Metal sheds are a fantastic safe and secure storage solution for your garden.

One of the main advantages of having a metal shed instead of a more traditional wooden shed is the amount of maintenance a metal shed requires. Unlike timber sheds, metal garden sheds need very little maintenance. The key to maintenance free metal sheds is careful and success construction. As long as you build the metal shed correctly you will have a pretty maintenance free durable outdoor building.

Top tips for a maintenance free metal shed

Metal sheds can easily dent. In order to reduce the risk of denting, position your shed away from likely dangers such as where your car or children’s bikes are stored. Simply positioning your metal shed five or so feet away from such dangers can greatly reduce the chance of it being dented.

At Jacks Garden Store all of the metal sheds come with a rust free guarantee. When choosing a metal shed look for one that has been manufactured from hot-dipped galvanised polyamid coated steel to ensure you buy a shed that will remain rust free for years to come.

Scratches and dents need to be repaired as quickly as possible to ensure your shed does not become affected by rust. To repair any damage, clean the area and paint over it with a clear sealant. You can use nail varnish instead on very small dents or damaged areas.

Condensation can build up inside of a metal shed. In order to prevent this make sure sufficient fresh area can circulate around your metal shed. Vents are good at doing this. For more information on this problem check out Jacks blog which goes into much greater detail on preventing condensation in your metal shed.

At Jacks Garden Store we offer a huge range of metal sheds as well as offering a great deal of information on metal sheds visit now to find out more. We also stock a range of plastic garden sheds and wooden sheds.

Good Luck

Gardener Jack

With summer thankfully on its way you will no longer be confined to entertaining indoors.  Read my top tips on how to entertain outdoors:

Shelter – Rain can ruin an outdoor party, taking simple precautionary steps means that should the heavens open a down poor will not dampen the spirits of your guests. Depending on your budget and size of garden there are a range of products available to shelter your guests from the weather. Permanent garden gazebos are at the most expensive end of the scale whilst sails and parasols are far cheaper. A gazebo not only offers shelter from the weather but also provides a stunning focal point in your garden; parasols on the other hand are far cheaper and can be moved to different locations in your garden. Garden Sails are far more contemporary and will add a modern twist to your garden whilst still keeping costs down.

Decking Area – If you regularly entertain outdoors building a decking area is a great idea. A deck acts as an outdoor dining room. Not only does it help you to protect your lawn but offers a relaxed sophisticated space in your garden for you and your friends to sit and chill out.

Seating – When planning an outdoor party you must always ensure you have enough seating. At Jacks Garden Store you will find a wide range of furniture sets that can sit anywhere from 2 – 12 people around. For larger parties you may want to rent further seating or ask close friends and family to bring their own where possible. A garden arbour can offer a special secluded seating area for private conversations after dinner. There is a wide range of arbours available at Jacks Garden Store.

Food – A successful dinner party does not require over the top cuisine, just simple quality food that can be shared and enjoyed by all. A BBQ can help you to produce really tasty food at relative ease. Try to plan and prepare as much in advance so you can enjoy the time with your guests and not spend most of the evening hidden in the kitchen.

Cushions and Table Cloths – Brightly coloured cushions and table cloths can brighten up even the oldest of outdoor furniture sets.

Plates and Crockery – Use plastic cups, plates, knives and forks to reduce the chance of breakages. There are some really funky crockery sets not available that will look beautiful on your table outdoors.

Centrepiece – Create a stunning table centre piece simply with a glass bowl filled with water and fresh flower heads floating on the top.

Lighting – Fairy lights and lanterns hung in your trees will add a truly magical feel to your garden.

Music – Is a must to get you in the party mood.

Heat – Patio heaters or fire pits are great heat providers which allow you to stay outdoors for longer.

Visit Jacks Garden Store for more great entertaining ideas and products.

Good luck

Gardener Jack!

Greenhouses are great for extending the growing period in your garden, not only does a greenhouse enable you to regulate temperature, humidity and water distribution they also provide a pest free environment for your plants to grow. Essentially a greenhouse gives you the ability to control your plants growing environment.

How does a greenhouse work?

Sunlight enters the greenhouse through the windows and is trapped as heat inside of the glass house. Anything growing inside of the greenhouse then benefits from the heat and light inside the greenhouse. This heat remains in the greenhouse for a long time and anything grown inside will remain warm overnight because of this. The temperature inside of the greenhouse can sometimes become too great for many plants so most models have opening windows to release some of the heat.

