Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

Growing strawberries is a project that any gardener should try, as simply put, they are very easy to grow. Yes, you can grow from seed, but growing from plants, as shown below, makes the whole process even easier. To ensure you have sufficient plants to pick enough for the needs of a family of four over the summer, plant around one hundred plants in a strawberry bed. Pay close attention to any instructions provided with your plants as different strawberry varieties will certainly have variations in planting, and growing, advice. read more »

Growing your own vegetables is a good idea on so many levels. It’s convenient, you can be organic, you can grow far more varieties than you can buy in the shops, you can experiment with unusual varieties, it’s fun, and of course, it is a great money-saving option to grow vegetables yourself. All you need is an open well-drained plot, and even if that’s not an option, vegetables can be grown in containers, grow bags, and even window boxes. Therefore, large or small scale, it is nearly always possible to grow some of your own vegetables at home. read more »

Buying a chisel set should be a once in a lifetime event for most home improvement and DIY enthusiasts, because if you choose quality chisels, and look after them well, there is no reason why you should need another set in the future. There are carpenters across the land who own chisels that belonged to their grandads, quite simply because they are made from high quality steel, that can be sharpened over and over again. So high quality steel is key to any good chisel, but if you’re buying a chisel set today, there are a few other issues to consider. read more »

Planting hanging baskets does require a bit of ‘technique’ as producing a great display will not only be reliant on choosing the right plants, but also how you arrange them in the basket. Hanging baskets come in many different sizes, and even the smaller options are surprisingly heavy. Therefore, be aware that after the planting has been done, they must be hung from a very well fixed bracket. The sequence below, shows a straightforward, and very effective technique for planting hanging baskets. read more »

Wallpapering around a window is a task that may be achieved in different ways, but the method I am showing here I’ve found to provide by far the best finish. There are no overlaps using this technique, resulting in a seamless finish, and as long as you are methodical in your approach, and trim accurately, it is no more difficult than any other wallpapering technique. read more »