Pleased to be here

Hi There. My name is Gary. I have a garden that is not big but too big for me to look after. Neither my wife nor I have the time, the skills or the interest to keep the garden maintained. Over the years it has become a bit shabby.

Recently one of our cats was badly injured on the road outside our house. We have now bought and installed a cat enclosure in our garden to keep her safe whilst still being outdoors. This has now given me the impetus to re design the rest of the garden. I have lots of ideas, some out of the box. I would like to discuss them with people who know about these things. Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

The photo is the view from my back door. The patio around the cage I built myself. If it's ok I would like to post before and after shots as I work my way around the garden.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

 

Welcome to GC @Jack Sparrow

As @ARMANDII has pointed out, a little bit at a time, plenty of patience and a willingness to do the best you can with what you have, should hopefully result in a smile on your chops. But do prepare for the odd frustration here and there as well.

Remember you can only do your best. You can't control the weather, nature in the end, will always take its course!

 

I totally agree with everything that's been said. In most things in life I am better at planning than doing. I always remark that things I do look like "I did them" rather than how they should look. There are times though when you just have to do it yourself. When the decision was made to buy and install the cat cage I had the choice of paying a professional landscaper stupid money or to do it myself. I started out by digging out all the trees and bushes from that end of the garden. To help fill the "wasted area" I decided to lay some slabs. The other reason for this was so We could stand the barbecue somewhere without dragging it across the garden.

Anyway, building the patio took months. I didn't have a clue what I was doing. Most days something went wrong. When it did, I packed up my tools and walked away. Eventually I got there and I dare say I'm rather chuffed.

Next I had to cut and lay the sleepers (don't ask). Then finally set the cage on top. I still need to go around and screw the cage to the base but otherwise it's a job well done.

It's nice to achieve something. Through the Autumn, winter and spring I will be changing bits of the garden. Hopefully by next summer all the elements will come together.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Gary.

 

Hi Gary,



Welcome to Gardeners Corner.

As has been said above, a little at a time is the way to go once you've got the " back-bones " in .

You'll find that by doing that it will all jell together after a period of time in a way that you couldn't possibly have foreseen .

 

Hi Gary,

I have a disabled cat, Alfie - it's not safe for him to go further than my back garden.

I did find a way to stop Alfie getting out and other cats getting in - I placed willow screening against each fence panel - it looks good and is relatively cheap.

The idea being (and it does work) - the top of the screening extends over the top of the panel - the narrow top stops cats climbing right to the top. The screening is loosely fixed so it wobbles enough to stop Alfie climbing up it.

Strategically placed pots at cat 'launch points' block off any final gaps in the perimeter.

Enjoy your garden

 

Hello Gary