Hello and welcome to my garden! I have not featured the garden on my blog in a long time and with good reason - it is a disaster that I just cannot keep on top of. Well, not the garden itself but actually the decking area. We have a really large area of the garden that is raised decking, but the truth is the past couple of years it hasn't even been used - in fact I've actively cornered it off as I feel it is unsafe for the family. This is it here:

Now you might look at this first picture and think 'oohh what a nice large area of deck to have to enjoy summer meals' etc, and you would be right, but take a closer look and you can see how problematic it is:

Every year I take a good two weeks out to fix and mend broken deck boards, clean, sand, paint the deck and the railings. It is tiresome and labour-intensive. It also means that if we have nice spring weather, the area cannot be used until I have managed to find those two weeks to do it all up beforehand. I think the main problem is the fact this huge tree looms over the space:

Birds sit in here and do their 'business' which sticks like glue, so when I try and power hose it off all the deck stain I've spent weeks applying shoots off the deck! Green slime and algae also just constantly grow all over the boards. As the deck is shaded it never really drys off after heavy rainfall so the basic deck boards just sit and soak up the water, leading to lots of it having to be replaced every year. This year the base structure of the area has become sodden and started to rot and because of this the side rails are loose - one strong push and they would all fall off! I think this space is really going to need some foundation repair.

If I do not do the DIY work myself then I have to pay someone to do it for me at a significant cost (which is why I've never got anyone to do it for me!) Yet, even when I DIY, this area is 6m x 5m so I spend a lot on 5L tins of decking stain and exterior wood paint. To be honest, enough was enough, I'd had it with this deck area yet it pains me to lose it, which is why this year I am getting rid of these basic timber deck boards and replacing it with high-performance composite decking by Trex.

I had never heard of composite decking, nor the brand Trex, but when I was contacted on behalf of the brand about working together this year to promote Trex it was a match made in heaven! This is exactly the sort of product that I was looking for to replace my timber deck boards! Trex Transcend decking is a low-maintenance, environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional deck. Made from 95% recycled materials (recycled plastic, timber and sawdust) it guarantees to not fade or stain for 25 years, while resisting moss and algae. It won't splinter or rot, plus it comes in a wide range of colours from on-trend modern greys, to more traditional browns and reds.

I was sent some tester samples and the shell of the board is as solid as anything - no wonder it lasts! It also looks just like real deck on the outer shell, if not a bit sleeker. From the vast colour ranges available I chose Lava Rock, pictured below, as I just loved the warm tone that it had:

Trex boards are as easy to install as hardwood, but rather than have a go at it myself I'm getting in the Pro's and the team are laying it next week! I'm so excited as I cannot wait to style this space and actually use it properly this summer. As well as deck, Trex also do powder-coated aluminium railings which I am also having put in, getting rid of all rotting material completely.

My plan for the space is have a large table and chairs for family meals, festoon lights for atmospheric lighting and big pots of scented English patio roses dotted around the edges (with the knowledge that when I move the pots there won't be a ton of woodworm eating the deck underneath!)

If you want to find out more about Trex Transcend Decking then pop by in a week to see how the building progress is going in my garden (if you sign up to my newsletter then I'll send the Trex deck build update to your inbox!)

* This post is sponsored by Trex who are collaborating with me on the transformation of my garden deck space by providing all materials and labour in exchange for promotional activity. Header Image credit: Trex