for your money. Finding…
Circulating the water in your garden pond is essential for the plant, fish and other pond life you have to thrive which is why I also recommend getting a pond pump. And for that, you need a good quality and efficient pond pump or you can consider getting a pond fountain powered by a decent pump. Buying a pond pump can be confusing, especially if you are just getting started with pond care; some have…
Just recently, I have been on a testing spree to see which patio cleaners really are the best, and I’ve tested different patio cleaners on different surfaces, from paving slabs at a local garden centre to york stone in my own back garden and even on my own resin drive. I even went a step further to test them on my family’s driveways and patios to better understand how well they work on various surfaces…
Colourful rugs add comfort to any room – including your outdoor living spaces. In this review, we look at garden rugs of various sizes, colours and styles that are suitable for your patio, deck or even around your hot tub. All these rugs are made of polypropylene, a plastic polymer that’s weather and mould resistant as well as being very easy to hose down and clean. As the rugs differ mainly in their size and…
At its purest meaning, hydroponics is the growing of plants in water (or sand or gravel), but without soil. My review looks at the simplest hydroponic kits, none of which come with grow lights. If you are in the market instead for smart indoor gardens as pictured above – those with automatic timers or custom schedules for the lights and the water – head over to my Top 5 Best Indoor Smart Garden Kits review…
