A metal storage shed – a ‘must-have’ for Allotment Growers

Posted on June 15, 2013 by nazishs

Do you have an allotment?

Over a quarter of a million people in the UK currently hold an allotment plot.  Allotment gardening has always been a popular option for those of you who don’t mind getting their hands dirty in soil and spend time nurturing flowers and vegetable plants, but may not always have the space in their garden.  Apart from providing low cost food, they also provide valuable recreational opportunities involving healthy activity and social contacts.

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How does your garden grow?

Taking on an allotment plot is not all hard work; it can have many advantages, providing fresh home grown vegetables, fruit and flowers for you and your family, free from artificial additives and at a fraction of that you would have expected to pay in a supermarket or greengrocer.

There is also the social side, meeting new friends with similar interests and enabling you to enjoy a healthy outdoor life with gentle exercise and a place to relax and unwind.

Did you know: The first legislative reforms date back to the Enclosures Act of 1845. Today, the Council has a statutory requirement to provide allotments for the public.

Is your allotment secure?

As many allotments are independently or council owned, they will often have different levels of security.  Many allotment sites suffer from vandalism and theft, from minor incidents such as disappearing Fruit and Veg, ranging to major incidents where sheds located on one site have been broken into and vandalism, smashing of glass in greenhouses, breaking tools, dumping rubbish and damaging frames.

Keep your tools under lock and key 

Always try and keep all your gardening tools locked up and out of sight in allotment huts and sheds.  Not only do they provide shelter from the rain for expensive tools, gardening equipment and clothing, they provide much needed security for your allotment.

Secure Storage units for your allotments

If you need a secure storage unit installed in your allotment, you can choose from a range of metal storage sheds from Asgard in various sizes according to your needs.  The Asgard Addition is a popular choice for many gardens and allotments due to its compact size and multi-purpose storage space.  Built from our tough, galvanised (weather proof) steel with an integral metal floor and convenient large double door access this unit features an excellent 3-point locking system.

Asgard Addition storage unit

Asgard Addition storage unit – Great for allotment storage!

Smart and stylish, the Asgard Addition metal shed unit is available in a choice of 3 colours – dark green, ivory and brown enabling you to match the unit to your environment, and ensure your allotment is looking neat and tidy.

Top Tip: We recommend that you check the area available to install your shed before installation, and confirm with the allotment regulations before installation.

Want to grow your own?

Whether you are budding vegetable grower or a seasoned gardener, visit the Allotment diaries website for more ideas on making the most of your allotment.  For a ‘Plot Holders’ Guide’ from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) click here.

To view our full range of outdoor storage units and unit sizes, visit our website http://www.asgardsss.co.uk for further details.  We also offer free delivery and an installation service is also available for added convenience.

Filed under: Allotment shed, allotment storage, Best sheds, Bulding a shed, Garden equipment, Garden security, Garden sheds, Garden tools, Gardening, Metal sheds, Outdoor garden storage unit, Secure storage, Sheds | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

How much is your garden shed worth?

Posted on May 27, 2013 by tarahamilton

Is your garden full to the brim? You’ll be surprised at how much the items stored in your garden shed are worth.  A study conducted by Net Voucher Codes, found that in the average garden shed £2080 worth of items can be found.

Worryingly this study also revealed that 29% of people don’t put a lock on their sheds.

What is your garden shed worth?

Valuable items in your garden shed

  • The most valuable items found in a garden shed are bikes, with the average family storing £600 worth.
  • On average we have £450 worth of garden tools
  • The average amount of garden furniture we have adds up to £350
  • Lawnmowers in our shed average at £250
  • Children’s toys average at £230

Now that you know the amount of money that is sitting in your garden shed, you should become more careful when it comes to storing your items securely.  Putting a lock on your garden shed is the very least you can do to protect your garden shed from theft. As we know, garden shed theft is a very real problem and these only increase during the summer months.

A garden shed alarm is also another way to protect your stored garden items. A motion sensor shed alarm is available from Asgard, the home of secure steel storage.

