Improvising a covered walkway

Just been to wickes, they have some cement in stock.
Limiting customers to 20 bags.

A couple of pallets don't last long once the jobbing builders hear about it.

I only wanted one, but I should have took all of what they had left and sold them on the black market.

 

Is that half size of the half size ones you get these days.

I remember them when they were 1cwt, and like trying to pick up a dead body.
Not that I've picked up too many dead bodies.

But they just kind of folded up on you or you put your hand through the paper bag.

I could just about get one into a wheel barrow.

There was always this smart arse who would carry one under each arm.

 

So far so good. The first arch is completed and painted. It was a bit awkward to do on my own but it went together easily enough. Next time I will paint the top section before I attach it to the legs to save me balancing the paint tin precariously on the top of a ladder. I'm not very good with ladders.

I've started to tidy up the area where the arches will stand. I am hoping that I will be able to leave the hellebore roughly where it is but push it back until it's against the shed.

I've harvested as many spring bulbs as I could find and I will re plant them in the spring.

I was reading about tiarella today. I think it might be the ideal plant to go on the shed side of the path.

G.

 

I made my own arches, so much easier and cheaper

 

Would I just concrete in the spike or would I have to concrete in the shoe as well. As my plan stands at the moment, the earth on one side of the path will be approximately 3cm (a slab thickness) lower than the other.

G.

I also have to take into consideration the fact that my path slopes down the garden. Its something I was aware of but hadnt factored into my calculations.

 

I have the basic landscaping finished. Even without the arches in place, the garden is looking better.

As I am looking to plant around the arches, its imperative I keep the concreting as minimal as possible. I shall box out the footings before I add he cement mix.

I will need to wait for a dry weekend. Its getting a bit late in the year.

G,

 

The first arch is in. It's a relief to get it done. I was hoping to get both arches in before winter. I dont want to run the risk of the arch being discontinued if I wait until next spring.

Now that is out of the way, I can get on with some of the tidying up jobs that had been put on indefinite hold.

G.

 

It's looking good Jack.

 

You're making good progress, I hope you can get it finished before the winter, you've got a while yet

 

The second arch is now in place. That completes the "covered" section of my covered walkway. I am slightly disappointed that I wasn't able to get everything perfectly square but I don't think anybody else will notice. Hopefully, by this time next year, the whole thing will be covered by plants.

The next big decision will be regarding the gravel path. I intend to keep the slabs and lay gravel around them. I have some gravel but until I start I won't know if I have enough. I don't want to buy a bulk bag if I can help it. If I had to buy in bulk, I would rather choose something more aesthetically pleasing. Thankfully I am in no hurry to commit to anything. The path is perfectly functional as it is and shall still be so in the spring.

So far so good.



G.

 

The building part of my walkway project is now complete. I went for bark chippings in the end instead of gravel. I thought it would be easier to manipulate, it would look natural, and if I bought too much of it, I could use it else where on the garden. Roll on spring so that I can start planting.

G.