My Garden Progress

They is nothing for the domestic consumer now for tackling worm cast except brush or a swish, they say a birch broom is best brush for it. Treating the lawn with iron can help discourage them. If its quite a big piece I usually pick them up with a little garden fork and discard into the borders.

 

I might be totally wrong here @Kevin Cowans , but are worm casts supposed to be good to add to pots as a form of fertiliser or soil conditioner?

 

I remove worm casts from the lawn using an upside down tine rake, with the tines facing upwards. Sweeping it across the lawn from side to side breaks the casts up and spreads them into the earth below. It works best if the casts are dry but is still effective if they are damp, but not saturated when you wouldn’t be working on the lawn anyway . I wouldn’t use any chemicals to deter the worms as blackbirds feed on them.

 

Hi Kevin,

It's a shame your Ceonothus was damaged but it should recover when it starts to re-shoot in the Spring.

There is a very good reason I moved the bird station Kevin. My garden is surrounded by twelve cats and having it in a central position the birds can see them coming. If the station was close to the shrubs the birds wouldn't stand a chance. There are four Siamese cats living in the house at the back of mine and they are the worst. They jump the 6ft high back fence easily and creep towards the station. In fact, I've found them sitting under it at times and the birds stay away of course. I don't like cats and find them a menace but there's nothing I can do.

On the other subject discussed. There isn't a rat problem here - with or without the cats.

You could pick the worm casts up with a small garden trowel and put them on the beds. Plantminded's idea of using a tine rake is good.

 

Hello @Sheal

Regarding the Bird Feeder, it makes sense to move it.

Since this will be your First Year with the New Garden, you could always look at adding Plants, Shrubs and Trees that have Food for the Birds, Insects etc.

When I Planted my Garden in 2018, Plants, Shrubs and Trees were chosen that would provide Food for the Wildlife such as Berries, Fruit and Seeds.

Because of this I have been able to remove the Bird Feeders which has eliminated the Rat problem and as a Bonus, has Saved me a fair bit on the Cost of the Bird Food whilst knowing that the Birds still have Food available to them.

Just a Thought

Kevin

 

There are a good number of shrubs in the garden that supply the birds with berries, but I'm yet to find out if there is anything growing that will supply them with seed. I like to feed the birds as I can watch which types are visiting the garden from a window and make use of my camera at the same time.

 

Hello @Sheal

As they say, leave a New Garden for a Year to see what is present, always a Good Idea

The biggest issue I have with the Birds currently is that when the Sparrowhawk is Perched in the Garden the Birds do not visit, for obvious reasons

Kevin

 

Hello all

Well, I have completed the First Pressure Wash of the Patio, Paving and Setts of the Year.

I will probably do another Clean in March as this one was to mainly remove all the Green etc. accumulated over the Last few Months.

This is how it looks at the moment:



Much Better, and it will be a lot less Slippery once it Dries.

Thanks

Kevin

 

Hello all

I Hope you are Well.

Well, the Saga of the Patio continues.

It seems that when the Patio was Pointed during the Re-Laying using the Romex RomPox Easy Jointing Compound, the Compound was Swept into the Gaps but was not Pressed into the Gaps using a Pointing Tool to ensure that the Whole Gap was Filled.

Now, some areas of the Pointing have Cracked, Dropped into the Gaps due to the Gaps not being Filled properly or have Grass and Weeds growing in it which should not happen with Resin Jointing Compound

The process of Re-Laying the Patio can be seen in This Thread, here:

My Garden Progress

For the Last Couple of Weeks I have been getting Quotes for Grinding Out the Old Jointing Compound, Cleaning Out the Gaps to at least 25mm and then Re-Applying the Jointing Compound, pushing it down into the Gaps with a Pointing Tool.

I actually had a Disagreement with one Landscaper as he told me that the Paving is Porcelain, it is not, it is Kandla Grey Indian Sandstone but he would not accept that

He said that he has been Laying Paving for 13 Years and that he knows Natural Stone.

Obviously not, needless to say that he is not getting the Job

All of the Quotes are around the same Price, approximately £900

The Job needs doing as, if I leave it, more Damage could be done to the Slabs, especially if it is not done before Next Winter.

I have Booked in a Company to do the Work, the Week beginning Monday 09 June.

Will I ever get to a Place where everything is as it should be

All Fun

Kevin

 

Hello all

I Hope you are Well.

Another Job I am in the Process of getting Quotes for is to Replace the Existing Back Door Step with something more inline with the Indian Sandstone Paving.

This is the Door Step as it is now:



I am looking at having the Concrete Step Removed, possibly leaving the Concrete Pad which will need Trimming as it is Wider on the Left than the Right.

Then having Two Courses of Bricks, hopefully Matching the House Bricks, to create the Step Outline, Topped with a Kandla Grey Indian Sandstone Bullnose Step to Match the Paving.

This should result in a Step that is approximately the same Height as the current Step.

This is the Bullnose Step I am looking at:

Shop Sandstone Bullnosed Step Kandla Grey Online| RF Landscape Products

RF Landscaping is where the Paving was Sourced from so hopefully the Step will Match.

I have not received any Prices for the Work as yet, hopefully it will not be too much, £20 would be Great if not impossible

Thanks

Kevin

 

£20 to do all that?

 

Hello @pete

Delusional Wishful Thinking on my part

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

It makes sense to have the step matching the rest of the slabs. Let's hope your quote for the whole job is not too eye watering.

 

Hello @Sheal

Thanks for the Reply.

I did get one Quote which was £550, however, it was done Blind, i.e. they did not Visit to see what was involved.

The Issue I have with Blind Quotes is that they tend to change once they arrive on Site.

I am waiting on another Quote where he has Visited.

He is just trying to Source Matching House Bricks, once he has he will provide the Quote.

He took everything I said on Board which was Good, he also deals with RF Landscaping so getting the Bullnose Step will not be an issue.

He is also going to put a Channel at the Back of the Step to allow the Drip Irrigation Hose to pass through rather than having to route the Hose over the Top which is not exactly Tidy.

Thanks

Kevin