Asgard metal garden shed

Asgard metal garden shed

However, if you would like something more substantial, Asgard has a range of metal garden sheds. These are sturdier and more robust than the average wooden garden shed.  Made from tough weatherproof steel, these metal garden sheds are fitted with tough pick resistant locks to help keep thieves out. Find out more about Asgard on their website.

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Spring gardening guide

Posted on May 3, 2013 by tarahamilton

With the May bank holiday just around the corner, it’s safe to say that spring has finally sprung and after many months of bad weather, people are deciding now is the time to get out in the garden. You may be overwhelmed by the state that winter has left your garden in, but here are a few simple tips to help you start the big clear up and allow you to enjoy your garden.

Clear up

To get your garden back on track, start with the big clear up.  Cut back trees and shrubs that have grown too big and cut back any dead plant material. Remove all the weeds you can find, to save you a lot of work later on. Now is a good time to pull out weeds as their roots are still shallow.

Prepare your soil

Get your flower beds ready by digging and preparing the soil. Use a fork to dig the soil, this will allow you to loosen the soil and remove any hidden weeds.  Add some good quality compost or well-rotted manure and your flower beds will be ready for planting.

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Start your spring gardening now

Planting

Decide on the type of plants you want, choose plants that complement one another and grow well together. Get summer flowering bulbs which can be planted in early spring, as these will provide you with a bright summer display.

Bring your lawn back to life

Mow your lawn regularly and apply lawn feed to bring your lawn back to life.

Fix fences and trellis

You may find that the wet and windy weather has had a disastrous effect on your fences and trellis, leaving them looking worse for wear. Repair any damage and in dry weather treat the wood with a preservative.

Before you start any of your spring gardening tasks, check all of your gardening equipment and give them a clean if necessary. Make sure your garden shed is in tip top condition too. If you have a wooden garden shed, these can be prone to leaks and damage during the winter. You may find that after the harsh weather we have had, your shed will need replacing. Don’t risk getting another wooden shed, try a metal garden shed instead. This will save your pocket in the long term as they do not require the same maintenance as a wooden shed and last a lot longer. A full range of metal garden sheds are available from Asgard.

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Top Gardening Apps

Posted on April 8, 2013 by tarahamilton

With smartphones and tablets taking over, there is an app out there for everything! When I did some research into apps for gardening, I didn’t expect to come up with anything. Gardeners don’t need apps is what I thought, but I was wrong. Take a look at these handy apps to help you out in the garden.

Dig My Garden

This app can be used on the iphone and ipod touch, giving a bird’s eye view of your garden, allowing you to see your garden bloom over the seasons. With this app you can create and ‘plant’ your actual garden with hundreds of plants, vegetables, herbs, trees and shrubs to choose from.

Garden Tracker

With this app you can plan your garden plots, plant vegetables and track your gardens progress. Detail is provided on days to harvest, days since watered and days since last fertilised. Garden Tracker comes up pre-loaded with over 50 vegetables, with detailed information such as ideal soil temperature, recommended planting season and more!

Landscaper’s companion

Landscaper’s companion is an interactive plant database, with over 26,000 plants from around the world. This app is more useful for the more experienced gardener. The app provides a short description, size, cultivation advice and pictures.

Vegetables

Vegetable garden guides

This app is a great reference tool, with guides for successful growing of over 90 vegetables. Each vegetable has a section on the growing process, how to grow and disease information.

Garden Pro

Garden Pro provides users with all the necessary information about particular flowers and plants, with a directory of over 7,000 species. Details provided by this app include growing requirements, how to care for the plant and common pests.

With the help of these apps, there’s nothing to stop you from going outside and giving gardening a go!

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Cold weather wreaking havoc on UK Garden Centres

Posted on April 7, 2013 by tarahamilton

The spell of bad weather during March, made March 2013 the coldest in the last 50 years. With so much snow and frosty weather everyone has been affected from farmers to the everyday gardener.  The bad weather has also had an effect on UK Garden Centres, with sales down by as much as 50%.

