CD Designs Blog
Chelsea Flower Show 2013
The Homebase garden
The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show 2013 starts tomorrow, which marks the 100th anniversary of the event. It lasts for 4 days, between 21st and 25th of May, and promises to be the best ever to celebrate its centenary.
One of the main attractions this year is an installation called ‘The Rush Of Nature’, which is a collaboration with renowned British artist Marc Quinn. This is the first time in the show’s history that the RHS has worked with an artist on an exhibit. The installation is a closely guarded secret, and will be kept under wraps until tomorrows opening. It will then be auctioned off by Sotheby’s in aid of the RHS Chelsea Centenary Appeal, with the funds used to create an apprentice scheme.
Of course the event wouldn’t be the same without the traditional show gardens, which this year include ‘Windows Through Time’, a celebration of 100 years of Chelsea garden design, and ‘After The Fire’, a garden based on regeneration after forest fires. The Great Pavillion will display a mixture of exciting new plants and flowers, alongside favourites from 1913. As always there will be lots of awards given out, including Best Garden, Best Product and the big special award for Plant of the Centenary.
You can visit the Chelsea Flower Show 2013 website by clicking here.
Post Date: | 20th May 2013 |
Posted in: | |
Tags: | Chelsea Flower Show, garden design ideas, Gardening, home improvements, Mark Quinn |
Environmentally Friendly Parking
Any area that is frequently used to park vehicles will probably require surface reinforcement. Without it the ground will quickly become boggy, rutted and unsightly, with little chance of sustaining healthy grass growth. The usual materials used to reinforce the ground – concrete, tarmac and block paving, are usually impermeable or semi-permeable, which can create problems when it comes to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).
The grass Ecoblock looks almost natural
One solution to this problem is to Ecoblock. The Ecoblock porous paving systems provide effective grass protection and gravel retention and have been designed for long term use in a wide range of load bearing applications. It is available for use with both grass and gravel, and offer many advantages over traditional surfaces. They are manufactured from fully UV stabilised, 100% recycled, High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), which is chemically inert and can be located in the ground without long term damage to the surrounding soils. Ecoblock systems are also fade resistant, providing longer-lasting, aesthetically pleasing solutions.
The grass version is lawnmower friendly, and both the grass and gravel types are easy to install and require low maintenance. You can find out more about them at Buildbase Civils & Lintels.
Post Date: | 27th September 2012 |
Posted in: | |
Tags: | Concrete, Driveway Design, Eco-Friendly, Ecoblock, garden design ideas, sustainable |
Build Yourself A Barbecue – Part 3
You may or may not want to use the next layer of bricks for your charcoal tray, depending on your height and what feels comfortable for you. The tray is usually placed between five and eight bricks high. Wherever you do decide to place it, build up to this height using the same method as before. For the section the tray will rest on, you want to turn the bricks along the edges side-on to create a ledge for the tray. Create a flush edge by using a half brick at the outer edge. After another three or four layers add another layer of side-on bricks to support the grill tray.
To give a more professional finish on the exterior of the barbecue, take a length of hosepipe and draw it along each of the joints. Create a neat edge by adding a final course of brick setts around the main barbecue section then, when this is finished, check all the levels again. Finally cement the paving slab on top of the other section if you have built this.
There it is, your finished barbecue. Now all you have to do is invite some friends over and get cooking.
Post Date: | 17th July 2012 |
Posted in: | |
Tags: |
Build Yourself A Barbecue – Part 1
Summer is finally here, and although there hasn’t been much sun to accompany it so far, it is surely just round the corner, so what better than to build a barbecue in anticipation. Here is our DIY guide to building a barbecue.
Things you will need: – Barbecue grill set, bricks, brick setts, sand, cement, spirit level, shovel, trowel, small length of hosepipe, paving slab (optional).
The first thing to do is pick an appropriate space for your barbecue. It needs to be in an open space, so as not to set fire to anything when using it, and it needs to be relatively level.
Next you want to think about the design. This will depend on the barbecue set you have, and if you want additional workspace. Using the cooking tray from the set as a guide, lay out the first level of bricks around the tray into a square n shape, with the opening of the n where you will be standing to cook. Additionally if you want the extra workspace, you can create a second n connecting to it of the same size, so that the pattern more resembles an m. Try to keep as many bricks whole as possible to reduce the need to cut the bricks.
Come back soon to see how to finish off your barbecue…
Post Date: | 16th July 2012 |
Posted in: | |
Tags: |
Build Yourself A Barbecue – Part 2
Mix five parts sand to one part cement, adding enough water to get a stiff consistency. Check the level of the site before spreading the first layer of mortar, compensating for any changes by adding more mortar. Use the spirit level to mark the outer edge of the barbecue in the cement. This provides a straight guideline for laying the first course of bricks. When the first layer of bricks is laid, check the level again, making sure that the corners are at right angles.
If you think the structure is not as sturdy as it should be, insert a metal tie into the mortar to join the angles of the walls, especially to the central wall if going for the two part build. As you build more layers, insert these as often as you need.
Now start laying the extra layers of bricks, beginning at the corners. Stagger the vertical joints alternately to the width of a half brick. Use a spirit level to check that each of the barbecue’s corners is vertically straight. Check from all angles to ensure the finished structure is square. When five courses are complete at each corner, use a length of wood and the spirit level to check that the two sides are even.
Come back soon for the final part…
Post Date: | 16th July 2012 |
Posted in: | |
Tags: |