Creating a summer vibe in your garden

Posted on 22 July 2022 in Outdoor Living

If you want to create a summer vibe in your garden, non-slip decking, beautiful flowers, mood lighting and much more can make a big difference. Now that summer has well and truly arrived and the thermometer is climbing, we all want to be outside.

Making the most of the sun is easy when your garden is somewhere you want to spend time. But, if the vibe isn’t quite matching the weather, it might be time to rethink. If unkempt lawns and hedges, weeds galore and tired plastic furniture is giving more ‘forgotten woodland’ than summer vibes, here are some top tips to get you sorted…

Part of the furniture

Switching out your old, tired, or broken garden furniture makes all the difference. Having both functional and comfortable seating can create more of a vibrant setting. Family and friends will want to pop round and it’s much more inviting. You can be creative with your décor depending on the size and space available in your garden.

If you want a drastic change then buying completely new furniture will do the trick. However, if you’re working to a budget, why not paint or rework old pieces or find something second-hand? An idea we love at Gripsure is upcycling old crates or pallets. They can be painted and made into a sofa base, ready to be adorned with comfy throws and cushions. These can be brought inside if the weather takes a turn, but the pallets will be fine left outside.

Sun loungers, as well as plenty of traditional seating, will be a welcome addition if you throw a party or a BBQ. If you want to go for a tropical or boho summer vibe in your garden, why not try a hammock? If you don’t have sturdy fencing, non-slip decking or trees in your garden, go for a hanging chair instead.

Bring the indoors outside by adding nice furnishings to furniture. Blankets for when it gets cold and comfy cushions can make all the difference. Accessorising and colour coordination is the best part. Choose the colours you love or that match the colour scheme of your garden. Summer colours such as yellows, oranges and blues will really boost the summer vibe.

Guiding light

The sun is certainly around for longer during the summer months. However, once it has set you may still want to enjoy your summer garden. This is where lighting and heating can come in very handy.

There are plenty of solar-powered lighting options available for gardens. Let the sun charge them up all day to illuminate your garden into the evening. Whether it’s festoon lights twinkling above or pathway lights to light the steps of your non-slip decking—you have plenty of options. For a more temporary solution, if you’re having a party, paper lanterns or candles are a nice touch. These can all help create a relaxed, summer vibe.

It’s also nice to see and appreciate the work you’ve put into your garden once the sun goes down. Illuminating your garden in particular ways can help highlight or reveal certain features not visible in the daytime. For example, a water feature that comes to life at night with light.

Ultimately, the style of lighting you choose will all be down to personal preference and budget. Everything down to the bulb colour is up to you. You may go for a traditional white or warm light or go colourful to brighten up the garden’s summer vibes.

Turn over a new leaf

Are your flowers no longer flourishing? Having an influx of fresh, brightly coloured flowers in the garden can make all the difference. There is so much choice and once again this will come down to your personal tastes and gardening experience.

Some will be lower maintenance than others. Some will smell and others will just look pretty.

Do you want flowers that will attract the most butterflies, birds, and bees to your garden? Do you want a mishmash of wildflowers for a classic meadow look? Or would you prefer meticulously planted flowers, carefully positioned to help zone the garden?

The popularity of houseplants has also risen over the last few years. Tropical plants such as monsteras, banana plants and palms can all be brought outside in the summer season. Let them spend the summer months outdoors but avoid bright, sunny days and remember to water and mist them regularly.

Fun in the sun

It wouldn’t feel like summer in the garden without some activities. What does a summer vibe make you think of? Ping pong, frisbee, football or making a splash? (Consider getting a shed or storage unit to tidy things away at the end of the day).

If you have a swimming pool, then it’s automatically going to feel like summer. For others, a paddling pool for the kids or a hot tub for the grown-ups will do the trick. Non-slip decking will be essential here to ensure you can enjoy the water safely. No more worries about slipping and this peace of mind can carry over to the winter, too.

What feels more summery than an outdoor cinema? Project your favourite summer movies onto a white sheet or the wall of your house. Invite everybody over and get comfy on that new furniture. Having some fun in the sun is a great way to kick off the summer season.

Hit the deck

If you have been considering adding a decking area to your garden, the summer months are a great time to act. It can also keep your garden safe throughout the autumn and winter. If you already have a decking area in your garden, it’s time to give it a good clean. This will help to keep it safe and not slippery, as well as giving it a refreshed look.

Garden decking provides a space to eat, drink, relax or play to help that summer vibe along. Should it rain (as is likely in the UK) then choosing non-slip decking helps to keep family and guests safe. You’ll also be protected against paddling pool splashes or drink spill mishaps.