This is the time of year where people are usually getting their gardens prepared, buying plants, seeds, tools and everything else they need to make their garden bloom.

The recent bad weather has kept people indoors.

The recent bad weather has kept people indoors.

Because of the harsh winter weather leaking into spring, the price of flowers which should already be in full bloom, such as daffodils have increased by up to 50%. April is the most important month of the year in the garden centre calendar as spring is supposed to be in full swing and this is the time when people really start to spend money of things for their gardens, however if the bleak weather continues into April, vital sales will be lost. In the UK, 1 in 3 people are gardeners and spend around £5bn a year on their gardens.

snow and asgard bike storage

Asgard garden sheds can take on the snow!

If you have been put off from going in the garden because of the bad weather, there are still plenty of things that you can do, especially since the snow seems to be behind us. If you haven’t already, start planning what you want to add to your garden, buy seeds and tools so that you have them to hand whenever the weather brightens up. If you’ve discovered that your garden shed didn’t hold up during the harsh weather, make sure you get a new one to store all of your gardening equipment in. Asgard has a range of strong metal garden sheds that are tough enough to see you through many winters like the one we have just had! Made from strong weatherproof steel, these sheds are designed to provide the best protection from the elements. See the full range of metal garden sheds on the Asgard Website.

Data provided by the Guardian.

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gardening, Best sheds, Garden tools, allotment storage, asgard | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

The worst places in the UK for garden theft

Posted on February 19, 2013 by tarahamilton

2012 saw a 10% increase in garden and shed thefts in the UK, compared to the previous year and garden shed theft had increased by 25% during the summer and spring alone.

Research by Halifax Home Insurance found that the top 10 areas for garden theft in the UK were:

  1. Stoke – on – Trent
  2. Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham
  3. Southampton
  4. Wakefield and Huddersfield
  5. Nottingham
  6. Newcastle upon Tyne
  7. Manchester
  8. Leeds
  9. Guilford
  10. Bradford

42% of the reported thefts were of power tools, 39% were of hand tools and the rest of thefts were of items such as lawnmowers and Barbecue sets.

Summer will be here before we know it, so it’s important to start getting your garden prepared soon.

Easy ways to protect your garden

  • Make sure sheds, garages and gates are locked at all times.
  • Mark valuable garden items and furniture with your postcode and take photos for your records.
  • Join your neighbourhood watch or set one up if there isn’t one in your area.
  • Restrict access to your garden with high walls and fences.
  • Install security lighting in your garden to deter thieves.
  • Never leave gardening equipment out in your garden for an opportunistic thief.

If you are concerned about your current garden storage and think it’s time to upgrade your security, take a look at the Asgard metal garden shed range. These garden storage sheds offer fantastic security for your gardening equipment and furniture.

Asgard for garden security

Asgard for garden security

Designed with security in mind, they are fitted with tough locking systems and pick resistant locking mechanisms. Asgard metal garden sheds are available in a variety of sizes and look great in any garden. See the full metal garden shed range on the Asgard website.

Filed under: Gardening, Garden security, Garden tools, Garden equipment, Garden Safety, Lawnmower storage, lawnmower security, Garden Buildings, asgard | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Winter Garden Preparation

Posted on November 7, 2012 by tarahamilton

Winter garden preparation

With winter quickly approaching, you need to make sure your garden is prepared from the harsh cold and frosts. This will make your job much easier when spring eventually arrives and you will be thankfully for the prior planning and care you have put in.  Here are a few tips to help you through the winter season.

Clean up           

Be sure to remove weeds and annuals from your garden. On shrubs and trees, remove diseased leaves, but pruning is not recommended.

Winter garden prep

 

Cut back perennials

These should be cut back to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. These will keep your garden looking neat and tidy and save a lot of hard work in the spring.

Get mulching

Mulching protects plants from the drastic temperature change that winter brings and insulated them against the cold. Make sure you don’t do this too early though, as it can encourage diseases and pests.  Mulch can be made up of dried leaves, pine needles, shredded bark etc and 4 to 6 inches is sufficient.

