HOW WE DU IT : OUR BLOG

Our literary chums in the home improvement magazine world have literally gone colour crazy in their June editions, picking their favourite hues of paint and room accessories for the summer season. So which ones would cheer any chamber and which aren't even pretty enough to be sensibly disposed of at the council dump? You decide!

Ideal Home have gone straight for pastels but its selection of 'bubblegum pink' and 'sherbet yellow' have us suspecting its scribes have spent too much time in the sweet shop. Sorry Ideal Home but too much candy leave us feeling slightly ill. Fruit Pastel anybody? No, we thought not.

Living etc's choices will have conspiracy theorists wagging their tongues that some journoes have been moonlighting for the other side, as it's plumped for pastel shades as well. 'Delicious ice-cream hues are back with a new flavour' says its contents page trendily. Pastels are an 80s shade and that decade is trendy now, but somehow one can't imagine DCI Gene Hunt saying: "Fire up the Quattro I'm going shopping for some pastel throws."

Your Home have even got in on the act advising one to 'combine pale shades', although it gets some points for putting fabrics and other accessories in the pastel frame, leaving messy paint for others.

Home & Gardens is not a name you would associate with coming in from left field, but when it names its colour of the summer for your room's accessories it comes up with (wait for it) 'zesty orange'!

So well done Home & Gardens! Now take your complimentary fruit basket and leave me to lie down in a quiet room - preferably magnolia coloured.

It's warp factor 9 time for your garden's plants, so if you're as lazy as some of us in your free time, or just have other things you would rather do, now is the time to hire a gardener. For the rest of us however, whatever else you do in your garden, do these!

1. Keep on deadheading: This is simply the removal of blooms that have passed their sell by date. Deadheading will not only keep you plants looking good, it'll get the most out the healthy blooms and those yet to blossom!

2. Smart watering: While giving your plants the optimum amount of water, especially those newly bedded in, it's crucial in hot weather not to water them at night as wet foliage is more susceptible to fungal problems.

3. Mulch to the max: Thorough mulching will stop your soil from drying out and so can cut the watering needed by half or more. It'll also reduce the amount weeds that not only look nasty but will also nick some of the nutrients needed by your plants. A depth of 8-12cm should do the trick.

4. Mow less often: Less often? Yep, you read right. The extra shade helps reduce weeds - honest!

5. Plan ahead: If you want some colour in the garden in autumn/winter, time is running out for autumn/winter flowering varieties. Plant these now before kicking back with the Pimms and cucumber sandwiches!

6. Get DU.IT: Call us in to clean up your decking, fix your shed and preserve your fence.