Mr Grinch's Garden

Found out today that as i dont need 58 slabs (pallet) to finish the job, the remainder of the slabs are gonna cost £8.60 instead of £6.80 each !!!!! That made my mind, these slabs wont be coming up and i just have to live with it.
Money or the lack of can be a sobering thought.

 

Right here's where i am:
Here's the pic of my agony. I just cant believe what i did. Its even a wee bit crooked. I think the last slab may have to come up but the rest i can work with, i think i can get the straight line back no problem. Just a few adjustments.


I striped the turf yesterday. I just need to dig out the top soil, and add the base and i can get laying again (this time with experianced help). I ordered 15 slabs today, but will take 3 weeks to come so plenty more planning to do.



Bit concerned about the drainage issue at the top left of the garden:



I will probably run a soak away trench from this corner down to the area on the right hand side of the patio. This often stays dry as there's the soak away for the house underneath. I will feed this trench into that to releive that corner.

Saved some Hellebore seedlings today, will keep them potted up for a year or two.



G

 

I'm far from an expert Mr G but probably the last slab will have to come up so as to get back on track even though it's only a fraction out you could leave it but getting the line back may make that slab more noticeable..probably not to anyone else but you know it's there....it looking great so far

 

I fear you maybe right lolimac.
Its amazing, the 2nd slab is only out by 5mm, but this resulted it being out by 2cm on that last slab. I think i can get away with the other two but as you say, that fourth one may be out too much. Better get a chisel out

 

Could you not use a sledgehammer to knock the slab back towards the grass, thus back into line without lifting it ?

Jack McH

 

Im going to give it a go Jack. These slabs are now £8 od quid, stupid high price really for what they are so i want to keep it. If it does come off easily then a sledge hammer and chisel will get the mortar up no probs i think.

G

 

No mate, they are rock solid. I will use the plank trick though to get that last one out

 

Dug out the remainder of the soil out last night then disposed of it down the dump today. Added some hard core, then a mix of sharp sand and cement to blind it. Then whacked down.


Had a little mark out after of the rest of the path. Not sure whether i should go a little wider on the right hand side ? Then again it may not look even. Not sure.


G

 

That is going to look lovely Mr Grinch

 

My only concern chimney is that the lawn part will be VERY small once i get the box in. It does not concern me as i think sometimes less means more (if you know what i mean) but the lady wife may have some issues. The box may have to wait until the kids are a bit older.

G

 

I know what you mean. I want to re do my path to "balance" the garden design a bit but that means less lawn and my little 2 year old needs all the lawn she can get at the mo.

 

Its certainly been wet today. Gardens under water !!!

G

 

Wow another very wet and windy day. So much for the drought.
The garden is under water. Next door is the same and my neighbours at the bottom of the garden. It does drain away but it usually takes 36 hours. Serious thougth will be needed to try and rectify this but realistically, if every surrounding garden is the same then what hope have I ?







The only good news is the patio drains well

 

Weather Watch
Heavy rain showers again today. The water just hasn’t the time to drain before another heavy shower looms over. This must be the wettest few weeks for a long while. We usually do not get much down here in South Essex.
Grinch Garden Watch
Cant do anything. Everything boggy and wet. My next lot of slabs will be coming Saturday, so hopefully over the next few weeks the next phase of the path will be laid. Im also trying to figure out what type of sub base i will be using on the rest of the paths. Im conscious of the very poor drainage in the area so i do not want to create wet pockets when dividing the garden up with the paths. I thought about Type 1 MOT but i read that its not that porous when whacked down. Not sure what else i can use. Maybe hardcore blinded by sharp sand, this time with no cement mix in with it.
I must say, i have noticed more birds in the garden this spring. Sparrow's, Wood Pigeon’s, Collared Doves, the odd Blue and Great Tit. Even seen a Wren. Even though the area is a well established residential area, the Bird count is often very poor.
G