Steps

These is a steep bank that divides my fron garden in two. To go from the veggie patch to the garden proper I need to go around the long way or climb the bank on all four... I don't like going around every bloody time, so I usually climb the bank, but it is not practical... so yesterday I set out to hoe two or three tiny footholds to makethe climb easier and ended up doing this:







Now I intend to pour two large concrete stones for the middle steps. The upperpart will stay grassy. The lower part of the bank will be resown in autumn (I had to take away several tons of brambles in the last weeks) and the upper part will be dug, and planted with something that can spill downward over the slope (terracing is not an option at the moment). I got blisters in my hands again,but hey,I am very happy with my stair.

 

You have done an excellent job there.

 

Oh thanks,but it's really not finished yet. Have also to plant stakes to hold the boards in place the little spikes are only temporary. I launched into this on a whim and I didn't really have all the necessary stuff :rolleyes: That's italians for you :D

 

Wow Ivory, No wonder you have blisters, youv'e worked bloody hard and done a great job, Well done..Dee..

 

Well done Ivory. I loved the bit where you said you only went out to make a couple of footholds, lol. I think all gardeners, one way or another, know that 'only' feeling, lol.

Post more pics when it's finished.

cheers

 

I will :thumb:

 

Hey that's excellent ! as I was scrolling down I was thinking to recomend you shutter or support the step edge and then I saw you had:thumb: I really like it, looks very natural

 

Those steps are fab ivory well done

 

Ivory quite simply Inspirational,I salute you :thumb::thumb::thumb:

Cracking Stuff m8

 

Lol, that is very diplomatic Truth is this part of the garden is still a shabby mess, but I am working on it :D
I took a number of lavender cuttings recently if they root and behave, I will plant two tiny hedges at the side of the steps. Think of the scent every time one goes up and down. I got the idea from this cute little labyrinth I visited recently:

 

Steps update: I recently found the courage to dig up all the lower part of the bank for future planting (blue-violet-mauve-white border). It was horrid, full of stones of all sizes, two tree stumps bried under the grass but far from rotten, and the usual rubbish. SOme people grow flowers in their gardens, my landlords grew rubbish. To each his own!

Well, I pilled all the smaller stones in one heap, and by the end of it I had so many that I thought I could as well "gravel" the path and steps with them. I scraped off all the topsoil from the path then scattered the stones on it and "set them" with some of the horrid yellow clay of the subsoil.It ain't pretty but it will serve, for the time being. At least I can walk on it withoud getting all muddy. In autumn I will transplant two plants that are in the ways on top and finish the path there.

I am not sure what to do with the stteper part of the bank, may be I will cover it all with thick black plastic sheets, and plant something evergreen in holes. Something like cotoneaster, though and undemanding.

Some of the largest stones I placed as edging on the lower part, waste not, said the wise old man.

The ground has been fattened with compost, and seing Peter's garden I also burien all our old newspapers in it. I was never one for using paper in the garden, but given his results I thought I should give it a try. Prejudice never did any good to anyone. Now it all sits under a thick mulch of grass clippings. This border is in full sun until 1 pm, and dappled shadow until 5 pm, then full shadow. It is very sheltered from the wind. If someone has flower suggstions (or seeds :D)for these conditions and the colours mentioned above, they are very welcome.

I am very proud of my steps and path. It was all done with my own hands with material from the garden itself, very economic very ecologic

 

looks almost romantic with evening light!

 

youv'e done a fantastic job ivory, it looks great :thumb: and well made too, should last for years..GO GIRL :D ..Love Dee..

 

that is a perfect job there. looks great.
planting lavender sounds like an excellent idea. should do well on the bank.