Winter proof containers

This can be done by wrapping bubble around the containers and covering the soil with mulch.

Prepare new ground

Winter is the ideal time to dig over new beds and boarders, ready for spring sowing. This can be done as long as the ground isn’t frozen or water logged.

Clean and store tools

Clean out old pots and seed trays ready for the spring. Clean and sharpen tools and store in a dry place for winter. All of your gardening equipment should be put away in your garden shed for the winter to protect it from damage.

Store your garden tools away from the harsh winter weather

 

If your shed is leaky, this water can ruin your gardening tools and other equipment. Make sure your shed is in a good condition for the winter weather. If you are looking for a new shed Asgard has a wide range all made from weatherproof steel to protect stored items.

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Secure garden storage for a small garden

Posted on October 13, 2012 by tarahamilton

If you have a compact garden but still need an outdoor storage facility, your options can sometimes be quite limited. Garden sheds and storage units can look quite dominating in a smaller garden and in small spaces it’s hard for your shed not to become the main focal point. You want something small and sleek, but still strong and secure. Not sure where to look? Asgard has a solution. With a wide variety of high quality garden sheds available, there is something to suit all garden sizes, without compromising on quality.

Compact garden sheds

Finding compact sheds that are pleasing on the eye and still functional, can be a tall task. The Asgard Vangard and Addition are two of the smaller sheds available but don’t let their size fool you, they may be small, but there is still plenty of storage space inside. Both of these sheds are made from strong weatherproof steel, as are all Asgard steel sheds and are packed full of features. These metal sheds are supplied with a 10 year warranty; these are great value for money products.

 

The Vangard

 

Vangard compact metal shed

 

“Outstanding value for money…..So much better than my old plastic unit. For a little bit more money get a metal unit which will last for years, why bother with plastic?

This compact and sleek shed has an integral metal floor, and a two point locking system to secure stored items away. A padlock point allows you to lock the shed with your own lock. Hooks are available to purchase with this shed to expand storage options and the storage unit boasts large double door access, for easy manoeuvring of items. The Vangard has a slanted roof to allow rain to slide off easily and the ventilation system in the roof minimizes the build-up of condensation within the unit.

 

The Addition

 

Addition metal garden shed

“After 2 years the units is totally rust free, the paint has not faded in any way and it all works as it should. A 1st class garden shed”

The Addition metal garden shed provides excellent garden security. This storage unit has a superb 3 point locking system and a pick resistant lock for enhanced security. The integral metal base means you can stack your items from floor to ceiling, without worrying about them being placed directly on the ground, with the option to add shelves and hooks to your shed for versatile storage. The integral rain guard keeps wind and rain out, so your items will be kept nice and dry.

These metal sheds are available in 3 colours; green, brown and ivory. Their sleek and compact design ensures they will blend into any environment well. For more information and to see the full range of garden security sheds, visit the Asgard website.

Filed under: Garden Buildings, Garden equipment, Garden Safety, Garden security, Garden tools, Secure storage, Sheds | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

What is the best way to protect garden items and tools from the winter weather?

Posted on October 13, 2012 by tarahamilton

Winter is approaching and it’s time to make sure your garden furniture and equipment is well protected from the elements. Keeping these items stored away safe from wind and rain, is the best way to keep your items in tip top condition. If you don’t already have a shed, garage or outdoor storage facility that is secure from harsh weather conditions now is the time to get one.

There would be nothing worse than to find after months of hibernating, you emerge to find that your shed has been leaking all winter and your lawnmower and other electrical gardening equipment have been ruined beyond repair. Not only is this a nuisance, but it would also be costly to replace.

Don’t let the bad weather ruin your gardening equipment

 

So why not save yourself the hassle and bother. Investing in a water tight, secure, outdoor storage unit, will save you time, aggravation and money in the long run. The average household spends between £100 and £600 pounds a year on their garden. The majority of this will be in the form of gardening tools and furniture. So just think of the hundreds of pounds worth of goods that you could have accumulated and stored away over the years. Depending on your home insurance policy your outdoor storage may not be covered for water damage, if covered at all. Don’t be left caught out!