At Gripsure, we can help guide you towards a decking area for your garden that screams summer. It’s the ultimate upgrade for any garden. Plus, as we reach the end of the summer season, it will still be of great benefit to your garden.

Looking for some inspiration?

Why not request a free sample of one of our decking products to help you decide what is right for you and your next project?

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Bamboo decking: the sustainable non-slip choice for your garden

Posted on 14 July 2022 in Industry News

If you’re looking to make garden improvements that aren’t at the expense of the world’s forests, bamboo decking is the answer.

Bamboo decking is a great, sustainable choice for your garden. It’s got just as many qualities as both softwood and hardwood decking. More people are looking to make sustainable choices as they consider their impact on the planet. You don’t need to settle for composite decking and suffer in slippery silence. If you’re looking to make improvements that aren’t at the expense of the world’s forests, bamboo decking is the answer.

But what exactly is it about bamboo that makes it so good for garden decking?

Just how sustainable is it?

Technically, bamboo is not a tree. It’s a type of grass. There are over 1600 different types of it on the planet. These can often be found in tropical, sub-tropical and mild climates. Depending on the variety, bamboo is native to Asia, Africa, South America, and parts of Australia. Just like hardwood and softwood, there are different ways you can categorise bamboo with each having its own traits.

Bamboo is also renowned for its incredible rate of growth. The Moso species of bamboo, for example, can grow up to one metre every day. Native to Asia, it can reach a maximum growth height of up to 20 metres.
Compared to most trees, bamboo can also release 35% more oxygen and absorb five times more CO2. This can help to offset the carbon output of the world to reduce the effects of climate change.

Moso bamboo has an underground system of roots that can connect a whole host of other bamboo plants. When one strand of bamboo is cut down, it will quickly grow back on its own. This reduces the demand on the farmers as its fast replenishing not fast depleting.

Bamboo is also naturally pest-resistant thanks to its tough outer layer which means there is no need to use harmful chemical pesticides.

Moso bamboo decking

Whilst bamboo doesn’t look as robust as a typical hardwood tree, it actually has a strength level higher than steel. This durable, strong material sees uses within the construction industry and is often used to make floors, furniture and even helmets.

Aside from that, it can be eaten, turned into clothing, used for your garden decking and more. Whilst hardwoods typically take 50 years to mature, Moso bamboo matures in just four to five.

Look at it like this. Bamboo decking has an expected service life of between 30 and 50 years. During this lifetime, the same bamboo used to make your decking has already regrown itself five-plus times.

Whilst the cost of bamboo decking is higher than both softwood and hardwood decking, it’s more durable, it lasts longer and it’s kinder to the planet. It has all of the elements and aesthetics of hardwood. One just comes from a tree and the other from grass.

If you’re looking for a long-term, sustainable decking solution for your garden, then bamboo is worth the investment.

MOSO® Bamboo with Gripsure

MOSO^® are a global brand supplier of both interior and exterior bamboo products. Their decking takes the bamboo and puts it through a process of Thermo-Density^®. This increases the density and hardness significantly. By this point, the bamboo has all the same qualities as hardwood decking. This makes it an ideal solution to finding the most sustainable decking.

With the addition of Gripsure’s non-slip inserts it also becomes safe non-slip decking allowing you to enjoy your garden all year round.

MOSO^® are also focused on sustainability and so all their bamboo products are CO2 negative throughout their lifespan. This makes them a great sustainable decking alternative to tropical hardwoods and composite products.

This decking has a long life span and requires little upkeep. It will start with a dark brown look that can be maintained with oil or you can let it turn to a rich silver grey. The surface can be smooth or grooved with no visible fastening points making for a streamlined look. MOSO^® Bamboo non slip decking is also extremely stable so won’t shrink, swell, warp or split.

If you’re conscious of leading a zero-waste lifestyle, bamboo in the wild can naturally be broken down and left to decompose. So, once your decking reaches the end of its lifespan, it is easily recycled. It can be turned into chipboard or burnt to generate energy. This contributes towards the production of green electricity—all thanks to your well-loved garden decking.

At Gripsure we are all for responsible forestry, so our bamboo products are FSC^® certified. Whilst bamboo’s fast-growing nature doesn’t cause forest depletion, we certify our bamboo decking nonetheless.

Browse our bamboo

As exclusive distributors of MOSO^® Bamboo decking, Gripsure is confident in its benefits towards sustainability. This highly stable decking is durable, safe, and fire-resistant. MOSO^® also has a 25-year warranty on its outdoor decking. So, you can relax in your garden knowing you made a sustainable decision to enjoy for years to come. Browse our bamboo decking range or get in touch with us today.

View MOSO® Bamboo X-treme® with Gripsure