For any homeowner, updating the garden ready for the summer can be an exciting prospect. And for DIYers looking to undertake projects themselves, getting the right materials and products is a crucial part of the process.

With private outdoor space adding as much as 69%* to the value of a home, a well-designed and laid patio is a sought-after feature of a garden. Recent trends in garden design include patterned paving to make a feature of steps and paths; outdoor kitchens and built-in seating are both…

Aesthetically pleasing, hard-wearing and stylish – porcelain has long been a preferred material for tiles in the home. However, technological advances mean that modern incarnations of the product are now also ideal for patios and gardens, explains Mark MacIntosh-Watson, Engineering and Technical Development Manager at Brett Landscaping.

Cameron Fraser, Director of Ceramique Internationale, discusses how tile innovations are allowing home renovators to look beyond plain blue tiles for residential pool projects.

Hazel Whittingham, Smart Residential Senior Product Manager at Yale, offers advice on where to position outdoor camera systems to ensure your home is guarded against unwanted visitors.

As winter approaches, many homeowners are busy thinking about Christmas, winter holidays and other seasonal activities. Yet, the change in season and the unpredictability of the weather can cause havoc on external wooden surfaces – snow, ice and rain can cause all kinds of cosmetic damage.

For many garden owners, this year’s extreme weather conditions may be the final straw. Periods of intense sun interspersed with torrential downpours have caused lawns to experience an extreme growth spurt, meaning that maintaining a neat lawn has sometimes required more than one outing a week for the lawnmower.

You’ve completed your self-build or renovation, so now it’s time to turn your attention to the surrounding landscape. One low maintainance solution is to install decking, as this creates a stable and aesthetic base for you to enjoy the summer months. But how do you go about choosing a suitable…

Adam Brindle, Managing Director of The Grounds Care Group and Japanese Knotweed expert, explains the challenges faced by construction professionals in eradicating this most pesky of plants.

Now it’s time to turn your attention to your outdoor space. From garden buildings, to furniture and textiles, take inspiration here to create your own oasis.