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I recently demolished my garage in order to extend the garden and within the last few days I have broken out the garage floor slab. The idea is to create flowerbeds around the perimeter and to lay turf adjacent to that. The broken out flooring was only a couple of inches thick and once I have broken it down even more I was intending to put a topsoil/compost mix on top to create the flowerbeds. I am assuming that the broken up flooring will assist with drainage and stop the soil from simply washing away when it rains? I have several bags of Homebase topsoil and was intending to mix them in with compost of some sort. Can anyone offer advice and tell me if this is a good idea? I intend to plant climbing roses and honeysuckle at the far end of the garden because I have installed trellis at high level. Going forward I will be planting runner beans and tomatoes on the more exposed wall and pyracantha and other Sparrow friendly plants elsewhere. I will post some photos when I get home, in order to give a better idea of the layout. Hope someone can offer some advice. Thanks.
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
Looking good, MC. If Hampton Court maze is closed I'll know where to come. LOL. Quite a little wildlife oasis you've created in the urban jungle.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Thanks TJ. It's progressing nicely, but there's some way to go yet. Hopefully I will have more plants by the time Spring comes around and the insects will also see fit to pay the garden a visit. I just need to plan the layout. I don't want it to be too organised, but there again I need to be able to access everything at some point.
Today was too wet for working on the garden, but ideal for working in the SBS. I took the opportunity to construct a new frame along the low wall between my garden and the one next door. It took a while, but I'm pleased with the results.
Newly constructed frame, which runs from the relocated gate section to the front elevation. It is essentially made from various offcuts of timber, so it's a bit cobbled together. Still, it does the job and is far better than the original SBS which was basically just sections of mesh which had been tied together.
Looking towards the house from the gate. The idea is to create small frames of 2x1 and mesh and then fix them to the large frame pictured on the right. It should make for a sturdier SBS.
The SBS as it currently is, with the repositioned arch and gate sections, as well as the first sections of overhead frame and side frames. Hopefully tomorrow will also be conducive to working in the garden and I should make further progress.
I will attach sections of the galvanised mesh to the top of the frame, but bent to a 45 degree angle, just to offer more protection.
Hopefully Tom Jones would approve...
I'm sure he would MC ... the combination of much rain together with sunny & mild weather is certainly conducive to grass production!!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
another productive day so well done MC, its all coing together nicely and the grass gives a lovely soft setting to it all; just wait till springtime when all those trellis climbers start growing and blooming :) looking at the forecast, I think you may be in for rain tomorrow :( hope it doesn't spoil your plans and that you get some good dry spells with robins in full song :)
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Regards, Hazel
Can't believe how fast that grass is growing MC. The strimmer or lawn mower will need to be taken out soon!!!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
It's a wonderfully bright shade of green too.
There's been such a lot of progress since you started, MC! It's really taking shape now and your hard work starting to pay off. The grass is amazing in such a short time and I'm sure your abundant bird food will have diverted any birds from taking the seed!
I've moved now and I'm looking at the garden and planning for the changes I'll start in the spring; I'm going to put in a new potting shed/summerhouse when the old one goes, with an SBS at the back for the birds. There's a six foot fence at the back {ours) and bushes at either end so there'll be good cover. I'll have to think about some plants for the shade because sunshine will be limited by the structures. It'll be a while before it's organised but that will give me some time to build a clientele during the winter months.
I'll be watching your progress; thanks for all the inspiration.
Wuw its really looking great! and hard work is really paying of, Can't wait to see it in the spring n' summer when everything is growing and flowering, i'm sure you're going to have quite alot of visitors :)The way you're able to maximise the space you have, i think it makes you're garden seem bigger too :)
Your grass has really made a huge difference to the garden MC, took me a while to work it out but that was one of the first singles I bought!!LOL
This damp mild weather is great for grass growing, ours won't stop!
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France