Romford Sheds

Despite this Sunday being the hottest October day on record (at time of writing) in Romford, now is the time you should start thinking about your garden shed and getting it ready for the winter before the snow, freezing ice and low temperatures arrive. We have had the joy of the summer days, sorry to sound so downbeat, and now must do the chores whilst it’s still not too cold and to ensure the garden sheds of the UK earn their keep.Getting your garden lawn, your shrubbery which you have delighted in looking at, and the general garden ready for the winter will pay dividends come the spring enabling you enjoy next year. This may involve hiring some equipment but most gardeners carry everything which is needed and these tools help to make light work in the garden

The Autumn is the best time for trimming your trees or to plant new trees, however, if you are planting new trees in your garden you need to ensure you give the trees plenty of water before the first frosts arrive. The same applies to your established trees, certainly if the weather has been dry which is has in most of the UK.

Trimming trees enables you to remove the dead branches and limbs as well as to remove any extended growth in to your garden blocking the footpath down to your storage shed or over your patio or drive. If the tree is large it might be a good idea to employ a tree surgeon to do this for you. It will cost but you will know that they will know what they are doing and will take all the waste away. (Note to myself – the tree is my garden certainly needs a good looking at but considering I’ve lived in this house for 39 years and not done anything I suppose it’s time) Alternatively if you wish to trim the trees your self and you have a great amount of waste you could hire a wood chipper and this will provide much needed mulch for next year’s plants.

The lawn could also do with some TLC, certainly if it is well compacted. Lawn aeration and dethatching will do it the world of good and will allow water and nutrients down to the roots. This will help your lawn to stay a beautiful green colour next summer when it’s hot and dry. An aerator is the tool to hire and this will perforate the ground giving the grass a chance to thicken before the winter arrives. Dethatching is another care option which removes dead stems and clippings blocking the ground from receiving required nutrients and water. You can hire this at your local hire shop and will enable you slice through dead materials lifting them out of the way.

The Autumn is also a time to plant bulbs ready for the Spring. You can cultivate the earth by churning it up and adding fertiliser and, or, compost. This will give your plants the best start to their lives. When you plant the bulbs it’s a good idea to mark where they are and to give them a good watering.

Most peoples sheds and workshops in Romford don’t hold the above equipment so hiring is a good option and in the long run cheaper. This will also give you more storage space in your shed. Another chore – although some strange people do enjoy it – is to tidy the shed, getting rid of any rubbish and mending any broken garden tools. If you do this then you can look forward to the garden sheds of Thames Ditton in Surrey being ready for the Spring with loads of available space.

It might also be a good idea to take a look at the garden shed itself, is it showing its age, does it need another coat of treatment then now is the time to sort this out. If the shed is showing sign of rot then it can be false economy to stick with that. Take a look at the new economical garden sheds direct from 1st Choice Leisure Buildings.

Not many of us nowadays will expect to be in the same job for over 50 years, however, a Sussex pensioner has finally hung up his shovel and put the shears away in the estate garden sheds after spending five decades working as a gardener in a private estate. The East Grinstead Courier and Observer reported on his achievements a while ago. Very unlikely to be happening in Romford, I’m sorry to say. John Ridley who was 68 had started work at the Wych Cross Place estate whilst still a teenager. In fact prior to 1972 children left school at 15 and went straight into work unlike today where the age is 16 and is likely to rise to 17 from 2013 and to 18 from 2015. A big jump since Mr Ridley left school.

Whilst at Wych Cross he have performed a variety of jobs, which is quite normal, from working in the kitchen garden prior to being responsible for the beautiful lawns and then was made up to becoming ground foreman – the position he held until he retired.

‘It’s going to take a bit of getting used to’ Mr Ridley said about his retirement which I’m sure it will be. After having a pattern to your life for so long and then having to fill those hours up will take some adjustment, however, it will be good to be able to pursue other leisure activities as well as pottering about in the garden. Perhaps a new garden shed or summer building is called for to help in this cause.

He explained how he came to be working at the Estate that he had done gardening before so was quite used to that. He loved the outdoors and loved gardening so really was a match made in heaven. He further said that he could not have asked for anything more or could have found a job which would have suited it better. The last 20 years had been the most exciting because they were the most recent and I’m sure the achievements and the pride in looking after the gardens were immense. There are many fine gardens in the Romford area which he could have looked after as well.

To recognise his 50 years dedicated to the garden the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) awarded Mr Ridley a 50 years service medal in a ceremony at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, one of the major horticultural shows in the calendar, second probably only to the famous Chelsea Flower Show – home to the Chelsea Pensioners.

Have you been in a job for a long time? Has this been your only job? Do you expect youngsters of today to stay in a job for more than 20 years or is this a thing of the past?