|
|
Post by ladybird on Aug 25, 2019 9:05:38 GMT
This year has been an all round disaster. My new greenhouse was so hot, things bolted, dried out or fried to death  . Polycarbonate is so easy it diffuses the light and keeps things warmer. Glass is a different story. It was difficult to know weather to put up bubble wrap or shading this year. Most of the wood in the garden , the raised beds, wood frame around the patio , one side of a shed and the double compost bins, all 12-15 years old, are rotting  . I`ve decided to start again asap , all advice welcome . |
|
|
|
Post by Cherry on Aug 25, 2019 9:21:49 GMT
I found the ‘dalek’ compost bins the best, and covered the bottom with chicken wire to prevent rodents from moving in to the comfort. In Queensland, I had a tumble type composter, but I couldn’t turn it when it got heavy and it was not easy to empty either because it had moved and there was no room underneath it to empty it into. I did not turn the compost in the Daleks and it was really perfect. If anyone came to admire my garden, I always showed them the beautiful compost. I had two of these, because in the winter it is slower to mature, so you just start using the other one. My greenhouse was polycarbonate and I had learnt to manage it very well, It was only a cheap one, but really good.
|
|
|
|
Post by ladybird on Aug 25, 2019 12:26:28 GMT
I got a round plastic compost bin from our council a few weeks ago Cherry with only a £10 charge for delivering . Its a really good shape so I might get another one . I built a double bin from Geoff Hamilton's instructions and there were great but I didn't use treated wood for the posts so is falling to bits now but it was good for turning the heap though it still took several years to decompose and get so many seedling from the seeds growing in the veg patch.
|
|
|
|
Post by SueA on Aug 26, 2019 7:29:20 GMT
I've got 2 'dalek' type compost bins, one of them was free from our council years ago & I brought it from our old house ladybird & as Cherry says they work really well & I don't bother turning the compost, I do get ants nesting in them sometimes but they don't cause a problem & actually help make the compost very fine as though they've sieved it! My glass greenhouse has been very hot this year too even though I leave the door wide open all day & it has an automatic vent in the roof, I didn't put any shading up & I don't like the faff of painting on/washing off shade paint but may try the idea of just fixing some horticultural fleece over the sunniest side if it's very sunny next year. I've seen people just throw an old cotton sheet over the roof for shade but it does get very windy here so I'd probably be chasing it over the garden fences!  |
|
|
|
Post by ladybird on Aug 26, 2019 12:57:09 GMT
I bought a huge roll of green builders netting Sue but I haven't figured out yet whether to fix it on the outside and the best way to do that so I can can pull it back quickly on dull days.
|
|
|
|
Post by ladybird on Aug 26, 2019 13:07:54 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by SueA on Aug 27, 2019 7:37:39 GMT
It looks like everything's being getting on top of you a bit ladybird, I know you're like me & don't like throwing anything away but I'd start by throwing out any of your old pots which are broken or damaged & the old sheets of plastic unless you're going to lay them down to suppress weeds, if you can't get to a tip I'd just put a few at a time in the bin & I'd repot your trees into bigger pots if you don't want to put them in the ground. You've got that little raised patio you had the steps put in for so I'd clear that & just put the acer & your swan planters back on that, didn't you have a patio seating set on there before? I see what you mean about your wooden compost bays, it's a shame as they looked good but even if you use pressure treated wood it doesn't last forever, I had a raised veg. bed at our old house which was treated & painted but eventually started to crumble after about 10 years, probably because of all the rain we get - probably the same where you are. |
|
|
|
Post by ladybird on Aug 27, 2019 9:00:38 GMT
A right mess Sue, I lost heart a bit after Peter died last year . he used to sit in the front garden but I`ve not even weeded it and now its full of docks and alcamilla mollies after two summers of neglect. I went about yesterday with weedkiller spray so its a start  . When the "builders" were erecting the new greenhouse they dumped everything into the garden ( I had a lot stored in there  ) and there are two very heavy concrete fencing posts I used for the base of my last greenhouse (not sure what to do with them ), bags of weedy compost , plastic bags, builders sand ,all the L shaped galvanized steel bits from my old norfolk greenhouse that I used for shelving, pots .... all useful stuff though ( did I mention I am a hoarder ) I did fill two black bins with rubbish from the shed though and all the old polycarbonate I got rid of bit by bit in the bins as well. I have managed to dig up and take apart all the raised beds yesterday and some pieces have a bit of life in them. Other well rotted bits I'll store behind the shed to rot away as its pressure treated and can't be burned. I might make my new raised beds a bit narrower perhaps 3 foot wide as I found the 4 foot ones a bit of a stretch. |
