Green Blogger

Despite the last few summer being a wash out, the concept of eating outdoors with friends and family has increased dramatically over the last few years. The introduction of Gas barbecues has meant that the slightest break in the weather is now an opprtunity. For me and for many others though the only real way to barbecue is on a Charcoal Barbecue.

The charcoal smell from a Charcoal BBQ, and the chargrilled taste, cannot be replicated by its gas counterparts, making the traditional charcoal bbq the prefered choice of many keen would-be outdoor chefs.

Finding the best place to have your Charcoal Barbecue positioned is always a good idea. Things to look for in a good charcoal BBQ spot are:

No over hanging hazards like trees, washing lines, buildings.

Not too close to any building.

Flat level ground.

Good access or exit in case of a problem.

Somewhere that you can preferably exclude pet’s from.

When choosing the right spot for the Charcoal BBQ also consider what it will be like when all of the starving guests are in the same area. All of this will give you a idea of how much space you have available and also whether you want static charcoal BBQ or a Portable BBQ. The best way is to weigh up the pro’s and cons and work out which will best suit your needs.

The Portable BBQ is the more popular choice as they can be wheeled away and stored in a shed or garage. Unlike a static charcoal BBQ, which has to be left to bear the brunt of the unpredictable british weather.

Now you have decided which type of charcoal BBQ you want and you have chosen the area that you are going to be using it in you can start to look around at the various types and designs that are available.

Safety is also of great importance after all it is a fire that you are playing with. Some of the portable BBQ’s that are available are far too flimsy and are prone to collapsing or bending causing not just a fire hazard but also possibilities of burning. Go for a sturdy charcoal bbq with a good thick solid base. not only will it last much longer it will also be much safer.

Try and keep your feet on the ground though and buy a Charcoal BBQ that is the right size for your requirements and not too big. Remember, the bigger the Charcoal BBQ, the more charcoal you will have to put on it, which can often be very costly.

I know I have gone over it already but it is worth mentioning again safety when using a charcoal BBQ is vital. Keep children pets and other animals out of the charcoal BBQ cooking area at all times.

The condition of your garden topsoil is going to be the single most important factors in how well your garden looks. Your plants make use of this topsoil to get many of the nutrients needed to prosper. Over this informative article we’ll examine what makes a good garden topsoil, and ways to make the most out of it. To assist you to easily get that great looking garden that you might want.

The moisture levels of your Garden Topsoil is probably the single most important thing for you to watch out for. Too much and it will be too boggy. Meaning your plants will be far too wet around the roots. on the flip side if there is not enough moisture in your topsoil the plants will not be able to draw the nutrients they need. This is a sign that the water has drained away too quickly and that the right amount of water is not being held in the garden topsoil. There are of course things that you can do to improve your gardens topsoil.

To improve drainage dig in some sharp sand or fine gravel this will help the soil to not clog together allowing the water to drain through easily. Horse Manure or well rotted compost will also benefit your soil.

Whilst these may be the cheapest way to improve your drainage, they are by no means the easiest, buying high quality garden Topsoil in the first place will reduce the need to do this, but obviously that comes at a premium. Alternatively try good quality compost will have a 2 pronged attack in that it will retain moisture and add nutrition.

Weeds are another problem that will drive you up the wall especially in a garden that hasn’t been well looked after for a period of time. No sooner do you get rid off them that another one replaces it. If this is the case then the best thing to do for your garden and your sanity is after weeding the area cover it in a good natural Mulch. This will help by blocking out the light so the weeds won’t grow again, as it rots down it puts nutrition back in to the soil meaning that your gardens topsoil remains in excellent condition.

Areas of lawn can show signs of problems with the topsoil. Out of sight out of mind springs to mind when talking about the condition of the topsoil underneath your grass. Of course there are signs that problems are occurring even with a lawn. Moss for example would suggestthat you have popor drainage and the water is not draining away properly. The best way to solve that is to aerate the lawn add a small amount of sand and a good quality natural turf dressing.

If your garden topsoil is too dry your lawn will not have the deep grewen colour you would expect, as the lawn is not getting the nutrients it needs from the soil. Yes, lawns should be slightly dry but on the other hand they still need moisture to draw those all so important nutrients.