Despite the last few summer being a wash out, the concept of eating outdoors with friends and family has increased dramatically over the last few years. Of course that restriction is not as bad as it once was with the increase in availability of the gas barbecue. For me and for many others though the only real way to barbecue is on a Charcoal Barbecue.

The charcoal smell from a Charcoal BBQ, and the chargrilled taste, cannot be replicated by its gas counterparts, making the traditional charcoal bbq the prefered choice of many keen would-be outdoor chefs.

Finding the best place to have your Charcoal Barbecue positioned is always a good idea. The following pointers should help you when looking for somewhere to set up your charcoal barbecue:

Make sure there is nothing overhead that can catch fire like trees or washing lines.

Not too close to any building.

Try and set your charcoal bbq up on an even surface.

Good access or exit in case of a problem.

Somewhere that you can preferably exclude pet’s from.

When choosing the right spot for the Charcoal BBQ also consider what it will be like when all of the starving guests are in the same area. All of this will give you a idea of how much space you have available and also whether you want static charcoal BBQ or a Portable BBQ. There are many things that are fore and against both and only you can decide which is right for you.

The Portable BBQ is the more popular choice as they can be wheeled away and stored in a shed or garage. Whereas a static charcoal BBQ is out in all weathers and open to animals both wild and pets running on them or worse.

Now you have decided which type of charcoal BBQ you want and you have chosen the area that you are going to be using it in you can start to look around at the various types and designs that are available.

When choosing one think safety, you will effectively be making fires in the base of your BBQ. The re-inforced foil used in portable BBQ’s is very thin and can often be quite dangerous, the bottoms have been know to give way which can obviousy be very dangerous in itself. So it is best to select a robust charcoal BBQ that will not only last longer but offer safety to keep those BBQ parties going without any injuries.

Whatever happens though don’t let your heart rule your head and just run out and buy the biggest and meanest charcoal BBQ that you can find. Remember, the bigger the Charcoal BBQ, the more charcoal you will have to put on it, which can often be very costly.

I know I have gone over it already but it is worth mentioning again safety when using a charcoal BBQ is vital. Keep children pets and other animals out of the charcoal BBQ cooking area at all times.

The condition of your garden topsoil will most likely be one of the most important factors in how well your garden looks. After all it is the garden topsoil that feeds the plants and provides them all of the nutrients that they need to flourish. In the following paragraphs we are going to look at some things to be aware of and a few ways that we can certainly help out both our gardens topsoil and the plants that we want to grow inside it. Hopefully this can allow you to get the most from your garden.

One of the important things to watch for in your Garden Topsoil is the moisture levels is of paramount importance. Too much and it will be too boggy. Meaning your plants will be far too wet around the roots. Too little and the topsoil will be way too dry to sustain your plants needs. Not enough moisture held in the soil is a sign that the water is draining through it way too quickly. There are of course things that you can do to improve your gardens topsoil.

To improve drainage dig in some sharp sand or fine gravel this will help the soil to not clog together allowing the water to drain through easily. If it is not too bad then adding some well rotted compost or manure will help also.

Reducing drainage may be a little bit more work, the easiest way would be to bring in some good quality garden Topsoil from a outside reputable supplier this isn’t usually as expensive as it first seems. Alternatively try good quality compost will have a 2 pronged attack in that it will retain moisture and add nutrition.

Weeds are another problem that will drive you up the wall especially in a garden that hasn’t been well looked after for a period of time. No sooner do you get rid off them that another one replaces it. If this is the case then the best thing to do for your garden and your sanity is after weeding the area cover it in a good natural Mulch. This is a double edged sord as not only is it bio-degradable and will add nutrients back into your garden topsoil, it will discourage weeds from re-growing as it blocks out all light.

Areas of lawn can show signs of problems with the topsoil. Garden topsoils in grassy areas is often neglected simply because it is not visable. But inevitably poor topsoil will affect the quality of your lawn. Heavy moss or puddles forming can be signs that there are drainage problems. The best way to solve that is to aerate the lawn add a small amount of sand and a good quality natural turf dressing.

If your garden topsoil is too dry your lawn will not have the deep grewen colour you would expect, as the lawn is not getting the nutrients it needs from the soil. Yes, lawns should be slightly dry but on the other hand they still need moisture to draw those all so important nutrients.