Slippery Step Remedy

This weekend like may others across the county we were facing first frosts which welcomed with it slippery front door steps, thanks to the wet weather causing slimy algae to grow all over it. An accident was waiting to happen, and unfortunatly my daughter beat us all to it whilst she was racing out the front door last week, slipped and gashed her knee. Action needed to be taken and this wasn't a job I could add onto the bottom of my wives 3 monthly maintainance to do list!

I firstly looked into specialist slip resistant grit paint but after looking closely at the finish I felt it made the step look somewhat grimey! 

I needed to look much closer to home than this... artificial grass was the perfect solution! Why had I not thought of this sooner! Using a staple gun I simply glad the whole step taking less that 10 minutes! Not only does this look great but works perfectly as an unavoidable front door mat, the mud and pebbles have certainly disappered inside our front door since this grass was layed.

In the spring time if I decide to take this up, the grass will have protected the decking timber underneath so no more algae will have grown saving me the job of the annual pressure wash in April.

The Artificial grass I used here was long summer meadow supplied by Artificial Landscapes
www.artificiallandscapes.co.uk/product/long-summer-meadow

The ultimate guide to topiary

Topiary

The nation's most loved addition to every garden! Used in maisonettes to manor houses topiary can be customised to suit so many styles. Topiary has been used for centuries, first becoming popular in the early roman times, since it has been a feature through so many eras, it cannot fail to bring a striking yet classic ambience to your space.

 

Despite our nations love of topiary it does come with a few down sides these being it is very labour intensive and requires plenty of pruning, precision, and protection! To keep topiary looking at its best you need to be somewhat artistic to prune it to a attractive shape. Topiary is very susceptible to diseases such as box suckers and box blight which makes it not the most hardy piece of living architecture in your garden.

To overcome these difficulties we have spent time developing the artificial topiary product that is so difficult to differentiate from the living plant, and which still to brings you the beautiful class and striking elegance that we love about topiary but without the hard work. The options for this product are endless and I have collated a few of our very favourites to share with you!

The artificial bay tree

 

The bay tree is traditionally used to frame the entrance of a home, in recent years this is done to create a classic yet contemporary style. Dating back to the ancient Greeks they dedicated the bay tree to the God Apollo (the God of medicine) as the bay tree was placed around the home to bring happiness and health.

Artificial Boxwood Ball

 

Artificial boxwood is probably the most flexible species from the topiary collection which is most commonly clipped into attractive shapes. Our most popular the artificial boxwood ball, or the more rustic looking buxus ball both species look beautiful when used indoors and outdoors. The giant one look great potted up to make a decorative feature on the decking, and the smaller ones are perfect for potting up in decorative planters and using as interior decorations.

Artificial Boxwood Trees

 

Boxwood is very often clipped to form other shapes and styles such as spirals, cones and triple balls. These trees often offer a little more height which helps to create a more impactful, and regal topiary display. There are many beautiful gardens that are solely made up of boxwood, topiariesd into different shapes. Putting together an array of different artificial topiary products is a great way of creating the ultimate pop up garden that will be completely maintenance free!

Artificial Hedge

One of the newer but most popular additions to the topiary range is the artificial topiary hedge. Hedges are perfect for creating a decorative border, adding extra privacy and offering extra shelter. The only down side to real hedge is they take many years to mature and get to the desired height and density. Our artificial boxwood hedge is made to suite any size or shape, from making a miniature hedge to sit in a little window box, right up to covering a high rise building, you just need to give us the dimensions.

Finishing touches are very important, and a perfect way to make your topiary personal and tie it into your homes style or colour theme. Topiary can be used in everything from eclectic to classic surrounding so choosing the right kind of planter, lighting or decoration is key to making sure your topiary looks at it's very best!

Alternative to wallpaper... artificial boxwood foliage. Adding a new dimension to your interior

ALTERNATIVE TO WALLPAPER

Wallpaper has done us proud for many years and for many interior cannot be beaten. However, nobody can deny that it is ver one dimensional and is limiten to the texture it can offer an interior.

London's top interior designer have been creating this season key botanical look by adding artificial foliage to interior walls. The foliage adds an extra charasmatic dimension to room with the beautiful texture the foliage offers.

Not only does the foliage look great but it also offers additional heat and sound insulation to your walls


The foliage does not have to be used to cover the full wall but can be used as in panels to create a quirky wall feature

Unlike many wallpapers and fabrics artificial boxwood foliage is UV stable which prevents and discolour of fading caused by sunlight. This helps the boxwood foliage panles be useful for more practical purpooses such as sink splash backs to help protect your wall against water stains


Get the look with our artificial boxwood hedging panels 

Guide to choosing the perfect artificial tree

OW TO CHOOSE THE IDEAL ARTIFICIAL TREE

16/09/2014 12:04 PM by Georgina

Artificial trees create an extra dimension to your room by bringing colour,  texture and ambience . We firmly believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder which is why at Evergreen we hand build a lot of trees. This gives us the facility to customise the artificial trees exactly to your taste and build them in a way that looks like they have grown into your space as opposed to a standard size  been made to fit into your interior.


