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 Summer is heating up and now is the perfect time to sit down and simply relax in your garden area, but instead of heading inside once the sun sets, why not consider purchasing some garden lights for outdoor use so that you can sit under the stars and enjoy the same relaxing sensations.
There are many different garden lighting fixtures that can match every budget or garden location as well as plenty of options such as towers, lanterns, and even solar lights.
Solar powered lights are great for those that do not have a close electrical outlet in their back garden areas or for gardens that are intimately placed in secluded areas. There are also lighting options that are shaped as topiary so that you can blend natural lighting into an attractive piece of your garden.
Also available are lights that spin in a spiral which can help illuminate your garden and serve as a focal point that will impress anyone that stops by for a look. They are also great decorations if you plan on having a party.
Garden lights are useful for more than just decoration however; as they also offer you added security since they will help keep your driveway and paths illuminated making them less tempting for burglars or vandals to venture down. In addition, they can also help to reassure any nervous pets within your home or keep dark corners well lit so that you know what faces you at every turn.
 Every time someone takes the time to garden they are taking the time to help out the environment, however, at the same time most people also hurt the environment because they are not aware of how much eco-rubbish goes into a garden in the form of garden plastic.
Even worse, this horticultural waste often ends up filling up landfills even though most people have great intentions when they purchase the goods.
With this in mind, it is important to note that eco-friendly gardening is about more than avoiding chemicals, but also taking careful note of what is done with the plastic containers that plants come wrapped in or the pots that are used during new cuttings and transplanting.
Generally speaking, it is best to reuse these containers as much as possible instead of starting fresh, or giving them away to other gardeners or friends. However, if you simply have too many for this to even be practical, it may be interesting to note that many garden centres will collect and recycle plastic pots and horticultural plastic if you simply take them back to the point of purchase.
Programs such as these have helped save 425 tons at a time of plastic waste from landing in landfills. Although many volunteers are needed, included those who purchase plants in plastic being willing to return their flats, cell packs, or trays; the results are astronomical even if only half of all gardeners chipped in to do their part.
 One of the best parts of nature is that wildlife and plants are able to harmoniously exist together, but most people are left wondering how they can recreate this harmony in their own back garden. There are a few things you can do if you want to attract more wildlife into your garden.
First of all, instead of filling up your garden with plants from the greenhouse, you need to brighten your landscape up with some wild flowers because they will attract insects and bees.
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is asking gardeners to plant more shrubs and trees with sweet smelling blossoms in order to help attract more bees into gardens so that the decline of bumblebees is halted.
Second, you can construct a wildlife pond in the backyard and does not even have to be too fancy, something as simple as a dustbin lid with water in it will help attract birds to bathe and drink. However, if you want to spruce up the pond a little bit you can consider adding some sloping edges and wild flowers to it which will help attract toads, frogs, dragonflies, and newts.
Next, you will want to add some hedges and trees to your garden as space permits and maybe even a native UK tree such as a rowan or silver birch since this will help attract birds that need food, shelter, and areas to roost into your garden. At the same time, a hedge that produces berry will also attract birds along with smaller mammals that are looking for a consistent place to find food.
 A group of young people living in St. Ouen took some initiative and turned an area of desolate land into an oasis as part of the Britain in Bloom competition.
Two judges went to see the work in St. Ouen as part of the Britain in Bloom committee and have been travelling around the island in order to see which parish will be chosen to represent Jersey in the regional heats.
However, judges are looking for more than just beauty, as they also are taking a close look at how hard the communities are working with each other and the overall focus on eco friendly schemes.
Each parish has seen a large variety of groups get involved in an effort to help with the Parish in Bloom competition.
The garden, which is located at the back of the Parish Hall in St. Ouen’s, was the idea of young people from the parish and sits on land that previously did not have a use.
One of the young youths involved in the project stated that just being entered in the West Show has been a large thrill and the fact that they won and advanced was even more thrilling.
 Water is the most prevalent items on earth with 71% of the earth covered by the wet substance, and without it life would not be possible. It is a given that water is essential for living organisms to survive, however, by 2025 there are estimates that half of the world’s population may have trouble finding drinking water that is clean.
While it may not seem that gardening may have anything to do with this problem, in truth it can because if you do not irrigate your garden correctly you may be contributing to the problem that is growing. Thus, if you are not sure if you are irrigating correctly you may want to read the following tips first.
First of all, you need to consider what the right type of irrigation is for your garden’s needs, for example some people use a drip irrigation system while others use a sprinkler irrigation system and still others use both. For the most part, sprinkler heads are used on lawns because drip irrigation is not a choice. Spray heads can also be calibrated so that flower beds can be sprayed at the same time that the lawn is sprayed.
However, while this may be the cheapest way to go because one large head will cover a large area of your yard, it is not efficient and a great deal of water is loss due to evaporation.
On the other hand, a drip irrigation system that is installed by a professional will offer each plant the adequate amount of water that it needs to survive at the roots. Since the water is aimed at the base to reduce evaporation much less water is wasted and plants will be protected from mildew and other diseases that can grow on wet leaves.
 With just a bit of effort on your part you can transfer your garden into a safe haven for wildlife and birds. You may want to think about adding in some bird table accessories, plants, bird feeders, and bird baths so that you can offer wildlife water, food, and shelter while keeping the predators away from the garden.
