For homeowners with access to a front or back garden, this space provides an opportunity to access the natural world, without leaving behind the comfort of the domestic abode. These little patches of nature can be adapted in countless different ways according to your needs and preferences, where you can use this space to grow vegetables, entertain guests or cultivate attractive floral displays.
As the options for your garden are virtually limitless, as are the materials you can choose from to carry out garden transformation projects. Your priority may be cost effectiveness or durability, where it is important to complete DIY efforts using suitable materials that will endure in all outdoor weather conditions.
So when it comes to making your choice, why not consider timber as a strong all-rounder. You can use timber to build long lasting structures and wildlife friendly installations, helping to transform your garden space in a sustainable way.
Read on to find out more about how you can use timber to transform your outdoor space.
Why Choose Timber For Your Garden?
Whilst materials such as plastic, metal or additional synthetic options may appeal for specific projects, timber is a good, multi-purpose choice if youâre planning a hard landscaping build or if you want to construct a long-lasting centre piece.
Some of the stand-out benefits of timber include:
Durability
As with any natural wood product, timber is a durable option for outdoor projects. Used for centuries as a sturdy building material, natural timber can withstand strong winds, heavy rain and the summer sunshine, all whilst providing shelter and insulation in your garden.
Treated timber is also particularly durable, where you can choose to add weather protection and tailored coats to your timber surfaces in order to enhance their structural integrity.
Environmental Concerns
Unlike plastics and synthetic materials, timber is entirely natural and therefore can biodegrade without harming the environment. Leftover timber is recyclable, and many timber suppliers prioritise ethical supply chains that work to ensure that forests are well managed.
Untreated timber is also non-toxic, meaning it is safe to use around pets, young children and animals such as chickens.
Finishing Options
Wooden timber surfaces can be finished in a wide variety of ways, so you can get the final look that best suits your space. In addition to adding weatherproof coatings, you can also stain or paint your timber to create an attractive centre piece. Many timbers feature unique grain patterns that can be emphasised with the right finish.
If you do wish to finish your timber with a specific product, then consider choosing an environmentally friendly paint or varnish to ensure that the sustainable qualities of your wood can be upheld.
Cost-Effectiveness
Timber for fencing, decking or other DIY projects is a particularly cost-effective option, where it is easy to source from a local supplier. For bigger projects, timber planks can be purchased in bulk, giving you access to the best possible deal.
When shopping around for timber deals, try to ensure that your supplier has met their sustainability requirements, rather than prioritising price alone.
Top Timber Projects For Your Garden
Once youâve decided that timber is the best choice for your garden, you will be able to utilise this material for a wide range of projects. Consider buying your timber in bulk, using your materials to tackle a number of different construction jobs throughout the garden.
Just some of the timber projects you could attempt are discussed below:
Hard Landscaping Options
Primarily, timber can be used in the garden for hard landscaping and building projects, as a durable material that adds an attractive quality to any outdoor space.
Often, timber is chosen for the construction of decking, where adding a deck area to your garden can create an elevated space for relaxation and outdoor entertainment. Gates and fences can also be made from timber, with a range of plank designs and colours available. Special timber acoustic fencing can act as an effective noise barrier, helping to keep your garden quiet and secluded.
Timber is also an effective gardening tool, where trellis panels can be used as a support for climbing plants. As a non-toxic material, untreated timber can form part of your eco-conscious gardening work, helping you to preserve local biodiversity and protect wildlife in your garden.
Practical Garden Installations
Beyond the basics of hard landscaping, you may also wish to add some practical storage solutions into your garden, helping to reduce clutter and support your gardening efforts.
Building a garden shed from timber is a popular choice, where these structures can be made from scratch or built ready to assemble. Like timber fencing, sheds can be painted and customised to make for an attractive garden feature. You might also consider building a timber log store or multi-purpose shelving, combining practicalities with aesthetic garden design.
Animal-Friendly Projects
Untreated timber is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, meaning it can be used as the base for all kinds of animal and wildlife projects.
Building your own bird box from timber can be a good beginnerâs DIY project, whilst also providing shelter for local wildlife in your garden. Similarly, a timber bug hotel can encourage biodiversity in your outdoor space, helping to keep your flowers and vegetables in good condition.
Constructing raised beds from timber can give you plenty of space for planting, even if you previously just had a lawn to work with. Adding wildflowers to a raised bed helps to attract pollinators to your space, whilst making for an attractive summer display.
For chicken owners, it might be a goal of yours to construct your own chicken coop out of timber, another fun DIY project that provides a practical benefit. Timber is durable enough to create a weatherproof refuge for your chickens, helping to keep them safe from predators overnight.
Repurposing Timber From Previous Projects
If youâve bought timber in bulk, or if you havenât used as much wood as you thought you might, then you may be looking to repurpose these materials for a new project.
Due to the versatility of timber, there are so many small projects that you can complete with leftover resources, helping you to minimise waste whilst making sure that youâre getting your moneyâs worth. As such, itâs always good to consider how else you can use your timber, before you recycle or dispose of leftovers.
For treated wood, you should clean and sand your planks so that theyâre ready for a different kind of finish. Untreated timber can simply be cleaned and resized to make it fit for purpose, where you should look out for signs of wood rot or damp before proceeding with a new project idea.
Wood in good condition can be reserved for building garden planters or even a new outdoor seat, whilst worn materials could be utilised as cutting boards or as practice pieces for more complex projects.
Additionally, timber pieces that are too small or worn to be reused can be added to your home log burner. If you are planning to do this, then it is important to ensure that your wood is dry and untreated, where treated wood can release harmful chemicals if burned.
Hales Sawmills: Top Quality Timber Supplies For Your Next Project
At Hales Sawmills, we have a wide range of timber supplies and products available, allowing you to introduce this material into your garden in a way that suits you.
We supply both timber planks and finished timber projects, so you can undertake as much or as little DIY as you would like. Our product catalogue includes everything from acoustic fencing and gate posts to garden furniture and trellis panels.
Currently, we also supply lots of different types of building timber, including:
- Sawn timber – this wood is cut into planks, but has not been smoothed or sanded for a specific purpose.
- Easy edge timber – these materials have been smoothed with eased edges designed to make construction straightforward.
- Machine round timber – our rounded timber posts are perfect for fences and decking installations, with smooth ends that are ready to go.
Get in touch with our team today to find out more about our full range of timber products and supplies.