Rain Doesn't stop play

"Don’t let this year’s wet summer put you off al fresco entertaining" , says Pattie Barron, writing for The Telegraph

"Our summers are predicted to get warmer and wetter, so how do you create a more flexible outdoor space that you can enjoy whatever the weather, without resorting to bubble wrapping the balcony – yes, I know someone who has done just that – or covering over the entire garden? Plants don’t mind getting wet but people do, so consider making your patio or terrace weatherproof – or creating a designated space in the garden for dining and entertaining. "

" If you’re more likely to have friends around in the early evening, choose a spot where you can enjoy the late-day rays, but allow for an adequate platform so that guests don’t pull back their dining chairs and fall into a flower bed. Raised beds to define the space are a good wheeze because they surround the area with plants, making it feel enclosed. They can double as seating, too, making extra perch places if you’re throwing a party.

Flooring that doesn't get slippery or disintegrate through excesses of rain is essential. Wet slate looks as lovely as raindrops on roses, but is treacherous underfoot. Ridged softwood decking is supposed to be slip-proof, but in wet conditions becomes banana-skin lethal. "

Read the full article here >

Lime Orchard has an active Social Network, bringing you the best garden lifestyle and design inspiration from the UK and beyond!

Connect with us now!

 

Your Refreshing new Garden with Lime Orchard!

Inspirational design can enhance as well as extend your outdoor living space. Translate your dream garden into a design reality with Lime Orchard's Garden Design Service

It's simple to access our design skills to enhance your garden. We provide an initial consultation with a member of our team, free of charge, to discuss your garden project.

From there it's a simple process to achieve the garden of your dreams!

Whatever your dream garden; formal or relaxed, contemporary or traditional

Whatever the budget for your garden; from refreshing your borders to a high-end, bespoke transformation and everything in between

The Lime Orchard team has the skill and experience to transform your dream into reality

And as if you need an extra incentive to refresh your garden, you will receive £100 off your garden design quotation (valued at £500 or more)   and £300 off your garden construction project (projects valued at £2000 or more) if you pay a deposit before 1st September 2012. Terms and Conditions apply, available on request. Simply write offer code LOFB12 on your order acceptance to claim

Why not speak to a member of the Lime Orchard design team to get a fresh new perspective on how to get the very best out of your outside room? Visit www.limeorchard.co.uk or call 0845 539 1467

"We have invested in a lot of time and money in our home - and by far the best investment has been in our pond!" From Clients Mr & Mrs P - Nottinghamshire

Win Chelsea 2013 Tickets!

Lucky prize draw winners, Steve and Alexandra had a fabulous day at the 2012 Chelsea Flower show, courtesy of Lime Orchard!

Steve commented “we enjoyed ourselves immensely (apart from the heat and the huge crowds). The exhibits gave us a few ideas but at the moment I am sticking to sunbathing as it is too hot to swing a spade”

Get ready for Chelsea 2013 - enter our prize draw to win tickets for next year's show at our web site! http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/chelsea_flower_show.html

Send Her Victorious!

Everyone at Lime Orchard would like to wish Her Majesty our very best wishes over this Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend.

The Queen is of course well known for her garden parties at Buckingham Palace but is you are planning a slightly lower-key celebration in your own garden this weekend then leading garden centre chain Dobbies has some sound advice to make sure you keep safe:

1. Do not place the barbecue where anything will be dangling above it, such as low-hanging tree branches. And be sure it is far enough away from any structure to avoid smoke stains or discolouring. Never try to move your barbecue while it is alight.

2. Make sure your barbecue is on solid ground so that it doesn’t roll or tip.

3. Even if your barbecue uses natural gas and has a permanent location, survey the surrounding area before you light up, especially the first time in the spring. Greenery can grow surprisingly fast and leaves and twigs might have accumulated where they shouldn’t be, so clean up all debris first.

4. If you have no choice but to place your barbecue on a wooden deck, be sure it is free from debris such as dry leaves, twigs, etc.

5. Clean-up is crucial. Don’t let grease build up on your barbecue as it catches fire easily and can be difficult to extinguish. If that does happen, quickly close the lid.

Read more: http://www.dobbies.co.uk/blog/barbecue-safety-guide

Landscapers get hose ban exemption

Nottinghamshire-based national Garden Design and Landscaping specialists, Lime Orchard is delighted with the announcement  from the water companies that landscaping and turf businesses are exempt from the hosepipe ban as of 21 May 2012.

The relaxation to  the hosepipe ban by seven water companies in the south and east of England allows gardening businesses and their customers to use hosepipes to preserve newly laid turf and plants, for up to 28 days from planting.

Hose pipe allowed for preservation of new plants & turf

This decision comes after the record rainfall experienced in April and continuing rain in May has reduced the severity of the ongoing water shortage in the South and East of England although groundwater levels still remain low and the hosepipe bans remain in place. Lime Orchard is required to provide its customers will a letter confirming the date of planting as part of the exemption conditions.

Judy Behl, Managing Director of Lime Orchard  said: “We are pleased  that the restrictions on the landscaping industry have been reviewed following he recent rainfall. Lime Orchard was facing serious challenges as a result of the restrictions with a number of high-value turfing and planting projects having to be deferred. These can now be re-scheduled following this announcement. Lime Orchard is sympathetic to the need for water efficiency and will follow industry best practise as well as promoting 'leaky pipe' watering systems to our clients.”

