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<p>Here are seven <strong>wildlife-friendly ways to decorate your garden</strong> this festive season.</p>

<p>Decorating the outside of our homes has become almost as much of a tradition as putting up a Christmas tree indoors, adding colour and light to cheer us up in the depths of winter. But it shouldn’t come at a cost to our garden wildlife. Here are seven <strong>wildlife-friendly ways to decorate your garden</strong> this festive season.</p>
<h2>Wildlife-friendly garden decorations</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Outdoor fairy lights look beautiful, sparkling in the dark, but our local wildlife doesn’t love them as much as we do. Too much light at the wrong time of day is a problem for wildlife, disrupting their sleep patterns and confusing navigational signals. This year, keep your use of outdoor decorative lights to a minimum and go for other ways of decorating your garden instead.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Baubles look great as outdoor decorations, and they don’t affect wildlife. Hang them from trees or use them to decorate pergolas, arches and other garden structures. For maximum impact, use baubles of just one or two colours.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Christmas wreaths don’t have to just be for the front door. Hang wreaths from tree branches outdoors where you can see them from your windows. And why not make a wreath or two for your birds to enjoy? To make a bird-friendly wreath, cut a few bendy stems from a garden shrub – shrubby dogwoods (Cornus) are great for this, with their coloured branches. Twist the stems together, then form the twisted strand into a circle to make the frame of your wreath. Cut sprays of small colourful rosehips, holly or pyracantha berries and push them into the frame, securing them with florist’s wire if necessary. Finally, hang your bird-friendly wreaths where you can see them and watch the birds enjoying the berries.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Peanut butter pine cones are another easy-to-make edible decoration for your garden wildlife. Collect fallen pine cones, spread peanut butter over them and roll them in birdseed. Then hang them on tree branches for wildlife to enjoy. These decorations may not last long!</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Dried fruit slices also make super wildlife-friendly decorations. Cut oranges and lemons into pieces, place them on a baking tray and dry them in a cool oven (65-75°C/150-165°F) for 3-4 hours or until dry to the touch, turning them every hour. Once they are dry, thread them onto strings and hang them from tree branches or garden structures.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Plant up patio pots with winter bedding to provide a splash of colour outside your windows. Cyclamens, hellebores and winter-flowering heathers are all perfect for pots, and evergreen heucheras look great in pots all year round with their bright foliage. Add a few sprays of berries or coloured dogwood stems to pots to give them a seasonal touch.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Turn a conifer into an outdoor Christmas tree by decorating it with baubles and other wildlife-friendly decorations – wooden or plastic decorations are suitable for this, as they won’t shatter in a frost.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>If you need some inspiration for your decorations this year, visit our centre. We’ve got something for everyone this Christmas!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Wildlife-friendly Christmas garden decorations

<p><strong>Choose the perfect Christmas tree</strong> for your home this year with our top tips.</p>

<p>There’s something about a Christmas tree that turns everyone into a child again. Smell the needles, see the sparkling lights and glittering ornaments, and you can feel the anticipation growing. <strong>Choose the perfect Christmas tree</strong> for your home this year with our top tips.</p>
<h2>Cut or pot-grown Christmas trees&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Your first decision is whether to buy a cut tree or a pot-grown one. Pot-grown trees are often smaller than cut trees, but they will last longer – in fact, after Christmas is over, you can put them outside and grow them on for next year! If you’re short on space, a small pot-grown tree could be the answer. However, if you want a tree that reaches the ceiling, you’ll probably need a cut tree. If well looked after, cut trees will last until Christmas is over and can then be taken to a recycling depot.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Types of Christmas trees</h2>
<p>Here’s a quick run-down on some of the most widely available types of Christmas tree types:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Nordmann fir – one of the most popular types, often called the non-drop tree because it sheds few needles. With its symmetrical shape and dark green needles, it’s a classic Christmas tree.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Noble fir has elegantly tiered stiff branches and beautiful blue-tinged foliage with a fresh, woody scent. It also shed very few needles.</p>
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<p>Fraser fir - another low-mess variety that sheds very few needles. It’s narrower than many other firs, suitable for tight spaces, but still has plenty of dense, soft foliage and a fantastic citrus scent.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Norway spruce – a very traditional Christmas tree with solid and upward-slanted branches ideal for decorating. It has a delicious pine fragrance but does need to be kept well watered to minimize needle drop.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Tips on caring for Christmas trees</h2>
<ul>
<li>For the best choice, get your tree as early as you can so that you can pick one that suits the size and shape of your room. If you’re buying a pot-grown tree, you can choose one at any time from early November. For cut trees, choose from the end of November so that your tree will last through Christmas.</li>
<li>Un-net cut trees as soon as you get home so that air can circulate around the branches.</li>
<li>Rehydrate your cut tree by cutting an inch off the end of the trunk and standing the tree in a bucket of water (do this within 30 minutes of cutting, or it will seal over). If you are not putting up your tree straight away, leave it standing securely in the bucket in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight and sheltered from the wind.</li>
<li>Position your Christmas tree away from fires and radiators, as these will dry it out.</li>
<li>Check the water reservoir of your tree stand daily and keep it topped up.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p>We have a fantastic range of Christmas trees of all sizes in the centre, so visit us to choose yours and get the festive season started!</p>

How to choose the perfect Christmas tree

<p>Discover the answer to&nbsp;<strong>when you should stop mowing your lawn in autumn</strong>.</p>

<p>We are often asked <strong>when to stop mowing your lawn in autumn</strong>. The answer is, it can vary! So we have put together this guide to help you with keeping your property in tip-top shape over the winter months, and that all starts with doing the right thing in autumn. Even though it is much colder outside now, there is still plenty to be doing in the garden and preparing the lawn is one job you need to do.&nbsp;</p>
<ol>
<li>Prepare the lawn&nbsp;</li>
<li>Mowing the lawn&nbsp;</li>
<li>Taking care of your lawn&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<h2>Know when to stop mowing your lawn in autumn by preparing it first&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Before even thinking of mowing your lawn, the first thing to do is to make sure it is prepped and ready for mowing and the cooler months ahead. There is considerable leaf fall during autumn, and if you have trees around your garden, grab your leaf rake and rake up all leaves and debris. Don't forget to put the leaves into leaf bags to store and make your leaf mulch. It is often a sign when at least half of the leaves from deciduous trees have fallen that it is time to stop mowing the lawn.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>So when should you stop mowing your lawn in autumn?&nbsp;</h2>
<p>It is all about grass growth.</p>
<ul>
<li>If the season is warm, you will find your grass continues to grow.</li>
<li>If it is cold, grass growth will slow down considerably.</li>
</ul>
<p>So depending on what area you live and what the climate is doing each year will dictate when your garden grass stops growing. It is really important to start planning ahead for this and never mow the lawn too short. Start lifting the blade on your mower, so each mow is slightly longer than the last until most likely November. Mowing doesn't need to take place between December and March but also if you really do need to, and the grass isn't frosty or soaking wet, an occasional tidy up won't hurt,&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Now you know when to stop mowing your lawn in autumn. What next?&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Over the winter months, you will most likely be staying warm indoors than running around on the lawn but don't forget to go out into the garden and enjoy the frosty winter mornings. Try to step on the wet, icy lawn a lot less than you would in the summer to prevent any damage,&nbsp;and if you need to trim edges or around pathways, that's a great way to keep things looking neat. You can use a garden fork to aerate the lawn as well and remember to give your mower a clean and service, so it's ready for spring.</p>
<p>Lawnmowers, grass seed and all tools needed to keep your lawn looking great can be found in store.&nbsp;</p>

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