Take the time to invest in a secure and tough garden storage unit.  A range of secure weatherproof garden sheds are available from Asgard, providing fantastic protection for your garden items. These metal sheds are tough and come with a variety of features: pick resistant locks, wind and rain guards, tough locking mechanisms and integral metal bases. A range of high security sheds are also on offer, to help prevent the theft of your stored items and with a 10 year warranty, you don’t have to worry about a thing. To see the full range of metal garden sheds visit the Asgard website.

Secure storage for winter

Having a watertight shed to store away your garden equipment and furniture will provide you with piece of mind, knowing your items are safe and dry. Best of all, you won’t be left with any nasty surprises once spring emerges and you can start enjoying your garden once again, straight away.

Filed under: Uncategorized, Sheds, Gardening, Garden security, Garden tools, Garden Safety | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Help when choosing a quality garden shed

Posted on October 12, 2012 by tarahamilton

Choosing a new garden shed is a big decision, especially when there are so many options out there. Before picking out your new shed there are a few things that you need to take into consideration. Thankfully we are here to help! Asgard has a range of metal garden sheds and there is sure to be one to suit every need.

When choosing your shed, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself:

What do you want to store in your shed?

What you want to store will affect the amount of security features your shed should have, as well as the size. You can store anything from garden tools, to bikes and garden furniture in your shed. If you’re planning on storing smaller items with a low value, a compact shed with less security might be better storage option. If you are planning on storing expensive equipment, tools, bikes etc. Security should be at the fore front of your mind, as sheds are prone to break-ins and easy targets for thieves. Around 5,000 British gardens are targeted by theft every week, so it’s important not to leave yourself wide open. Investing in a high security shed is always a good idea. A range of high security sheds are available with tough 5 point locking systems and some are even insurance approved.

What do you want to store in your new garden shed?

What is your price range?

It’s important to set a budget for your new shed, to stick to it and get the best shed that you can afford. Metal garden sheds range from £80 up to £2000, meaning you are bound to find the metal shed to suit you and your budget.

What do you get for your money?

As you would expect with cheaper garden shed the quality will leave a lot to be desired. At the lower end of the price scale, the security of the shed will be poor and will be easier to access by thieves. In the world of sheds, generally the more you spend the better the quality of the shed. For a more robust, strong and sturdy shed, expect to spend more. Spending more will pay off in the long term, due to the added protection from theft.

How much available space do you have?

We all know that some gardens have more space than others or it maybe that you want your garden shed to look inconspicuous and blend into its surroundings. Whatever the reason, the size of the shed will play an important role in your decision. You will find sheds of all sizes, from the compact Vangard to the Extra Extra Large Gladiator. Browse the full range to find the right size for your storage needs.

How important is garden shed security?

If security is of high importance to you, when choosing a garden shed, it is worth spending the extra money on something more robust. High security sheds come with an array of features to enhance security and deter thieves: Reinforced components, additional bolts, touch locking systems all contribute to a stronger, more secure shed.

High security garden shed

Where should you locate your garden shed?

Ideally your garden shed should be placed at the rear of your home, not immediately in the sight of passers-by. Locating your shed near your garden path or walkway is generally a good idea to stop mud from spreading everywhere. Do not place your shed too close to trees or shrubs, to ensure your shed stays in a good condition and stop excessive moisture from entering the shed through the vents. Remember your shed needs to be built onto a level base that is at least 100mm deep, this base needs to be either concrete or tarmac. This will need to be taken into consideration when planning the location of your shed.

There are lots of important things to consider when choosing your new garden shed. Size, shape, security, price and even the colour all play a role in decision making. After all your shed will be a permanent feature in your garden, you should want it to be perfect. These tips should help you on your hunt. Here’s to happy shed shopping.

Filed under: Garden Buildings, Garden sheds, Garden tools, Gardening, outdoor storage | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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