Going Under Cover… The Pleasure of Polytunnels!

With the British climate able to be termed ‘average’ at best, gardeners in the UK look for any help they can when it comes to growing fruit and vegetables.  If, like me, your garden resides in the Peak District on the outskirts of Manchester, then this help is needed even more than usual!

Polytunnels offer a flexible and versatile space to grow fruit, vegetables and plants.  Due to the build and construction, they tend to offer a greater height and more room than greenhouses, helping gardeners who are focused on yield and production – certainly of interest to those seeking a more self-sufficient lifestyle!

The majority of people use polytunnels to help them vegetables, with nearly 4 in 5 users growing potatoes, carrots, cauliflowers, lettuce, chard, onions, sprouts in their polytunnels.  But polytunnels are also increasingly used by British gardeners to grow fruit such as strawberries, melons, tomatoes, peppers and squashes (yes, they are fruit!) amongst others.

Interestingly enough, 90% of British strawberries are grown in polytunnels, which allows us to extend the British season from early spring to late autumn.  Polytunnels also make excellent environments for growing plants, with the added warmth helping gardeners to grow varieties that may otherwise struggle in the British climate.

Now, you may be thinking that polytunnels are vast constructions that exist in long rows on commercial growing properties.  And while you’re right, it’s important to note that polytunnels are actually becoming more important to the everyday gardener.  From 6 ft wide to a whopping 30ft wide(!), Premier Polytunnels supplies a wide range of polytunnels, catering for the commercial grower to the humble vegetable gardener.

So what is the benefit of a polytunnel to fans of the London Vegetable Garden?  Firstly, they offer more room and height than many conventional greenhouses.  They are affordable and high-quality and offer the flexibility that greenhouses cannot.  A wide range of accessories, quality materials and workmanship ensure that gardeners can install a roomy polytunnel that fits in the garden nicely, giving shelter and storage for fruit, plants, vegetables and flowers all year round.

The following infographic highlights the different uses for polytunnels – we like the thought of housing sheep in there, too!

For more information and to explore polytunnels in more detail, please visit Premier Polytunnels today!

9 Steps To Prepare Your Garden For Summer

9 Steps To Prepare Your Garden For Summer

Summer is on its way at last, the sun has finally started to shine and hopefully you have already started spending a little more time in the garden. You may even have a BBQ planned (although don't forget to have a backup plan!)

But have you started to prepare your garden for the summer months?

Sure, summer is perhaps the easiest month for your garden, everything is free to grow. But a little preparation will help you to make the most of that beautiful garden that you have been fighting all winter to keep alive!

Step 1: Start with a spring clean

At this time of year your garden is probably a mess, unless you are a truly dedicated gardener it has likely been left to itself for the winter months, so now is the time to clear up. Start of course with any of your own stuff that is lying around, tools, furniture etc...

And then you should also pick up fallen leaves, branches, and any other debris that has fallen into the garden. A good tidy up will make your garden look much more inviting so that you can enjoy it when the sun is out.

Step 2: Invite some birds in

Any time of year is a good time of year to start looking after your local wild birds, but now is a particularly great time because if you start now you should have a few regulars in time for Summer.

Once you have tidied up, think about where you can put a bird feeder for maximum effect, and think about what you can feed the birds. Here are some more tips for feeding local birds in your garden.

Step 3: Pull out weeds

This is a time of year when weeds spring to life and just keep growing. So now is a good time to pull them out. Use hand tools and try to pull out the roots if possible, this will maximise the impact and minimise the damage to the rest of the garden.

Only use weed killers if you absolutely have to, and be aware of where you might want plants to grow. Be careful not to make your soil toxic for more desirable plants.

Step 4: Summer flowing bulbs

If you haven't already started planting, now is the perfect time to plant some summer flowing plants. Try to find ones which are ok to plant at this time of year and which will flower in time for summer.

Godetias are a nice colourful plant to sow in your garden in time for summer, and here are a selection of other options to sow right now in time for summer.

Step 5: Clean your greenhouse

If you have a greenhouse, now is the ideal time to plant perennials such as delphiniums to grow for next year. But it's a good idea to give your greenhouse a clean first. Make sure you clean away any debris from old plants, any mould and of course give the glass a good clean to ensure that the sun can shine in.

