I am so disorganised and rubbish gardener

I'm going to make something for my bathroom sink to sit on. Someone has dumped a load of old building rubble on the beach at the bottom of my lane but I noticed some large concrete air bricks amongst it which I thought might work as a ' stand ' . I can paint them with masonry paint too. Are you going to set up your water spout as a water feature or put it into a pond?

 

That's a great idea ref the bricks, wish I'd thought of it! I wouldn't know how to turn the spout into a water feature, sadly, though I am hoping we can make a very small pond at some point, cos I know there are frogs living in the long grass just at the back of us..no, I was just going to "artistically " ( :p ) screw it to the garden shed I think..I guess you could put a tea light in it at night or something. I'm painting one of those sets of expanding wooden hooks you hang cups etc on at the moment..thats going on the side of the shed too, with planted up tin cans hanging from it I'm hoping. Have you ever looked on Pinterest? there is a wealth of gorgeous ideas on there.

 

If you have a fence, I managed to get on QVC one year the best thing ever..they are plastic hooks that drill onto the fence, and old fashioned teracotta pots which have a lip round the rim clip into them ..so I paint mine different colours every year and plant them up. This was them a good while ago.

 

Your pots look very pretty Hetty What have you got planted in them this year ?

Well, after hubby's wrecking ball operation on Sat and the subsequent clean up I haven't felt much like gardening or doing anything else remotely related to cleaning or working on the house. It seems like for every step forward I take I get dragged back 2 steps. In fact I 've been sitting in the garden for 2 days, watching the birds, listening to them singing and reading a book. Most likely going to be doing the same thing tomorrow too.

 

Good for you! A glass of something or other and a good sit thinking and relaxing in the space always inspires a plan of action ................. either that or a hangover!
Escallonia as a possible shrub?

 

Still sulking on the patio but have been thinking about garden.

I googled this and results said it grows up to 3 metres, which is too large for my space. Pity as it looks quite pretty. I noticed something very similar in other gardens around here. I have another Hydrangea and I'm wondering if I should stick that in and see if it takes. The soil on that bit of the bank quite stony and rooty. What do you think?

Another question but not related to the bank. Do Dianthus and Cottage Pinks prefer soil or compost? I have them planted in both and the ones in soil seem to be doing slightly better.

 

Go for soil then- it's cheaper!

 

Do you mean replace the stony soil on the bank or the compost the flowers are in. I can't really replace the compost as there is a recent burial in the pot and I don't want to disturb it. Was thinking more of moving the flowers if I need to. They are growing and flowering but the ones in soil seem to be doing better, ie, as in more prolific. I've not grown Dianthus and Cottage Pinks before, which is why I asked the question. Would the burial affect the plants? Krystle is buried 3/4 way down the pot. I have other pots with burials in and the plants on top do well.

 

I'm not talking about replacing any soil anywhere - just saying that if you find stuff does as well or better growing in soil then carry on with that, as compost costs a fortune.

When you mention burials, what do you mean exactly? I certainly wouldn't advocate disturbing them. Dianthus are perennial so a good choice for something that might be best as a permanent planting.

 

"The soil on that bit of the bank quite stony and rooty. What do you think?"

If you're still looking for a shrub, I'd say Skimmia would do a good job here as it will tolerate very poor soil and even builders' rubble. Skimmia Fragrans is the one I'd choose as it has a glorious scent in the spring. It will grow quite large but is easy to keep in check and will also grow in a pot.