Woolworths is not an obvious place to think of when it comes to hard garden landscaping. But they have a fairly decent range of tools, decking, pergolas and hard core, like this Dandys beach pebbles for £142.99 a tonne. Yes it's a natural product, but there are no clues as to where it has come from - let's just hope it's not a beach near you.

Posted by Carole

Contemporary gazebos. pretty pergolas, envirocycle composters and dazzling fireworks can all be found at Sort out your Garden. But what really attracted me was the unusual range of artificial lawns. I loathe this green stuff but love the visual and textural qualites it provides. So you may in future find me hoovering my £10 per metre square city lawn with great pride.

Posted by Carole

I'm definately a decking person rather than a patio one. I'm also into the smooth non-hardwoods rather than the ridged variety. So this pack of 60 smooth or grooved green treated deck boards measuring 480 by 14cm from B & Q, fulfills the brief perfectly. Plus they cost £595.95, as they currently have a 15% reduction on a lot of their products. Be prepared to do the odd power wash - but otherwise enjoy a new outdoor space.

Posted by Carole

When it comes to concrete products, look no further than the family ran Thakeham firm. They've been delivering building blocks and paving for over 70 years, so can give you some good advice and cut you a fair price. Plus it's not on their site but they do stock decorative cement wall blocks for £3.50 each.

Posted by Carole

If your lawn is looking as sad as mine, then it needs a stiff Gardening Expres s tonic in the form of Earthwork's organic fertiliser. It contains a cocktail of nutrients and a humus soil conditioner (whatever that is?) So spend £12.95 and you'll get 2.5 litres of on-going replenishment of the soil in the root zone. All sounds good to me.

Posted by Carole

If this Summer has finally finished off your patch of shrubby grass, then be inspired by Concept Paving . It's reconstituted stone at it's most creative, you can be experimental in the way you combine up to four contrasting textures and two colours. Stonemarket really do challenge established textures and techniques from £24 a square metre upwards. If I didn't have kids then this paving would be for me.

Posted by Carole

My friend Clare was bemoaning the state of her not so green and tatty grass, so has adventurously ordered a roll of artificial grass. She got hers from eBay.co.uk, just type in artificial grass and lots of offcut pieces in a selection of sizes and prices will pop up.

If you want to do a bit of background research then log onto evergreens and get a great sense of how good it can look and how you could inlay some fun into it with a play-scene. Or check out other suppliers including NoMow, As good as grass, and Artificial Lawn. Have you already done this? It would be great to hear how you got on.

Posted by Carole

I'm more of a decking girl myself, but if pavings your thing then Peytons Paving offer a good range of Indian sandstone, limestone, slate, travertine and marble paving. What's more you can visit their showroom in Cambridge and see what the actual finished result will look like. Do Not I repeat Do Not make my mistake of having the whole kitchen tiled and then deciding I didn't like it! Luckily it has grown on me. If you buy at Peytons you could also grab yourself a bargain, as they are offering 50% back on all natural stone purchases if England win the world cup. Probably best to calculate the prices at 100% cost price then.

Posted by Carole

This could be even more of a bargain if you can find one at your local bargain basement. I've seen them for a fiver (and got one in India for pound). But Habitat's Crysanthemum woven plastic mat has the tastiest colours. Use it to liven up your dull brown decking or sit on for picnics in damp fields. £12.50

Posted by Ros

Your new furniture will only look the business if it has a worthy base, so B & Q have created their own reversible deckboard which comes in sets ranging from £285 to 120 pieces for £1258. The wood hails from the Finnforest (where is that?) and has a 15-year guarantee against rot and insect attack.

Mind you, I personally would not use the grooved side, as it seems a ridiculous invitation for dirt whereas the smooth side means less dirt but more slipping and sliding. What's a breakage when you have aesthetics at stake?

Posted by Carole

A quick way to create an outdoor lounging base would be to get a decking kit package from Dunster House. This one is £585 but basic modules start at £34. I would strew it with mattresses and cushions (see our Sit section) and accessorise the pergola with dingly dangly things and lanterns whilst waiting for my vine to grow.

Posted by Ros