Step 6: Install a water butt

Collecting water instead of using tap water is a good way to save money and is ecologically responsible. Plus rain water is often better for your plants anyway since tap water tends to be slightly alkaline.

And besides, it's always good to have a backup in case a hosepipe ban is put in place.

Step 7: Water slowly

At this time of year it can be quite dry, and ensuring that your plants have a constant supply of water will help them to thrive. Try to set yourself a routine of watering the plants regularly to ensure that the soil is deeply watered and doesn't dry out.

A constant cycle of drying out and then being flooded is not optimal for most plants, so stick to a regular watering schedule to keep them happy.

Step 8: Put mulch around plants

Adding mulch around your plants is a good way to ensure that they have plenty of nutrition and it's a great way to avoid removing valuable nutrients from your garden. But there is another hidden benefit too.

Adding a top layer of mulch will protect the soil from direct sunlight, which helps to keep moisture in and prevents the soil from getting too warm.

Step 9: Easy with the mowing

Finally, once your plants are all happily growing you will want to ensure that your lawn is neatly trimmed and not too long. But don't fall into the trap of overdoing it. Never cut more than half the length of the grass off in one go.

Removing too much grass also removes a lot of water and nutrition from the grass and leaves it vulnerable to being scorched by the sun. For a health green lawn, mow regularly (although not too regularly) and trim a little bit at a time.

Image credit: Wiki Commons

Weatherproof Your Garden

It’s been a typically British winter so far – by which we mean unpredictable. Mild one minute followed by freezing conditions the next, it’s no wonder if your garden’s looking a bit shell-shocked. The idea of weatherproofing your garden might sound really difficult, but it’s just a case of using the right types of plants to last all seasons. The folks at Wonderlawn, who produce state-of-the-art artificial grass have designed this handy infographic which gives you 5 top tips for which plants will last throughout our changeable weather.

4 Affordable Ways to Give Your Garden a Makeover

Regardless of the size and location of a garden, there’s something calming about sitting back and putting the feet up in a well-maintained outdoor space that offers the opportunity for relaxation. Unfortunately, all gardens don’t offer this opportunity. Whether you consider yourself to be a green-fingered expert or a complete novice gardener, there are plenty of affordable ways that you can give your garden a makeover. Let’s explore 4 of them.

1.       Tame the Plants

One of the easiest ways to improve the look of your garden is to tame the look of your plants and shrubs. The best thing about this tip is that it will not cost you an absolute thing only an afternoon in the sun, given you do it at the right time of year of course! Dead and unhealthy looking plants can completely bring down the look of your garden and leave the overall space looking neglected and unattractive.



If you have plants in your lawn that have outgrown their space but are still healthy, the best thing is to transplant them to an area that’s more conducive to their size. For overgrown bushes and plants, simply tame them using a hedge trimmers or clippers.

2.       Add a Mini Raised Garden

If you don’t have space for a vegetable garden, or if your current one has being neglected, it might be time to consider adding a mini raised garden to your outdoor space.

Raised gardens are a great idea as their design makes them perfect for keeping weeds out and the soft, clean soil is ideal for vegetable growth as it is free of troublesome rocks and debris. The nutrient rich soil also makes themperfect for the growth of soft fruit plants which grow in the UK and a large variety of plants.

3.       Build a Garden Border

Polishing off the look of your garden is important to its finished look, and a nice garden border is the perfect way to do just that. It’s not an expensive project to complete, as all you’ll need is some cement pieces or brinks to separate the garden beds and trees from the grass.



As well as making your garden appear neater and finished looking, garden borders help to prevent gravel and grass from entering your flower and vegetable beds.

4.       Consider Creating a Pathway

Another very simple, yet effective, way of giving your garden a polished look is to create a pathway that leads from one end of the space to the other. For this project, there are all kinds of affordable materials that can be used, some of which include stones, wood and bricks. The type of material that you choose will determine what method you will have to use to lay down the pathway.

Instead of opting for a full path that leads from the front of the garden to the back, many people choose to use stepping stones as these can add a little more quirkiness to the design and layout of the area.


As you’ll have already gathered, updating the look, the practicality and functionality of your garden does not have to cost you an absolute fortune. All you need is the willingness to change the drab features of your current space and update them with some of the structures that are mentioned above.