UK Home Improvement Blog

As a parent you know that your children always come first no matter what the location. We advise you should never leave your kids in the garden on their own but you may find yourself in some situations where you just cannot keep both eyes on them. For these rare occasions we suggest you read through our tips on how to make your garden safe for kids.

 

1. Tidy up your garden

This is a surprisingly simple tip but is easily overlooked. So if you’ve recently had a garden party or worked on your garden’s upkeep you should tidy up any dangerous items left around your garden. If you have a lot of waste you want to get rid of hire a local skip hire company.

Pro tip: Buy a shed or use your garage for easy and secure storage.

Common dangerous items:

• Garden Tools & Machinery
• BBQ & Leftover waste materials
• High seating and work tops
• Toys above recommended age limit

 

2. Chemicals & Pesticides

Up keeping a nice looking garden can come in a range of techniques and a popular technique is using chemicals and pesticides to remove weeds, deter animals/insects & fertilising plants. However these products can be harmful to children who are prone to touching and even eating areas of the garden.

Pro Tip:  Give sufficient time from treating your garden with chemicals & pesticides before taking your children outside.

Common Chemicals & Pesticides:

• Animal Deterrents
• Insect Repellents
• Fungicides
• Weed Killers
• Lawn Care

 

3. Garden Structures & Fencing 

Structures give your garden design definition, character and even add security to some areas. However if the style of these structures and fencing have sharp edges on can be climbed on this can be dangerous to children of all ages when playing in the garden so should be chose wisely.

Pro Tip: Rounded corners on structures & fencing help prevent major injuries

 

 

 

4. Water Hazards 

A pond in your garden can be a relaxing and beautiful thing and a great way to add some low maintenance pets to entertain your children. However these watery areas can be quite deep and so hazardous to young children. Adding a safety metal grid to your pond can be strong enough for grown men to stand on with being designed in way so you can still enjoy your pond.

Pro Tip: Choosing a metal grid the same colour as your pond water camouflages the safety feature whilst keeping the effect of having a natural water area whilst still being safe for kids.

 

 

5. Teach children about wildlife

Wildlife and insects in the garden can never be 100% prevented and if you are trying to follow point number 2 then these are most likely going to be still present. You can still prepare your children by teaching them the dangers of certain insects and the habitats you may find each species.

Pro Tip: You can easily find books on this subjects search the web or your local book store for more information.

Tags: Fencing, Garden, Skip Hire by UK Home Improvement Team
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A typical fence for a dog pen is 4.5ft high. However, if you’re a lover of handbag pooches this can obviously be reduced.  Equally, larger, more energetic dogs may need taller fencing (5-6”) to put them off trying to get over altogether.

Professionals suggest that the earlier you introduce your dog to the fence, the more respect and obedience it will show in time. Thereby, when getting a puppy, it would be wise to get the pen too at the same time.

The Groundwork

Puppies tend to try to go under, rather than over a fence during their early days. Bury the fence several inches into the soil, or use concrete along the perimeter to safeguard against this. There is also the option of laying the pen on concrete slabs puts a stop to digging altogether.

The Materials

You will want strong wood that you don’t mind getting scratched up. Consequently, go for a balance between affordability and the quality of the wood. You don’t want to pay out thousands for fencing that then get scratched to pieces. Equally, you don’t want to skimp on the fence and find that the dog breaks through.

The dog pen itself will vary upon the size of the dog, but owners would be better to choose a rectangular shaped pen on the basis that your dog is able to move up and down the run a little bit to stretch their legs.

Chain Link Fencing

Familiar in American back gardens, chain link fencing also offers a solution for dog fencing. The wire basis of this fence means it will withstand your pet’s scratches. Be careful about chewing if you opt for a rubberised chain link fence – your pet could enjoy chewing through, and then escape if not checked regularly.

Chain link won’t require wood staining every few years making for a minimal maintenance solution. It should work out more economical too, being available from most common hardware stores. It also doesn’t obstruct the view too much whilst a solid wood fencing would, and the diamond shaped wiring of chain link fencing means it is more difficult to climb (note, not impossible though!) However, the open sight nature of chain link fencing could mean your pet has more distractions and temptations outside of the pen, adding to your dog’s urge to get out or, be teased by children.

In all, the intricacies of dog pen fencing will be decided upon your particular breed. You want to make sure it allows for your dog to rest in a comfortable zone meaning you can then rest in a reasonably comfortable garden!

Tags: Fencing, Garden by UK Home Improvement Team
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For a sturdy, long lasting fence, you need solid support. But the question is which is better? Wooden or concrete fence posts?

Concrete benefits from being hardwearing. In 50 years a concrete fence post has the potential to be standing. Compare that with wood, which by its very nature is a degradable material and over time, if not stained and treated, will become weathered, potentially rotting.

Wooden fence posts do benefit in that they are lighter to put in place, making the whole fence construction job easier. Obviously they will also blend in with the fence panels they are supporting.

Concrete fence posts cost more than wood and can rattle, when the panel is exposed to high winds. This can be overcome with some carefully placed wedges.

They are also extremely heavy however, normally requiring two men. Admittedly, this heft is what helps define concrete as a strong, sturdy fence panel support.

The question remains, which is it for you? Wooden or concrete fence posts?

Tags: Fencing by UK Home Improvement Team
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