Time for Garden Ladders?

Early last year many of us were looking out at our flooded gardens, wondering whether we'd ever be able to salvage the lawn and put things right again.  A year on and no doubt there is still some work to be done, but most people have managed to fix a lot of the flood damage already.  This year we can start to build on that progress and get our gardens ready for the spring and summer months. Orchard Ladders The months of January and February typically see the coldest weather of the year, so there is not a lot that can be done in terms of planting out, but you can still get garlic and onions ready in pots to transfer outdoors when the weather gets warmer. Fruit trees and plants can be put into the ground at this time of year as well, and the ground can be prepared for early vegetables such as asparagus.  It is the best time of year to prune fruit trees, as without leaves, blossom or fruit on the branches it is much easier to access the crown of the tree and prune away branches that are growing out of shape.  The best type of ladder for this work is an orchard ladder.  If you don't already have one it is worth investing, as this tripod-design ladder is specifically for use on trees where you need access around the crown and right into the heart of the tree.  The three points of contact with the ground keep the ladder stable on softer ground, but conversely will not provide much stability on hard surfaces.  The tapering design of the ladder means it can be positioned right up against the tree trunk and into the heart of the tree without the stiles getting in the way of the work. Once you have an orchard ladder it will be in use all year round, for pruning in the winter months and harvesting in the summer and autumn.

Garden Platforms

Growing soft fruits like raspberries and currants requires a more hedge-shaped growing area, so an orchard ladder is not so useful for harvesting or pruning these plants. If you are doing this on a large scale, or also have tall hedges or wooden fences to maintain then a work platform designed for  outdoor use is your best bet.  The Gardeno mobile platform offers four platform heights, suitable for short to tall hedges and everything in between (50cm to 1.4 metres), and it can be used for external wall and building maintenance too.  The unit is moveable on two wheels and has screw jacks at each corner to level and stabilise the platform when it is in position. This means it copes well with uneven or soft ground, making it ideal for garden work.  The whole unit can be disassembled and packed away flat for easy storage in a garage or other outbuilding, and only relies on wing nuts for assembly, making it easy to use even for people with limited construction knowledge. Although January and February are the coldest months, at least they were a lot drier than the same time last year, meaning there was little flood damage which can take months to repair.  Luckily there wasn't a repeat of last year's awful weather, and homeowners did not have to deal with arduous restoration and repair works.  There is always the possibility of wind or storm damage, however, and people with older houses or outbuildings need to regularly check for loose tiles or roofing material that may become damaged in high winds.  Most outbuildings are single storey, so accessing the roof can be done with a tall stepladder or extension ladder without too much risk.  When it comes to accessing the roof of a two or more storey home then the ladders become taller and the risks associated with working at height also increase.  If there are repairs to be done to roof tiles it is best to get professional help with this, as amateur attempts to repair a leaking or damaged roof could actually lead to further damage to tiles, guttering and external walls.  If you are confident in taking on the repairs yourself, make sure you use the ladder safely, and have someone else present to help steady the ladder.  A double or triple section extension ladder will need to be used to access the roof line of most homes, and it is important to remember that the height of the ladder needs to include an extra metre or so to provide a safe transition from the ladder to the roof surface.  Lengthy repairs on a roof will also require a roof ladder to ensure safety and accessibility for the job in hand.  If you need to invest in the right equipment for the job, consider paying a professional instead; the cost of the ladders may be the same or more than the cost of outsourcing the job, and with a professional you get the assurance that the job will be done to a high standard.

Conservatory Ladders

Conservatories can become damaged over the winter period as well, and it is definitely best to get a professional to repair any panes with may have become cracked or broken.  If your conservatory needs cleaning, you may find some window cleaning services in your area also offer a conservatory cleaning service, and they should have a specialist ladder for the job. If you fancy tackling this task yourself then invest in a conservatory ladder, as they are designed to minimise the risk of falling while transferring to the conservatory roof and to minimise the risk of damaging the glass surfaces.  The domestic model costs less than the professionally rated model, but is a good investment if you regularly need to clean your conservatory, and you could invest jointly with a friend or neighbour if you both need this type of ladder.  At £339 you will recoup your investment in a couple of years by not having to pay for professional conservatory cleaning.  Conservatory ladders are articulated so they provide access to the top of the wall height as well as the roof in one ladder.  The articulation means you don't have to transfer from one ladder to another, and the roof section comes with spreader bars to prevent damage to the roof.  The roof section also has handrails to keep you steady while you're working.  The ladder attaches to the conservatory walls by way of a suction cup and straps, so once it is in place it won't move while you are using it. As you can see, there are several types of ladder you might need to use when preparing your outdoor areas for the warmer months, and most people won't own all of these.  Some are a good investment, especially if you have a lot of fruit trees, or many outbuildings and hedges.  Specialist ladders like the conservatory ladder or a roof ladder probably won't get much use in one home, but it's worth teaming up with friends and family to purchase one that everybody has access to. If you need to discuss your outdoor ladder requirements with our experts, don't hesitate to give us a call on 01527 821 651. Or you can see our complete range of Garden Ladders here on our main website: http://www.midlandladders.com//catalog/Garden_Ladders-15-1.html