|
|
|
Post by SueA on Aug 28, 2019 7:27:26 GMT
It sounds like you've made a good start ladybird with re-planning the veg. beds, it must have been really daunting looking at the mess left by the builders & overwhelming after your loss but it will make you feel a bit better when it looks tidier. I'm a hoarder too but every so often something will push me to sort things out (even if I do put half of it back!  ) & if you keep at it you'll get there. I wouldn't sow quite as many seeds next year either, they looked lovely in your greenhouse but you have to have the time & space to pot them all on & plant them out & it's depressing if they bolt or damp off before you get the chance to do it. Good luck & keep us up to date with your progress. |
|
|
|
Post by Eli on Aug 28, 2019 20:38:58 GMT
Take it one step at a time ladybird and you'll get it done. It seems daunting but little by little you'll conquer it
|
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Jan 8, 2020 12:39:29 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by ladybird on Jan 28, 2020 11:28:25 GMT
Well Roofy......I didn't bother doing anything In the front garden last year only sprayed the docks. cant tell where the paths are anymore. I didn't take SueA`s advise and sowed loads of stuff, flowers, tomatoes and veg in cell trays which found their way out side for hardening off and that was where they stayed and mostly died as all the beds were so overgrown with weeds there was no where to plant them. I did get a few tomatoes I repotted in the greenhouse but they too never made it to the grow bags and wee stunted. So all in all a poor show  I did manage to break up the very heavy timbers around the veg beds . They were put together with hugh L shaped brackets which had rusted and were very difficult to remove, but I managed it. here is a picture of the back garden WHEN IT WAS FIRST DONE in 2007  this is it at the moment:  |
|
|
|
Post by roofgardener on Jan 28, 2020 11:44:29 GMT
Hmmm... soooooo... perhaps a LEEETLE bit of work required ?  |
|
|
|
Post by ladybird on Jan 28, 2020 12:05:58 GMT
The plan for 2020 is : 1. Clear the shed out ( shed no 1 with all gardening stuff) I haven't seen the floor of that since 2009 , I wonder what's in the back of it ? 2. Order new wood for new raised beds and possibly new cold frames as I have a load of really good polycarbonate behind the sofa. just have to make them now ! 3. Get all the rubbish from all over the garden and sheds, order a skip and get rid. ( and try not to take stuff out again with ideas to reuse it) 4. Get quite a few large pots so I have some where to plant the flowers if the front garden isn't ready . DONE5. Plan and prepare new raised veg beds ( not an easy task as the weeds and rushes are well established and no weed killer goes in there. 6. Either get the wheelbarrow puncture fixed or buy a new wheelbarrow. 7. lay slabs in front of the greenhouse for seating area with loads of sweet pea growing up the fences. 8. plant out all the stuff still alive that has been lingering in pots for years. ( a brambly apple tree has been in a wheel barrow for past 10 years with Hawthorne & Gooseberry bushes. 9. Wash all the pots and trays ( half way there) get more compost for seed sowing, up date seed file ( nearly finished) , make list of seed to sow in Jan and Feb and start sowing. DONE10. paint the fences. 11. sow seeds at the right time and in moderation. I`m trying, really trying Think that's all for the moment. NOT TO SELF: Do not buy any more seeds and NO, absolutely NO bulbs Well that resolutoopn was a waste of time , T&M had a £1 a packet seed sale and a fab offer of "grow your own bumperpack" with a blue berry, strawberries and a blackcurrant bush plus 10 packets of seeds plant food and 5 fuchsias for £14.99 how could I resist that  but no more bulbs |
|
|
|
Post by ladybird on Jan 28, 2020 12:09:44 GMT
Hmmm... soooooo... perhaps a LEEETLE bit of work required ? Indeed Roofy ! but as you see I have a plan  and add no 10. paint all the fences.
|
|
. Polycarbonate is so easy it diffuses the light and keeps things warmer. Glass is a different story. It was difficult to know weather to put up bubble wrap or shading this year. 
. 
.
) & if you keep at it you'll get there. I wouldn't sow quite as many seeds next year either, they looked lovely in your greenhouse but you have to have the time & space to pot them all on & plant them out & it's depressing if they bolt or damp off before you get the chance to do it. Good luck & keep us up to date with your progress. 
and add no 10. paint all the fences. 