My tiered garden log.

The roses are looking good and I'd like to see a picture of the one you thought was dead when it's in full bloom please, if possible. By the look of it's gnarled stem it's quite old.

 

It's nearly there! I think it's the same as the poorly rose, looks very similar so far.




I also gave the other rose a good ol' trim, take off the rusted leaves, old woody stems (apart from the last one that's ready to flower), its structure looks 10x better that is coming through but i still don't know what type of rose it is,



Erm the tree is desparate to become a tree!
Poor thing :( it does not know it's fate is soon to come!



And finally, the front garden is in bloom.... well... sort of!
The fondly named "toilet brush plant"
I think we're going to just level the entire front borders down to soil and start again.

 

The old rose is looking good. When it's dormant this coming winter I wouldn't prune it but leave it to see if it puts out more new growth next year.

A little bit of detective work on the rose by the greenhouse........How far away from the hedge is it and were the canes supporting it, already there? If it's a climber, why put it there? If it's a shrub rose, why let it grow so tall. I have a feeling it's a shrub rose because the flowers are at the top of the stems. Hopefully the flowers will give us more of a clue.

The bottle brush plant is a Callistemon.

 

I think both roses are the same.
Here's a few more pics of the bloom on the little one.



And i've taken off the leaning branch and this is what is left of the unknown rose without any canes etc.





Also isn't nature amazing... I'm very impressed with how hardy the hedge is!

From these:


To this, in the space of a few month


Also, i've been able to give the garden an hour or so physically, lifted the corner set of the flags up and levelled the ground out after it's sunk under the weight of the flags and people weight.


And I've started digging the foundations for the central buttress, or whatever they are called, it's going to be an extra double layer of block in the middle of the wall, to add strength, and a place to mount our bench!

We also have building materials!!! on top of the wall, i think we're 9 short bar the buttress which in its self is 8 blocks i think, maybe 10.
So not far off with the wall!


Obviously the pavers are going to be on a nice layer of sand which has been screeded, as it's not permanent, it's just what we can afford currently! That and we have spent a few nights up here already on the wobbly pavers and it's a lovely place to sit, really sheltered and warm, not surprising with a sunny back-wall and fence that's probably in total 12foot high!
And two walls each side which are about 4 foot high, it really takes all of the wind away from the area!

 

The little rose could well be a cutting from the old rose. Does it look like it's been grafted at the base? Try doing a petal count on both roses, if they haven't got the same amount then they are different roses.

Looking at the unknown rose, I'm still inclined to think it's a shrub that has never been pruned. I'd prune it down come February and see if it put's out new shoots on the existing stems. If it grows tall again then that proves a point.

Wow! That hedge has done really well since it's drastic pruning. You cam always rely on Privet to fight back.

I bet you'll be glad when you've finished the wall, not long now though.

 

Waay! Progress at last!
We have the wall much closer to being done, "apparently" One more evening and the wall will be done, then i can crack on with everything else!

The piece of wood is over the foundations for the pillar which will strengthen the wall, and provide a base for our seating!

Also, the ground is nice and compact! Winner!
It just needs a few dry days so i can properly level it out again ready for the sand and pavers.
Once the pavers are down, i can take the height for the bench from them, so it's comfy.
And take the height from the pavers for the wall drainage and get that plumbed in, followed by the bench and painting, then i think that'll be it for this year.
Oh and hanging my hammock!



Yay! :D

 

Great project and progress!

 

The hammock is the reward for all the hard work, you've earned it!

 

i was going to save the updates for a later date when i've got more to put in, but i thought i'd keep this updated.

The baby rose has a second little purple shoot coming out (bottom left)

There's still hope!

The poorly rose is well.... poorly, do i need to dig this up and start a fresh? These were nice and green the other week, and i've already pruned off all the bad growth from before?



It's ready to bloom again though, and throwing up more shoots!



Also the many happy returns is ready to finally put on it's first show!



My camera is really rubbish at focusing!
Chillies have gone crazy!




Oh and the all important hammock came, so with my trusty random assortment of straps from the garage, i had to test it!




The hammock will end up going up and down the garden instead of across, so we can have two up at a time, but it's a test, and it's comfy!

And finally, my swing bolts came, for going through the fence posts, when they finally get put up!


I think that should carry my fat back side!

 

You're poorly rose has black spot. It sounds cruel but you need to pull all the affected leaves off and either burn them or put them in your bin, that includes any laying around the base of the plant. Black spot spreads by spores so don't put the leaves in your compost bin if you have one.

There is a spray called Roseclear that can be used to help prevent this and other rose problems. I spray mine twice during the growing season. There are organic methods available, you will find those in the Roses forum.

 

I've used a spray made with horticultural soap which has been really effective

 

I've got the go-ahead for my dream greenhouse setup on the layer where the rose is... It's coming up eventually! My evenings and weekends can be filled with cutting, sawing and drilling to make said greenhouse! Yay.
all under permitted development too, as our garden is so large compared to the house it'll still add up to less than 50% the total area. Even when including the garage!
Once snag though. I've got to pay for it myself. Oh well, I best get saving and drawing hehe.
I currently have a compost pile that'll go to the tip, because of all the hardscaping going on, I don't have room for a compost bin just yet.

 

Great news about the greenhouse and building it yourself you get to choose the design.

 

Wood and plastic sheet single skinned? with recesses on the inside to make it possible to twin skin it in the future if I need to
I want it house shape and my limit is 2.5m high ( building regs etc) and I can scavenge water from the roof to water the plants with :D

 

Sounds good! If you can rig up some guttering along it then that would be ideal for filling a water butt.