The photos we chose this week made us want to jump out of bed, grab a hot brew and hop straight into the garden. We have seen the hard work and progress you have made with your gardens on Primrose Gardens and this week’s theme is to celebrate the times when you can finally sit back and relax:
Primrose Gardens allows you to create a beautiful pictorial record of your garden that you, your family and your friends can enjoy over the years. But it’s also a community of garden enthusiasts and the perfect space to discuss tips and tricks.
Sally works in the Marketing team here at Primrose.
She spends most of her spare time looking into the latest developments in social media. Sally loves travel and wants to step foot in every continent in the world. When not travelling the Globe or working, she likes to relax with a bit of DIY.
She is a novice gardener and doesn’t claim to be an expert, anything she learns she will happily pass on.
Chimineas are amazing additions to any garden. Not only do they provide warmth, but they look great and can be used for practical tasks like barbecuing. Clay chimineas in particular can be a real statement piece and bring the flavour of Spain into your back garden. If you are thinking about or have already purchased a chiminea, there are a few tips and tricks you ought to know. These handy hints will allow you to enjoy your clay chiminea for years to come.
Medium Tortuga Clay Chiminea
A clay chiminea must be cured before it is used for the first time; this will help prevent cracking and should give your chiminea a longer, happier life. It is a relatively easy process but can take a little time. I recommend making the most of a sunny Sunday afternoon to get this task done.
Step One: Place sand in the bottom of your new clay chiminea. Keep filling it up until the sand reaches ¾ of the way to the lip of the opening. We are doing this to ensure no flames touch the clay directly the first few times we light a fire. The main reason for this is we want to warm our clay chiminea without burning it.
Step Two: Start a small fire, using only bits of paper and kindling. I wouldn’t recommend any larger pieces of wood at this stage. Allow this fire to go out naturally after it has been burning for a few minutes.
Step Three: Always allow your chiminea to cool after any size fire has been lit within it. Chimineas are great outdoor heaters because they hold and radiate heat. This means that they take time to cool and can remain hot even when the fire is extinguished. Touching a chiminea too soon before it has cooled can result in burns. Remember to empty out your chiminea of all remaining ash, once it has cooled, and do this before starting another fire. If you are an avid composter like me, this ash can be added to the compost bin or used around the base of plants. It is a natural source of potassium so it’s great to help even our acidic soil.
Step Four: Repeat the first three steps, each time allowing your fire to become slightly larger. I would suggest repeating six times. During the third time you light your fire add some larger pieces of wood. The sixth and final fire should be almost the size of the fires you will be regularly making.
And voilá! Your beautiful new clay chiminea is cured, so you can sit back and enjoy it for years to come, without the worry of it cracking or splitting.
Deluxe Chim Chimenea Weatherproof Cover
Other Tips:
I would recommend always lining your chiminea with sand for any size fire even after it has been cured. This is an extra step, but it will help prevent cracking.
Keep your chiminea dry. Chiminea covers are your best bet if you are looking to leave it outside. If you do leave it out and it gets wet, let it dry completely before use as damp clay will crack under high heat.
Fires can be dangerous, be aware of where children and pets are when around any open flame.
You can also have a look at our video guide to building and curing a chiminea:
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Sally works in the Marketing team here at Primrose.
She spends most of her spare time looking into the latest developments in social media. Sally loves travel and wants to step foot in every continent in the world. When not travelling the Globe or working, she likes to relax with a bit of DIY.
She is a novice gardener and doesn’t claim to be an expert, anything she learns she will happily pass on.
This week’s theme is Brilliant Blooms; we are going back to basics and focusing on the pure beauty of flowers. We have been loving your photos on Primrose Gardens and all the hard work you put into making them look spectacular, what could complete a garden more than flowers in full bloom?
From the bright and friendly to the unusual and peculiar, here are this week’s flourishing flowers:
This beautiful gazania is growing marvellously in Summer GardensNancy’s Garden said that this cactus only bloomed for one day – we are extremely happy that she caught it on camera for us.We love the unusual colouring of these lilies in Potty’s Garden.Every week Madingley Gardens posts wonderful close-ups of flowers in his garden, but these lilies are a particular favourite of ours.Dewy Dianthus-raspberry parfait in Junie’s Garden.
Primrose Gardens allows you to create a beautiful pictorial record of your garden where you can show off your garden to family and friends to enjoy over the years. It’s also a community of garden enthusiasts and the perfect space to discuss tips and tricks, as well as getting plants identified!
Sally works in the Marketing team here at Primrose.
She spends most of her spare time looking into the latest developments in social media. Sally loves travel and wants to step foot in every continent in the world. When not travelling the Globe or working, she likes to relax with a bit of DIY.
She is a novice gardener and doesn’t claim to be an expert, anything she learns she will happily pass on.
The general rule is you have a small garden if the area is smaller than the footprint of your house. I myself have a small garden; this can be great as it is much easier to maintain and doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of it. When planning the overall design there are a few things to take into consideration, especially if space is tight.
Light is so important and it can make the biggest difference to a smaller garden. Find out where your natural light source is and watch the way the sun moves across your garden. You should see where your shady spaces are and where you can get the most sun and work with these factors to create a warm, open and enjoyable garden.
Trees can make small gardens shady and cold. That’s not to say that you can’t plant them, as trees are great for creating boundaries and privacy, but the best place for them is in the corners of the gardens or along the back fence. This leaves the midsection and the section closest to the house open to more sunlight.
If you are picking trees for a smaller plot I would suggest an Acer or Sycamore as they allow more light through their leaves. They create a dappled shade rather than blocking out the sun completely, this leaves the garden feeling roomier.
If your back garden doesn’t get much natural light you can create your own. Outdoor lights are a great way to illuminate your garden. Popular options are border lights; they stick into the ground and best used to mark a path or a flower bed. These are fantastic for framing a particular area of the garden.
I myself am particularly fond of adding a little sparkle to my trees. Outdoor fairy lights are a great choice if you want to give your garden a magical feel; they are especially beautiful just around dusk.
My last tip for creating light in a smaller garden is great for two reasons. Adding mirrors to a garden is a great way to create the illusion of more space and to reflect the light you do get. Placing mirrors strategically can help reflect the light even into the darkest corners. Find where your natural light source hits and place a mirror in that area. Or place one near your border or tree lights and watch as the light they give multiplies.
Keep an eye out for more top tips for smaller gardens coming your way.
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Sally works in the Marketing team here at Primrose.
She spends most of her spare time looking into the latest developments in social media. Sally loves travel and wants to step foot in every continent in the world. When not travelling the Globe or working, she likes to relax with a bit of DIY.
She is a novice gardener and doesn’t claim to be an expert, anything she learns she will happily pass on.
Sally works in the Marketing team here at Primrose.
Sally works in the Marketing team here at Primrose.
The general rule is you have a small garden if the area is smaller than the footprint of your house. I myself have a small garden; this can be great as it is much easier to maintain and doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of it. When planning the overall design there are a few things to take into consideration, especially if space is tight.
