Mike's Evolving Garden

The man who fixed my decking lives just around the corner, literally, about 500 yards away.
While he was doing the decking he said he had some bamboo in his garden and he was going to dig it up because it was taking over ... and he asked me if I would like some.

Of course I said "Yes please", and knowing how they spread I thought I would put it in a pot.

Well yesterday afternoon, while I was in the garden, I heard him calling me from the side entrance, and he and his wife had brought me 'some' bamboo ! - loads of it ! They were both carrying huge clumps of it !

I had a shock at the amount, but thanked them and they went away.
Then I thought "What on earth am I going to do with all that !"
So I found two big pots and planted some in each, and the rest went into my garden waste bin
I put the pots on my new decking area ...





There's more in the bin than in the pots !

 

Very nice indeed. Good height.

 

Maybe you should consider getting a Panda Micheal.

 

What a wonderful transformation and helpful thread, @Michael Hewett. It looks all set for winter now. Do you find the breeze block type bricks absorb heat well? I am thinking of using some as retaining walls for raised beds in my garden. Did the paint stay on the ones that were painted?

 

Thank you all

I don't know if the breeze blocks absorb heat @ClematisDbee I've never thought about it.
They work well as retaining walls, I placed them on their sides, as you've probably noticed.
It's years since I painted any, and the paint does stay on. However they need repainting now. I'll do it in the spring.

 

Thank you @Michael Hewett, I think the blocks would help me crack on in small areas of the garden that are uneven that need bolstering, especially near pathways. It is good to hear the paintwork lasts a while. I might not need to paint them - would have to try them in situ, but would want the option in case needed. Glad I saw your thread!

 

I don't think breeze blocks will retain the amount of heat a stone, or conventional brick, wall would, as they're more porous.
Masonry paint will work best.

 

Most of those soft blocks you get these days are not actually breeze blocks of old, they are I believe thermal blocks that retain some heat but in a raised bed will do the opposite in the winter and keep the bed cold.
The down side could be that they absorb water and may crack if you get hard frost.

 

Hey @pete, Beryl's panda says thanks for the suggestion !



The concrete blocks I've used as retaining walls are the old fashioned ones. I used them in 2008 when I didn't know about the thermal ones.
Those are used for insulation - the men that built my extension 2 yrs ago used them for the inner skin of the walls.
I've used the 'left-over' ones to raise my cold frames off the ground. They are very light, I can pick one up with one hand.