Eddie J

confused..

Another vote for the Dr. Hessayon books. Just enough info without baffling you with detail. Worth every penny.

The soil test kit is a another brilliant idea, sadly though through my own experience the kits seem very hit and miss. Two test kits from the same manufacturer can give differing results.

A Gardeners World back to back test feature would be good.

Work in Progress

Hi Daniel. Thank you for the kind words.

I can't deny that it hasn't been and isn't hard work, but the main hard landscaping aspect of the garden is now drawing to a close.

Oddly despite all that I have achieved, I am still disappointed in the result so far. I actually prefer smaller gardens, the smaller the better. Some of the best designs have been achieved in areas as small as a balcony on a flat for example.

I love the intimacy and vibrancy that can be created in a small space. Sadly unless you have a bottomless pit of money, and a 100 year time slot spare to create it, you just don't get that effect with large gardens. Visually, I'm sure that in many respects you can spend more time looking at a small garden than a big one.

Part of the problem with this garden is the time to create it and the time to maintain it. I can't do both, so currently the shrub and flower boarders around the lawn areas are very tight and straight. Once I have finished the hard work, I can then start to create wider beds that meander and flow. Sadly it currently an unbalanced compromise.

The large logstack with the arched seat would probably not have been started had I known how long that it took to build. There is approx 18 cubic metres of logs in it, and I spent nearly three months of winter Sunday mornings building it.

Even the Honey Pot one took a week to make. Having said that, it did collapse and I had to start all over again! I quiet enjoyed making that one though, and found it a very good way to just relax and clear the mind. I have a big problem with being indoors during day light hours, I just can't do it and need to be outside doing something, no matter what it is.

Anyway, that is enough rambling from me!!

One collapsed logstack.

Tip to save money in your garden

I have just remembered the most important money saving idea.

The washing machine drum fire pit.

Tip to save money in your garden

Here are a few more money saving ideas..

A nice and simple tomato plant support made from half a pallet and a bit of old water pipe.

 This shed only cost £70.00 to build and will probably out last all of us. The £70.00 cost went on ballast/cement and steel for the concrete base. The rest is was pretty much sourced from skip diving.

 For free storage you can do alot worse than get hold of the front of a luton lorry body. Commercial vehicle breakers yards are glad to get rid of them. I keep meaning to make up some doors for it, but it isn't high on my list of jobs.

Another way to get cheap but strong storage, is to get hold of old industrial building cladding.

  Fold out runner bean frames is another good one. Whilst there is an initial cost to purchase the wood, they can be used year after year with no cost. Simply pick them up and store them through the winter. With my design, I can use them either way up, and they are self supporting.

Shed Base

Simply because I work within the construction industry, I have never used anything other than reinforced concrete, and was all set to critise the product that you had linked to as I had never seen it before.

I can't do that though, as after doing a Google search, I reckon that the product could make life much simpler for many people. If you have a level site to begin with, you could well be onto a winner, and thanks for introducing it to me.

Work in Progress

A very grubby bit of oak that I found laying against a bank on the side of a road. I thought that it had great potential to become a seat, and whilst not yet finished, you can get the idea.

 A little mouse.

 Another simple bird table.

 A snake made from pine cones.

 And finally for this evening some nicely finished oak gate posts.

I have no lawn left...help

I'm guessing that there probably isn't a sensible solution without involving some form of hard landscaping, so maybe you could just try fencing of a section the garden off using unobtrusive black plastic deer netting, then move it periodically to suit.

Dry Bank..need suggestions

You could try Vinca 'Minor' or 'Major' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinca_major 

Both survive very well under harsh conditions, and spread/root freely.

Work in Progress

And a few more photos of the woodwork in the garden.

 Again, there is more to follow.

Work in Progress

Thanks Lorelei, but I can't lay claim to the garden being mine. It's my mum-in-laws and I just get to play, share and develop it just how I like.

Anther project that I carried out last summer was the construction of this wall. I need to wait for the spring before I can finish the soil and planting works.

Again all my own work.

 A neighbours daughter helped me with the stone pathway. She set the stones out and I laid them. It's good to get children involved with projects.

Just before I had finished building the wall, I came up with the idea of fitting a time capsule into it.

The wall is finished in these two shots and the plate is being fitted by my daughter.

 Even the time capsule was fun to do. My daughter and the neighbours daughter decided what to put inside of it, and this is what they each wrote.

 For some reason the top is missing from this one. I'll have to try and find the original photo and try again.

A few snow shots taken in the garden

Raised, bordered vegatable beds (Something to think about)

Work in Progress