Mr Grinch's Garden

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Mr Grinch, Jan 14, 2012.

  1. Mr Grinch

    Mr Grinch Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2012
    Messages:
    1,123
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Rayleigh, Essex
    Ratings:
    +1,359
    Looks a bit clinical at the mo but im hoping the plants will grow to cover the edges. Give it a year. No wild life at the moment apart from a pigeon drinking the other day.

    G
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • ARMANDII

      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

      Joined:
      Jan 12, 2019
      Messages:
      48,096
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +100,838
      That's not the only thing they do in pool, Mr "G"!!! I have to clean out my Birdbath every day due the Pigeons having a drink and then deliberately leave a deposit behind in the water as payment.:gaah::heehee:
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Agree Agree x 1
      • Funny Funny x 1
      • Sheal

        Sheal Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Feb 2, 2011
        Messages:
        35,981
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Dingwall, Ross-shire
        Ratings:
        +53,890
        Looking good Mr. Grinch and it'll look so different later in the year. :dbgrtmb:
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Agree Agree x 1
        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

          Joined:
          Jul 3, 2006
          Messages:
          62,941
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired - Last Century!!!
          Location:
          Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
          Ratings:
          +122,457
          Looking very good, Mr G :)

          Are you going to incorporate a wildlife ramp into the pond? Just a piece of wood near one of the plants in the pond would do it. :blue thumb:

          • Wildlife makes no distinction between natural and man-made ponds provided they are accessible. Shape is crucial: try to incorporate at least one side of the pond with a long, shallow slope. This allows easy access for wildlife and, when water levels fluctuate, creates a damp habitat vital for many beetles, bugs and flies
          • Make steep-sided ponds and water features wildlife friendly by placing a wooden or stone ramp in one corner. Clad the ramp with chicken wire to provide good grip. This allows ducklings, amphibians, birds and unfortunate hedgehogs a way onto dry land. Even frogs and other amphibians can drown if there’s no way out

          It also helps if cats etc. fall in.
           
          • Like Like x 2
          • Mr Grinch

            Mr Grinch Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jan 14, 2012
            Messages:
            1,123
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Rayleigh, Essex
            Ratings:
            +1,359
            Yes i thought about the "ramp" idea. How will i incorporate it though thats the question.
            G
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Mr Grinch

              Mr Grinch Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Jan 14, 2012
              Messages:
              1,123
              Gender:
              Male
              Location:
              Rayleigh, Essex
              Ratings:
              +1,359
              Looking at that picture, you can see the Box. Doesn't look that healthy although not dying, never thriving. They are in a raised bed around this wet area and i had hoped that would be enough for them BUT the i see roots on the surface around them. They are putting on root growth but never downwards always to the side. The reason is after about 30cm the subsoil is very set, so wet that i think only wet loving plants would thrive so instead of going down, they go up. I also have made a mistake i think by incorporating too much compost into the topsoil. The compost is holding onto moisture when ideally, i would like it to drain. I may dig these up, take the soil out then re plant in just a topsoil. See if that helps.

              G
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Mr Grinch

                Mr Grinch Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Jan 14, 2012
                Messages:
                1,123
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Rayleigh, Essex
                Ratings:
                +1,359
                I bought a Euonymus japonicus "Ovatus Aureus" today. The last Photinia came out as its always looked sick in this garden. Nice bit of green and yellow varigation.

                G
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                  Joined:
                  Jul 3, 2006
                  Messages:
                  62,941
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Retired - Last Century!!!
                  Location:
                  Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                  Ratings:
                  +122,457
                  Just a slat of timber would be sufficient. You could have one end resting on the bottom of the pond and held in place by the planter in the pond. The upper edge could be just below the lip of the pond. If that area is shallow you could even use a slate roofing tile, carve a series of grooves in the tile for the wildlife to grip and it would look quite good and match the pond liner. :blue thumb:

                  If it is shallow, and you're coming to our open garden, I can give you a slate. :dbgrtmb:
                   
                  • Friendly Friendly x 2
                  • Lolimac

                    Lolimac Guest

                    Ratings:
                    +0
                    Re the Buxus Mr G,if you decide to dig it up,I'd dig down deeper and add a generous layer of gravel then some compost with a sprinkle of Bonemeal in then replant,just an idea:blue thumb:
                     
                    • Informative Informative x 1
                    • Mr Grinch

                      Mr Grinch Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Jan 14, 2012
                      Messages:
                      1,123
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Rayleigh, Essex
                      Ratings:
                      +1,359
                      Ok Shiney, i will have a look. The pool is only a foot deep at its deepest point. Looking at it. The plastic pond moulded liner has little exit slopes on it for bugs to climb in and out. But ive raised one plant onto a brick a bring anyway then added large stones onto the top of the pot so it gives a very shallow area.

                      When is your open day this year ?

                      G
                       
                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                      Joined:
                      Jul 3, 2006
                      Messages:
                      62,941
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Retired - Last Century!!!
                      Location:
                      Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                      Ratings:
                      +122,457
                    • Mr Grinch

                      Mr Grinch Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Jan 14, 2012
                      Messages:
                      1,123
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Rayleigh, Essex
                      Ratings:
                      +1,359
                    • "M"

                      "M" Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Aug 11, 2012
                      Messages:
                      18,607
                      Location:
                      The Garden of England
                      Ratings:
                      +31,885
                      Cancel it! :doh:


                      :heehee:
                       
                      • Funny Funny x 1
                      • Mr Grinch

                        Mr Grinch Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Jan 14, 2012
                        Messages:
                        1,123
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Location:
                        Rayleigh, Essex
                        Ratings:
                        +1,359
                        Its interesting, the box up near the patio, the dryer end of the garden is budding up waiing to burst with fresh leaf but the box up the wetter end round the pool show no sign at all of new leaf.
                         
                      • Lolimac

                        Lolimac Guest

                        Ratings:
                        +0
                        They really don't like being wet do they.My parterre that I planted up in the Autumn is at the damper side of the garden and I knew I was taking a bit of a risk but like you the area is slightly raised so chanced it.It's doing OK but not thriving as much as the Box at the drier side of the garden so fingers crossed we don't get too much rain:fingers crossed:
                         
                        • Like Like x 1
                        Loading...

                        Share This Page

                        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                          Dismiss Notice