The best place to start is with plants since they can offer shelter, food, and nesting sites for the birds. You will need to plant various types of native shrubs and trees such as willow, oak, and birch in order to attract insects and bees which will at the same time provide food for mammals, birds, and amphibians
You may also consider adding wildflowers to your garden such as cornflower, foxglove, and honeysuckle which will attract bees and butterflies as well although any flowers that have seeds like sunflowers will attract birds at the same time.
It is a good idea to leave a patch of lawn free that just grows wild so that wildflowers will grow as well as offering shelter to insects due to long grass.
Adding a feeder or a stocked bird table is a great way to attract birds to your garden although you need to make sure that they are quiet so that birds can eat without getting disturbed. You should try to keep the feeders away from shrubs and bushes so that predators cannot easily hide waiting for a chance to pounce.
 You do not have to plan out an extensive wildlife garden in order to attract bugs to your garden that can help it to flourish. The following small changes can make an attractive garden even more attractive to bugs, quickly increasing the amount of wildlife that shows up.
First of all, you may be relieved to hear that you do not have to mow your lawn quite as frequently as you normally due because if you can bear the small flowers that pop up in the grass they will attract bugs by the million. Thus, letting your lawn grow wild here and there will be an instant bug attraction.
Second, leave a small area of your garden area untouched. It does not have to be a large area, just a spot where weeds and thistles can be left to grow because bugs love these plants even if they are unsightly so leaving them an area to fly to will mean watching them pass through your garden on a steadier basis.
Third, if you can work in a small pond in your garden and possibly toss in a few plants you will be able to attract a much larger variety of bugs to your garden. If the water area is big enough, you also may be able to attract some birds, mammals, and amphibians into your garden as well making the time it takes to dig a small trench and plop in some marginal plants well worth it.
 The RSPB has partnered with a private health firm in order to teach home residents and staff members the benefits that wildlife gardening can bring. The new project will work with 11 BUPA care homes throughout Wales and the Midlands, including the Ashby Court Nursing and Residential Home in Ashby and the Branston Court Nursing Home in Burton.
The aim of the project is to integrate the Home for Wildlife initiative by the RSPB with home care programmes that serve as activities for residents.
The project began with a formal training day, in which chefs, activity co-ordinators, maintenance staff, and gardeners all met to learn how to create better grounds around the homes that would attract wildlife. They also were instructed on how to involve residents in their wildlife focused activities.
Research from the RSPB indicates that those recovering from illnesses and the elderly benefit from having easy access to nature and the additional benefits of gardening include an increase in mental and physical activity, friendship building, and an increase in sense of purpose.
Tim Seal, the Bupa Midlands director, stated that the home care residence is delighted to have partnered with such as well known charity. He went on to say that the beauty of the new partnership is that all of the residents in the home can find a new outlet for their creativity and enjoy the relaxation that gardening for wildlife can bring.
Most Bupa care homes already have gardens that hold large potential for future development and wildlife enhancement.
 As a rule, the British are famous for their devotion to neat, organized and carefully manicured lawns and gardens. However, this tendency is in opposition to the surge towards biodiversity and the encouragement of ‘natural’ habitats for plants and animals.
You don’t have to let the nettles take over, and nobody suggests a “just forget about it” approach – you’ll need even more care and planning to promote biodiversity in a small area such as a balcony or patio, which is the option most urban dwellers have available.
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, and the Royal Horticultural Society, amongst many other organizations both public and private, is campaigning for everyone to do their bit, no matter how limited the space they have to work with. Helen Bostock is an advisor to the RHS, and offers a lot of great ideas for making a home for wildlife in the city.
For example, take just the bees and the birds. You can mix flowers such as daffodils, crocuses and alliums that flower at different times of the year, to attract pollinating bees from spring through autumn. Shady spots are great for mint and ferns; a sunny spot is ideal for chives and thyme. You can even build a bee hotel out of bamboo (various websites offer detailed instructions.)
A balcony or patio is excellent for bird feeders and baths. You can make your own or find them in any garden center, and the rewards are well worth your small investment.
 From joining campaign groups to increasing the amount of wildlife in your garden, there are many ways to start getting involved personally in the natural world.
First of all, if you need aid figuring out what is in your garden, you can turn to the Open University iSpot website where you can find thousands of photos of birds, trees, and butterflies as well as social network with many users and share observations.
Second, you should start to identify where your passions lie and get involved, whether they are focused on an issue, an animal, or a particular place. Do some research and join a campaign that promotes your cause and you can help change the world that you live in. There are many conservation groups spread across the country that specialize in everything from seals, dragonflies, barn owls, and sharks.
If you need a cause to help, you can help protect bees by working to get neonicotinoid pesticides banned to halt the honeybee decline by signing the Soil Association petition. Those that want more information can find it at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, which has built in a page informing local gardeners on how to attract bumblebees safely to their gardens.
Following this train of thought, you can create a wildlife friendly garden that will increase the amount of bugs, birds, and bees that stop by your garden. There are great articles that can help you increase the amount of wildlife in your garden found at both the Natural England website and the RSPB website.
Across the UK there are also plenty of 47 regional Wildlife Trusts that form one large voluntary organization that are all in need of your help and welcoming members.
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Gardening Supplies
We have selected some of the best online gardening stores for you to shop from. Look out for the periodic offers, such as free shipping and discount codes.
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