My Garden Progress

Hi Kevin,

That sounds fine to me.

With all the work that has had to be done to your house this last year or so Kevin, it would probably have been cheaper to move. I'm joking of course.

My fingers are crossed for the landscaping work to be done on schedule....and properly this time.

 

Hello @Sheal

Thanks, I will plant the Spiraea 1.2m apart, hopefully that will suffice.

The two Spiraea have been removed this morning, the person I got to remove them on Friday rang me asking if he could remove them this morning since it is too wet for him to cut any Lawns.

One of the Spiraea took a fair bit of persuading to come out, its root ball was massive, the other one which has never done well, basically came out with little fuss.

You are correct in saying that I have had a lot done to the House this past Year, unfortunately, there is more to go.

The Bathroom and Kitchen are the originals from when my Mum and I moved here in 1988.

I have had a few Quotes done for the Bathroom and Kitchen to give me an idea of what I am looking at and the Bathroom is approximately £3000 and the Kitchen is approximately £5400.

For someone in my position, that is a lot of money, I will start saving and see how I do

I think the Kitchen will be first as that is more central.

Anyway, Patio, Paving and Setts first, then get those Sealed, then Table and Bench, then........

All fun

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

I had a Spiraea many years ago that grew very fast. Within a couple of years it was taking over the flower bed it was in so it had to be removed. It also had a large root ball and took a lot of spade work to remove it.

If you moved to your house in 1988 I think it's done well until now. Unfortunately they are expensive when it comes to replacing kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems. It's not as simple as giving a room a coat of paint. I ordered new door handles today for the whole house as the mechanisms in them are breaking one by one. Unfortunately the mechanism, or latches as they are called, have to be bought separately and I still need to do that. It would make life easier if they were sold as complete kits.

 

I've just removed a spiraea from my garden too and the root was massive!

 

Hello @Harri

It is surprising how big the root balls can get, it even surprised the Landscaper I hired to remove them.

At least they are both gone now so I can start again, the two Spiraea Japonica Shirobana should be here on Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks

Kevin

 

Hello all

I hope you are well.

Today, I decided that I would remove the Pebbles between the Paving and the House that were placed when the original Company, I do not want to call them Landscapers, did the Patio, Paving and Setts.

After the Landscapers come in Late April to re-lay everything I am planning on filling the narrow strip which is approximately 7" wide and runs the length of the House and around the corner with Top Soil and then planting Geranium 'Rozanne' again, I originally had them in that spot prior to having the Patio, Paving and Setts done in March 2020 which looked really good, unfortunately after the work was done I had nowhere to put them so I had to give them away.

So, removing the Pebbles.....

I was expecting to just use a scoop to remove the Pebbles, but, no, it was not that easy

When the original Company laid the Paving they Haunched it and spread the Cement nearly all the way to the House, then, they spread the Pebbles in the area, you guessed it, onto wet Cement

I have spent Yesterday and this Morning with a Lump Hammer and Builders Chisel removing the Pebbles

I have also removed the excess Cement which has left me with a relatively clean trench with a few stray Pebbles, Geranium 'Rozanne' like Free Draining Soil so that should help.

I have some 20KG Bags of Top Soil being Delivered on Tuesday, I may or may not fill the area now, I may wait until after the Landscapers come, I am not sure

Either way, it looks a lot better than it did before which is always a plus

Moan over

Thanks

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

Why are things never straight forward and sent to try our patience? I think I'd hold back on laying the topsoil. If the landscapers make a mess it will be good money wasted.

The Geraniums will look nice, they are lovely when in full bloom.

 

Hello @Sheal

If you ever figure out that question, please let me know, I hate Tests

I will leave putting the Top Soil in the strip until the Landscapers have been, I will just top up the area where the Spiraea were removed as it is more of a dish shape at the moment.

Regarding the Geranium 'Rozanne', am I right in thinking that they should be planted 300mm apart?

Thanks

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

Some how I don't think that will ever happen.

There seems to be different opinions on the spread of Geranium 'Rozanne'. Sizes ranging from 45cm to 90cm. You said previously you've had 'Rozanne' before, can you remember approximately how far it spread?

 

Hello @Sheal

Unfortunately, I did not have the Geranium 'Rozanne' long enough for them to mature.

I had the Garden Planted in September of 2019 and the Patio. Paving and Setts were laid in March 2020, so, they never really grew much beyond what they were in the Pots, however, they were a fair size (2L Pots) and still in flower when they were planted.

Regarding the spacing, I believe they were planted 300mm apart, if that is correct then it is going to be expensive, but worth it.

Thanks

Kevin

 

If they were planted 300mm apart then that suggests the overall spread is at least twice that. They can be planted at that width again or a little further apart.

If you buy them in 2 litre pots again there is no reason why you shouldn't chop them in half to give you twice as many plants. Geraniums are tough and forgiving plants. I have one that has been split up many times and still puts on a lovely display every year. It sounds brutal but I chop through them with a spade and then replant. Because they grow fast they heal very quickly and will fill out fully the following year.

 

Hello @Sheal

I have just been out to measure the space, it is freezing out there at the moment, and it is approximately 5.7m (19') so I would require 19 Plants.

I think what I will probably do is buy 10 2L Plants and plant at 2' spacings, at £10 per 2L Plant, that will be £100.

If, as you say, I can split the Plants then that would make up the extra required to have a Plant every 1'.

I need to get the Patio, Paving and Setts done first but I like to have a Plan, at least then I know what to expect, not that Plans ever go to Plan, but.....

Thanks

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

My maths isn't great but if you have 19ft of space and bearing in mind they spread to about 2ft, you won't need 19 plants but half that amount. There's also the possibility the end plants will be right on the edge of that ground, so they could be moved further in to avoid overlapping the edges when they are fully grown.

Overcrowding with a plant every 1ft will not do them any good, it will restrict air circulation and create possible die back.

I know exactly how you feel. I'm having a nightmare at the moment trying to get the right components/mechanisms to go with new internal door handles for the whole house. Why does everything have to be so complicated?

 

Hello @Sheal

Thanks for the reply.

I do not know what I was thinking regarding the number of required plants, I am usually good at numbers

I think the easiest thing for me to do is to get some pegs and space them out along the area and see how many it comes to, I should of done that first, hindsight is a wonderful thing

The 1' spacing was actually recommended by the Nursery so hopefully that should be right, hopefully, I shall see.

Thanks

Kevin

 

Hello @Sheal

Well, I went out this morning, at 08:30 and it was really nice out there, with a Tape Measure and some Pegs.

With a Spacing of 1', I will require 11, 12 or 13 Plants depending on the corners etc., so, I may start with 11 and if I need more I can always add to them.

I also had the 6 x 20KG Bags of Topsoil delivered while I was out there, so, a couple of bags have been emptied on the area where the Spiraea will be planted, raked out and watered to settle it, I will see if I need anymore on the area once it dries out.

The Spiraea have not been Despatched yet, I Ordered them last Monday so I rang them this Morning and they said that they may, may, be Despatched today and Delivered Tomorrow.

So, there may, may, be Photos Tomorrow, but, maybe not

Thanks

Kevin