There’s something particularly classy about a neat boxwood artificial topiary ball hanging on a curly iron bracket at the entrance to your home or office. Topiary dates back to Roman times although become popular during the 16th Century where popular shapes such as balls, cubes, cones, spirals and pyramids where established. The idea of clipping bushes into these shapes was to add vertical features to what was otherwise a flat landscape and today, topiary continues to be used in much the same way. [Read more…]
Why artificial plants are usually a better choice for the environment
At first glance, it might seem obvious that in a battle between real and artificial plants, real plants would win every time. After all, unlike artificial plants, they readily compost into the soil without a trace – right?
Whilst this is certainly true of composting at home, a little digging (excuse the pun) into the life of a real shop-bought plant quickly reveals why it is far from carbon-neutral. [Read more…]
Winter is coming: how to prepare your garden
Winter is just around the corner and if you’ve not already tackled the garden, you might be looking out into a dismal jungle of wilting plants in dismay. Once the cold weather has kicked in, it can take an awful lot of motivation to get out there and do the tasks your plants are crying out for, to help them survive the colder months. However, completing a few simple tasks now can help protect your plants and save you a lot of work when the weather warms up again. Here’s a quick guide to what you need to do whilst the weather will still allow: [Read more…]
Artificial topiary: a buying guide
Perfectly cut topiary can look spectacular and is certainly a thing of beauty. It is so striking and incredibly versatile that many think of it as a piece of living architecture. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of time and effort to get that flawless look, whether you’re cutting the bush into an ornamental ball or going for something a little more extravagant.
Most of us don’t have the time to spend on developing the topiary but want some all the same. That’s where artificial plants come in. The quality available nowadays ensures that you can create elegant plant sculptures in your garden, business forecourt and office space so that anyone passing will be hard pushed to tell it from the real thing.
Here’s our quick guide to choosing the best artificial topiary for your location: [Read more…]
Buying Guide: Artificial Hanging Baskets
There’s no doubt that the right artificial hanging baskets can look the height of opulence. Whether you’re a home owner wanting to add some brilliant permanent colour to your porch or a business looking to spruce up that front of house with something spectacular, there’s now plenty to choose from.
Here’s our quick guide to buying the best hanging basket for your property: [Read more…]
Artificial or real hanging baskets?
Artificial flowers have been making a big come back in recent times. Developments in manufacturing and technology processes are producing incredibly realistic hanging baskets that look superb all year round. These hanging baskets are not just a great way to brighten up the front of a home – they’re also being used more and more by businesses to deliver colour and style at the front of shops and offices across the UK. But what are the pros and cons of artificial hanging baskets versus real flower hanging baskets? Here’s our quick guide: [Read more…]
Buying Artificial Flowers: How to Keep it Real
If you haven’t heard, the sale of artificial flowers in the UK is on the up. After going out of fashion for a while, they’re beginning to make a comeback and in a pretty big way. Many major department stores are now stocking a wide variety of luscious blooms that last a lot longer than the real thing and look highly attractive in the home or office. [Read more…]
The 10 most beautiful, affordable artificial hanging baskets
Artificial hanging baskets are an easy way to add colour and cheer to your home year round, without having to worry about maintenance. With summer fast approaching, now is a good time to ensure your garden will be full of pretty blooms, in time for the warmer weather. Here, you’ll find the 10 most beautiful, affordable artificial hanging baskets that you can buy, all at reasonable prices and so realistic that you could be forgiven for forgetting and occasionally watering them. [Read more…]
Should I choose artificial flowers for my wedding?
A few years ago the idea of choosing artificial flowers for your wedding would have been unheard of. Back then, artificial flowers looked fake! Nowadays, very little sets artificial flowers apart from the real thing, making them a feasible choice for your wedding bouquets. But which is better – artificial or real? Here, we look at the pros and cons of both choices: [Read more…]
Real vs artificial topiary – which should you choose?
Topiary can give even the plainest house a look of elegance – but should you choose a real topiary plant, or opt for something artificial? Here we explain a little more about topiary and walk you through the pros and cons of both options. [Read more…]