When we get into March the winter is mainly behind us and the gardener can look forward to utilising his garden shed far more than he had recently. With spring on the horizon now is the time to ensure that all your garden tools are ready to go, maybe needing cleaning because they were put away into the shed when the first cold spell came last year without a second thought. You will be cursing yourself as, even though the garden shed keeps your garden tools dry, the moisture in the air can make the steel on the garden tools go rusty. If you are an organised Sidcup garden shed owner then you can smile at the above statement and feel a little smug, however, there’s still work to do in your shed. Maybe a little tidying up and getting rid of those items which are kept ‘just in case’ as this syndrome affects even the most fastidious (there is a big word for me) shed owner. Clearing off the shelf under the window can give your shed another role because you can put a few seeds in pots on the shed shelf before they go outdoors. Take a look at the lawn mower and even though the shed has sheltered it just check it over as it will be needed VERY soon, unfortunately.
If you have piled your garden tables and chairs away in the garden shed then get them out and give them a clean – likewise for the barbecue. However, many barbecues are passed their best and will need replacing. Just remember next year to clean, dry and them maybe spray with some WD40 before stacking it away in the shed. You will thank yourself come after next winter, which thankfully is a long time away.
According to head gardener at Sidcup Place in Kent, Mat Jackson, winter can be the busiest time for the garden shed in many instances and certainly not a dormant time even though garden tools have been packed away. He said there are many different tasks which need to be completed during the cold winter months. In the domestic garden there is not too much to do but in the landscaped gardens at the Victorian estate it’s a different story.
Gardeners at the estate have to cut grass, tidy the borders in the gardens, collect fallen leaves and prune hedges. So on this estate the garden sheds are kept used all year around. Tree surgery is another big issue for the gardens and this can be a good time to see what needs cutting back as only the branches are showing. The gardens also has a new tree planting program as well as vegetable gardens to be tended to. So a very busy time for these gardeners.
When asked, Mr Jackson, said that he loved winter as it an be a time for making positive and permanent changes to the gardens. He said when asked the question about winter gardening he just smiles to himself thinking of the list of items to be completed. I’m sure that the garden sheds on the estate are well used, rather more than the normal shed in ‘Joe Blogg’s’ garden in Sidcup in Kent.
Doddington Place was built by Victorian architect, Charles Brown Trollope, for Sir John Croft in 1860. He was a port and sherry magnate. It’s currently the home of the Oldfield family.
Kent Police have warned that usually at this time of year the garden sheds of the UK are at risk from thieves in Sidcup as quite often new gardening tools, lawn mowers, hedge cutting equipment etc. are Christmas presents for the garden loving Britons. They are advising that gardeners should take action to secure their garden sheds and outdoor buildings against these threats. Options include adding metal grills, heavier locks and fitting of garden shed alarms. Timber garden sheds without these extra levels of protection were highlighted as being more at risk, however, the risk is reduced if the shed is in a garden which itself is protected by a locked gate which make it difficult for thieves to gain access to your garden buildings.
Valuable items such as bikes, lawn mowers, barbecues and power tools are the preferred target for these thieves according to the police as these all can be sold on quite easily. They recommend that all these expensive items should all be security marked so it makes it harder for them to be passed on and also so that they can be identified as yours.
The Police’s PC Mark Goddard said that sheds and garden outbuildings are a favourite target for criminals as they can be broken into quite easily if basic security measures are not taken. These sheds often contain expensive items such as bicycles and power tools.
It was reported recently by the Kidderminster Shuttle, the local newspaper, that £2500 worth of items, including expensive fishing rods (many of these are quite high tech) was stolen from a shed in Sidcup. You can find similar stories from around the country where these criminals operate
Platinum garden sheds are designed to protect your valuables. With a large range of sizes there is certain to be one to fit your needs in Sidcup in Kent. Do your bit today and make their lives hard and upset these criminals.
What action are you taking to protect your shed? Do you store valuables in there and do you mark them with your post code? Do you think metal sheds are better than wooden sheds?