With so many different artificial trees available her is a simple step by step guide that will help you select the perfect tree for you.
Tree Type
To ensure the artificial tree looks credible in its surroundings pick a tree that would naturally survive in the space you would like it to sit. For example  an artificial oak tree is unlikely to look credible sat in the corner of your living room but a tree such as an Areca Palm of Ficus tree that survive well indoors would be perfect


Suggestions
Outdoor: Topiary, Bamboo, or Shrubbery
Interior: Hand built trees, Palms
Front Door: Topiary
Tree Size
We would always recommend measuring the space you would like you artificial tree to sit before selecting as very often heights can be deceiving. Also take into consideration the pot that you would like the tree to be planted in as this can add extra height , the majority of our trees when potted with the planters we supply adds around 1ft to the overall finished height.
Customise your tree
By giving us a call you can always customise you tree to make it that little bit more personal. If you are opting for a hand built tree we would suggest you firstly select you foliage and height,  then you can choose which shape suits you best. You can do this by sending an image through to us of a tree you would like to replicate or by having a browse through our own hand built trees and our gallery and choosing which you prefer.


Under planting can also be make you tree look a little more decorative and be a great way to tie you tree  into your colour theme. You can add this to any of your trees by looking through our planting section and select which plants you would like to use for the under planting.
Potting the tree
It may be that you have a planter  at home that you would like your trees to be potted  in or it may be that you need to pair a planter with your new tree. It it always worth getting advice on which tree suits the size of tree you are buying. On our site all our trees are paired with the relevant sized planter so this should be as straightforward as picking which style and colour you prefer. When purchasing a planter with your tree we will pot it up ready for you to stand in place and will add a decorative bonded stone finish free of charge. If you already have a planter for you tree then we are happy to provide you with instructions on how to pot your trees and materials if necessary.

How to transform your garden in a weekend!

Moving house can be very stressful and getting your new home in ship shape can be enough of a challenge. Once you can see light at the end of the tunnel in the house even thinking about a garden transformation in enough to fill anyone with dread. Evergreen Direct and Artificial landscapes have teamed up to give you some great advice on some quick fixes than can get your garden looking beautiful and ready for the house warming parties in less than a weekend and will require no maintenance thereafter.

Top Tip #1 The Lawn

The manufacturing process of artificial grass has advanced so far over the past 2 years that the products available on the market are so fantastic it's very difficult to differentiate from a real lawn. Not only is artificial turf a great option aesthetically but it also will save lots of time throughout the summer mowing the lawn. Many artificial grass suppliers charge a fortune for fitting artificial grass but the process is very simple to do yourself at home we have created a step by step video to guide you, if you simply do not have time rather than involving costly grass fitters, get a local handy man to follow the simple steps- they will charge half the cost and really can't go wrong if they follow the instructions. View our artificial grass range here

Top Tip #2 Artificial hedge

Adding the finishing touches to frame an area of your garden, balcony or patio can look fantastic and add an element of privacy blocking out the view of any prying eyes or indeed unsightly buildings, sheds and bin areas. Not only does artificial hedging look great but also is fantastic for adding a little extra shelter to your garden and acts as a partial sound barrier blocking out peripheral  noise. Artificial hedges are available in different styles, shapes and sizes and the important thing is they are custom built to suit your garden. Check out the bespoke hedges at Evergreen direct and give them a call to discuss your options and get the cheapest possible quote. Evergreen Direct have a price promise that they will always be the cheapest supplier of artificial hedge in the UK so it is certainly the best place to start on your heading hunt! View images of Evergreens bespoke hedging here

Top Tip #3 Hanging baskets and window boxes

Hanging baskets can be perfect for this. People very often think that hanging baskets are only for the summer time but investing in some artificial hanging baskets that are filled with luscious ivy and pansy plants that would not look out of place in the duller months can be the perfect solution. Not only are artificial hanging baskets completely maintenance free but also continue looking their best whatever! At Evergreen all the hanging baskets made are hand built which allows you to mix and match the plants they are planted with so you get the perfect hanging basket to suit your taste and style of home. View Evergreen's artificial hanging baskets here

Top Tip #4 Frame your entrance

Framing the entrance to your front can make your home look a lot grander, often preventing your home from looking too one dimensional. When looking for the perfect tree or plant to frame an entrance a good place to start is with topiary trees and plants. These are great because they are neat and tidy and usually sculptured to a slender shape which avoids any branches growing and getting in the way of your door! When opting for an artificial product make sure the foliage of the tree or plant is UV stable, this prevents your tree discoloring or fading outdoors. View range of topiary here

Alfresco dining with some added character

I saw this idea which we thought looked absolutely fantastic when creating a color and charismatic alfresco dining table.

The color is a beautiful contrast to the flowers and outdoor scenery. These artificial Buxus balls are available to buy from http://www.evergreendirect.co.uk/product/artificial-buxus-ball 

Should you need any fitting advice depending on what you are planning on sitting the topiary in the just give us a call on 01751 417776

Artificial trees and plants vs Living specimens

Why Buy Artificial?

Most interior environments benefit from some form of greenery, but very few are suited to the long term survival of living plants: poor light, fluctuating temperatures etc. are just a couple of reasons why it is difficult to keep healthy looking live plants.

This is where evergreen can help...we are specialists in replica & preserved trees, plants & landscapes.

Whether you need a simple potted plant, or a whole forest of tropical trees, any specimen that is alive & available, can be produced in replica.

Using a special technique of grafting high quality silk and polyester foliage, onto natural and preserved stems, we can produce trees, palms, shrubs & ivy's that are almost indistinguishable from living specimens.