So this is my humble lot. I need some serious moral support with it at the moment! This photo is from March when I had just started removing paving slabs. At this point all I'd done is plant the pare tree on the left. The plan was to remove the middle section of patio and change the shape of the borders to give more structure, and some different areas for privacy. It didn't quite go as planned... Under the slabs was 6" of weak mix, concrete, agrigate and sand. The raised beds are not made of blocks as I thought but paving slabs backed with 3" concrete, reenforced with iron rods. :eek: Now I have a garden full of rubble and I have barely even started on the retaining walls! I have a loads of poor plants in pots with nowhere to go. I have moved about 3 tonnes of rubble so far but there's maybe a tonne and a half to go. It all has to be put into bags and carried through the house. The only thing I have actually achieved is I've dug out and sieved the border at the back, and planted with some really nice things I am so fed up with it now - I don't know what I was thinking taking this on on my own! At least I have developed very toned biceps. :D words of encouragement appreciated!
Evening, Sparkle! You have such a good plot to work with there, so much potential. You also have some nice looking trees / shrubs in pots in lots of lovely colours just waiting for you to plant them .... :D :D :D Persevere, build up those biceps and sweat a bit ... it's worth it in the long run, believe me. Go for it and good luck!
Keep going sparkle, ive been where you are now and you can't move for rubbish and pots. Just persevere and get yourself a skip. Looking at these old photos I had quite a bit of space compared to the end. I like your curves Im sure you could do a tidy jungle in your plot, and another tree in front of the shed would be good. Don't give up, just take your time and try and enjoy doing it. When you look back the journey is as much fun as arriving. BM
I had a skip as well, BM, so been there. What do you mean you "I like your curves" :D have you seen them ??? Seriously, a BM jungle would be wonderful in your space, sparkle.
I am a big LOVER...........of curves..............and raised beds. makes the jungle that much better because you can walk under the elevated foliage. :eek:
Hi Sparkle!!!! I also am in the middle of a landscaping nightmare, but we have had to get a chap in at the small cost of several �£1000's!!!! and we have a small plot.... its a long story with me... Anyway - keep at it - Rome wasn't built in a day, and the almighty smugness you are going to get at the end will be second to none. In two to three years time, you will look at your garden and know it was all your own blood, sweat and tears..... ..... and a purple Passion Flower, deep pink Clematis and a yellow climbing rose on your back fence, all jumbled up together would look wonderful!!
Thank you all for your lovely words! I'm glad it's not just me who feels like giving up half way through. Honey Bee and Lady of Leasure - I just planted a passion flower browing growing up the back fence next to the honeysuckle (don't know what colour - it was a gift so will be a surprise!), and a golden hop growing up the shed. Hopefully I'm going to have a pergola with trellace hiding the shed and I have a kiwi from my sister and grape vine from my dad to grow up that. I love the Banana Man jungle I am seriously re-considering my plan, but also apprehensive about taking on more than I can cope with! Having a sister who works for Hilliers has saved me loads of cash on plants - she's given me some lovely shrubs and trees. But it's also given me a tendancy to plan the garden around those big shrubs rather in order to make the most of them which is maybe not the best way to go about it. I feel much more motivated now anyway, so thank you all! I will keep upi updated.
The original plant was to demolish what was there and re-build in nice re-claimed brick in a more formal design - but I have realised that it's just not realistic with the resources I've got available. I am using the old paving slabs to build the raised beds instead so I can at least get the plants in before they die! Hopefully it wont look too bodged.
