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!

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!

With winter finally coming to an end and signs that spring is on its way, now is the time to start getting your garden in shape. If you did not take your canvas canopy or gazebo sails down over the winter they will need a good clean to restore them to their former glory.

You may find that your gazebo canopy has black stains which could be from a variety of things. Trees deposit all kinds of dirt and pollen over your gazebo and mould can sometimes also begin to build up.  Follow my simple steps to have your canopy looking good as new for the spring!

You will need:

• Detergent or mild home cleaning product
• Soft haired broom
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Old clean towels or cloths
• Hosepipe

The cleaning process

Firstly fill the bucket with warm water and add the detergent or mild home cleaning product. Mix the liquids together until suds begin to form. As you begin to clean you must judge how frequently you will need to refresh the bucket of liquid so that you are using clean water.
Use the soft haired brush to brush the cleaning fluid over the canopy, scrubbing gently to remove the mould, mildew and stains. On those really stubborn spots use the sponge and scrub carefully. After cleaning rinse the cover completely removing all of the cleaning agents residue. Inspect the canopy and repeat the process if some of the stains are still showing. Finally allow the canopy to dry out completely before storing away.

Jacks top tips – To make cleaning easier in the future, remove sap and dirt on a regular basis and use a mild bleach and water mix on mould and mildew spots.

If you are looking for a more permanent gazebo structure for your garden check out the fabulous range of gazebos at Jacks Garden Store.

Good luck

Gardener Jack

One of the best ways of improving the appearance of your garden is to add a gazebo. These outdoor garden arch structures really add the wow factor to your garden! As well as looking beautiful erecting a gazebo in a British garden is also extremely practical as it provides a sheltered covered space for you to sit and relax or dine outdoors whatever the weather.

A gazebo is a timber garden structure with a roof and partially open sides which enables you to sit and relax in your garden sheltered from the sun or protected from the rain whilst still being able to enjoy the beauty of your garden. Gazebos are pavilion-like timber structures that come in all shapes and sizes. Most are spacious enough to comfortably sit 4-8 people. When purchasing a Gazebo you can choose whether to opt for one with open sides or alternatively one with fenced or panelled sides.

Before you buy a gazebo please think about the space you have available for it. Remember that a large structure can look too imposing in a small space and instead of improving the appearance of your garden will in fact do the opposite. Make sure you purchase a gazebo that will blend into your garden.

You can choose whether to make your new gazebo the main attraction in your garden or alternatively a hidden retreat covered by plants and shrubs. Either way you must think carefully about your plans for the structure well in advance of buying it. If you are planning to make it a focal point in your garden you will need to ensure you have enough room to carry this off. Your garden will need to be clutter free and manicured. Alternatively if you are planning to blend your gazebo into the backdrop of your garden think about what flowers you would like to grow around and up it’s garden trellis, Roses and Clematis are both good choices. One other great use for a gazebo is to cover a hot tub. Check out Jacks garden store for a wide range of designs to suit any requirement.

If you have a small garden you may want to consider purchasing a garden abour instead of a gazebo. Arbours offer a wonderful secluded seating area that plants can grow up and around creating a wonderful sheltered and magical place to sit and enjoy your garden.

Good luck

Gardener Jack

When creating our perfect idea of what a garden should be, we tend to focus heavily on the soft green stuff like the plants and lawn and often overlook the hard structures in our gardens that provide us with the definition, the lines and the boundaries that provide structure to our gardens.

Garden structures can really bring your back yard to life and make a huge difference to the look and feel of your green haven.

Picture a garden, imagine it’s current state to be flat with little height at the borders thanks to a shrub or two and the old tree at the bottom of the garden. Now imagine that same garden with a simple but spectacular arch in the centre sweeping over the path with beautiful flowers blooming across the entire structure. The arch brings a new depth and central focal point to any garden really improving the overall look and feel of that area.

The simplest and often the most cost effective hard structure that will really make a difference in your garden is an arch. You will find that there are both many styles and materials to choose from. How effective a garden arch will be in your garden will be based upon what kind of plant you grow up it and where you are planning to position the arch. Bear in mind that many different words are used to describe arches. Some often refer to pergolas and gazebos in the same breath depending on where you are in the country. They are all very different things but you will often find these words being intermingled.

The actual appearance of the arch structure can vary quite dramatically. Garden arches vary from having flat, peaked or curved tops. Some have an oriental feel whilst others follow a more traditional cottage garden style (the Rose arch). Garden arches will mainly be either made from wood or metal. Both have their pros and cons. Just find the one that suits your needs. Check out our store for different styles of garden arches at incredible prices ready for self-assembly.

Regardless of style most arches will have trellis on the sides to help your favourite climbing plants navigate the structure. For those of you with larger gardens you can purchase extra wide garden arches. Just wide enough to drive the ride-on lawn mower through

Jacks top tip! - Remember a garden arch should always lead somewhere or have a resting place in the form of a bench or seat underneath. Think of a focal point, imagine a pathway and bring some creative flair into your designs. You’ll be so proud of what you can come up with a simple diy garden arch.

Have fun and Happy Gardening

Gardener Jack