Regulating heat and water distribution in a greenhouse

You can water your greenhouse using a watering can, if however you are looking for a more automatic system then irrigation systems can be installed which use drip tubes to water your plants. You can set up monitors which will check the temperature and humidity inside of your greenhouse and will trigger a fan when the temperature becomes too hot.

Ideal location of your greenhouse

• Light – When planning where to house your new greenhouse try to find a spot in your garden that is open with lots of natural sunlight. Take care to remember that in the winter the sun will be lower so make sure that the site you have chosen still receives lots of sunshine in the winter months.

• Drainage – The area must have good drainage especially if you intend to use the ground for growing plants in pots.

• Shelter – Wind damage can occur on greenhouses that are over exposed to the elements. You can eliminate this problem by erecting your greenhouse in a spot that is sheltered from the wind.

Choosing the right Greenhouse for your garden

When choosing the right greenhouse for your garden, please consider the following:

• Size – Consider the size of your plot, what you intend to grow inside and allow for some storage space as well. One top tip is if you can opt for a greenhouse that is wider instead on longer. On wider greenhouses less room is taken up by a path giving you greater growing space at ground level.

• Glazing – Greenhouses are available with Horticultural glass, toughened safety glass or plastic glazing. Horticultural glass is the traditional type of glass used in greenhouses and is the cheapest. This type of glass is not recommended for garden with small children as if broken this type of glass will break into sharp shards. Toughened safety glass is what the name suggests. This type of glass is less likely to break and is far tougher than the latter. If toughened safety glass does break the pieces are relatively safe. Finally there is plastic glazing which is practically impossible to break. The downside of this type of glass is that the amount of light that passes through it is greatly less than the other glazing options.

• Frame – Greenhouse frames are made from either wood or aluminium. Wood framed models heat up and cool down slower than aluminium frames but do look now attractive in your garden. Another benefit for using an aluminium frame is that they are pretty much maintenance free and will not require staining each year like the wooden structures.

• Ventilation – Adequate ventilation is a must! Try to find a greenhouse with at least two windows which can be opened.

Good Luck

Gardener Jack!

What is a gazebo?
A gazebo is a freestanding outdoor timber structure that has open sides and a roof. Gazebos provide shelter from the rain and sun allowing you to sit out and enjoy your garden whatever the weather. Gazebos are great for outdoor entertaining, they can provide a sheltered area for dining and relaxing outdoors.

Design
There are a wide range of gazebos available to buy in many different styles. A gazebo not only offers a great place to sit outdoors but also adds character and beauty to your garden. It can be a great focal point in any garden.
Typically gazebos have a round base with six or more columns supporting the roof. Gazebos have open sides but you can choose a design with partially enclosed panelling or garden trellis sides. The advantages of having a gazebo with partially panelled sides is that the panelling helps to shelter you from the wind. Where as a gazebo with trellis sides allows you to train climbing plants up and around your timber structure which will add beauty to your garden.

Decorating  your gazebo
You can create an extremely romantic setting in your garden with a gazebo allowing you to spend time outdoors with a loved one. It’s open yet enclosed design shelters you from the elements whilst still allowing you to look out and enjoy your garden. As mentioned above you can train plants to climb over your gazebo and also hang baskets and decorate the base with potted plants adding to the look and feel of your gazebo.

To find out more information about garden gazebos and further information on gazebo designs visit here.

For a wide range of garden gazebos check out Jacks Garden Store.

Good luck

Gardener Jack!

A traditional garden arbour is a sheltered garden seat that includes support for climbing plants to grow up and around.

Materials
Steel Arbours – This type is strong and durable and will require very little maintenance.
Wooden Arbours – Look wonderful in your garden thanks to being produced from natural materials, a timber arbour will blend easily into your gardens backdrop. Some maintenance required you will need to varnish this timber arbour yearly.

Design
There are so many different styles of arbour available, you can choose from apex roof arbours or curved roof arbours, flat backed structures, ones with lots of trellis to grow climbing plants and also the more elaborate corner arbours that are the largest type of arbour available.

An arbour will look great in your garden, it not only provides a place to sit and relax sheltered from the sun, it also acts as an attractive focal point in your garden thanks to it’s design and the ability to grow climbing plants up and around it’s structure. A garden arbour will allow you to add height to your garden design.

Check out the full range of garden arbours available at Jacks Garden Store. If you are considering a slightly larger structure you may want to check out our fabulous range of gazebos. Not only does a gazebo provide a wonderful sheltered area, you can train your plants to grow on the garden trellis attached creating a magnificent focal point in your garden.

Good luck

Gardener Jack!