Various trade bodies, including the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), Royal Horticultural Society and the Society of Garden Designers have agreed codes of practise with the water companies to ensure that the minimum amount of water is used sparingly. This includes a code for landscapers and codes on turf and planting care that Lime Orchard will make available to it’s customers.

The Hose Pipe Ban remains in effect despite the wet weather following concerns of a dry Autumn and Winter ahead.

The 10-point  Code of Conduct Published by the Society of Garden Designers states:

1.   Check to ensure that there are no leaks in your hosepipes or fittings

2.   Use trigger lances or guns to ensure water efficiency

3.  Plant trees and shrubs in well-rotted, water-retaining compost and cover with a heavy layer of mulch (up to 4 inches) to retain moisture

4.  Deliver water directly to the base of plants through tree-root watering pipes or trickle irrigation equipment where possible to install

5.    Encourage clients to install water-efficient drip irrigation systems where appropriate

6.   Wherever possible, encourage clients to use timer devices to water early in the 
morning or late in the evening when evaporation is minimal

7.   Only use hosepipes with double check valves

8.  Advise customers not to worry about lawns turning brown. This shows the grass has stopped growing, but most lawns will recover completely when the rain returns

9.   Encourage clients to install water butts to collect rainwater off greenhouse, shed, garage and house roofs

10. Encourage clients to adopt grey water recycling systems and to use water retaining products where appropriate 

To find out more about Lime Orchard's specialist planting services visit http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/planting-design.html

Olympics 2012 Competition

Nottinghamshire School Children can celebrate the 2012 London Olympics and raise money for charity with local garden design & build company Lime Orchard and Olympic show-jumper Billy Twomey

Lime Orchard is pleased to announce a competition for school-aged children in Nottinghamshire to enter a competition to design a garden to celebrate the 2012 Olympics.

Lime Orchard is an award-winning national garden design company based in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Children in the Nottinghamshire area can submit their own design for an Olympic themed garden by the closing date of Tuesday 6 November 2012. Children can let their imagination run wild (pun intended!) or take inspiration from their own experiences of the 2012 Games!

Launch Event with Olympic Competitor

Lime Orchard will be launching the competition at the Nottinghamshire County show on 12-13 May 2012 with an Olympics themed garden and will be supported by Nottinghamshire- based Olympic medal-contender and top Irish equestrian competitor Billy Twomey.

Twomey commented
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to have the Olympic Games in your own back yard! I’m really delighted to support Lime Orchard in getting local children involved!”
Billy Twomey will be present on the show garden on 12 May for a photo call. Find our more about Billy Twomey >
Children visiting Nottinghamshire County Show will be able draw inspiration from the show garden and may be to get some hints from Lime Orchard’s own (Royal Horticultural Society) medal-winning garden designer, Ian Dexter. Ian will be judging the competition entries so will be on the lookout for originality and creativity from the children

 

Prizes

The winning entry announced after the closing date will receive professional garden design advice from the award-winning Lime Orchard team up to the value of £2000 for their home or nominated school, youth group or community project. Two runners-up will each received £100 in Gift Vouchers to spend on garden tools, plants or equipment. A award event will be announced in early 2013 with Billy Twomey presenting the prizes.

Charitable Donations

Each entry is subject to a £2 fee – 100%* of which will go direct to the Green Fingers charity –http://www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk - an organisation that raises funds to provide superb gardens for Children’s Hospices around the UK.

*100% of entry fees paid by cash or cheque, other payment methods may be subject to charges outside of Lime Orchard’s control

Entry Details

The competition is open to children that attend full-time school in the Nottinghamshire area and can submit there design in their choice of medium up to a maximum size of A3 (for print) or PDF of no more than 10Mb file size (for electronic submission).

Visit www.limeorchard.co.uk/olympics2012 for more information

Chelsea 2012 Ticket Winners

And the winners are...

 

The lucky winners of a pair of tickets to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012 are:

 

Alexandra R. from London

and

Steve M. from Halloughton, Nottinghamshire

The winners have been notifed by email and we look forward to seeing them there!
If you are not one of the lucky winners then please visit our website for details of how you can bring a little Chelsea Flower Show magic to your own back garden, courtesy of Lime Orchard.

PLUS Get ready for Chelsea 2013 - enter our prize draw to win tickets for next year's show at our web site! http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/chelsea_flower_show.html

 

When the curtain closes at the end of May, RHS Chelsea Flower Show recycles 98% of the material used in the show gardens. So while the blooms may remain dazzlingly colourful, the main event is most definitely green!

The organizers of this year’s prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show are promising that 2012 is destined to be one of the best RHS Shows in history. 2012 marks the 99th anniversary of the world famous event which is now widely recognized as one of the most celebrated annual shows in the world and the undisputed showcase for horticultural excellence, with visitors flocking from across the globe both to visit and exhibit!

Over the years the show has gone from strength to strength starting with around 244 exhibitors in 1913 to today’s overwhelming 600, including gardens, nurseries, floristry, educational displays and trade stands. RHS Chelsea Flower Show now regularly attracts 157,000 visitors every year.

2012 will see the unveiling of 14 show gardens, which attract international media attention. This year there is a strong theme of enjoying the natural world, with show gardens reflecting the native flora of the Mediterranean, the enjoyment of caravan touring and the beauty of rustic materials. In addition there will be a whole host of smaller gardens and a hundred of the world’s best growers and nurseries.

Visit The Royal Horticultural Society for further information on this year's show!