WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2018

First and foremost I woke upto a heavy frost. After lunch I forced myself to venture into the greenhouse. Seems yonks since I was last in there. Been having chemo at the hospital and to be honest, I sadly ended up saying S** the garden, despite plants are my life. Cold outside but surprising warm inside the GH. Only heating was the sun. Soon coat off and tidying up the plants. I could almost hear the plants say. 'Bout time too when I gave them a watering. Printed up the lables for new lilies and dahlias plus odds and ends.
Must be honest, an hour was as much as my back would take. I returned indoors, refreshed and smiling. Ain't done that for a long time.

 

Hi @Mike Allen look at it this way it's given you a great moral boost inside ...I've not been out all winter but my hubby took me to several garden centre's the other day, then I went out on the back garden as it was warmer than I thought and it just lifts your spirits mate

 

Well you should try getting out more often then

 

So this is where we are at yesterday. R was working so I dug a bit more. Doesn't look right to me. I just can't envision this hole as a wildlife pond . Also think that once more sand and then a liner is added the pond will be very small. I'm wondering if I should just put the bath back in . Any thoughts anyone?? ARMANDII ??

 

Well here`s my two pennyworth.... I think it will look much better as a wildlife pond without the bath. You can make it a little bit wider - slightly wider than the bog garden, and continue to shape it until you are happy. Make the 'shelves' around the edge wide enough to perch some nice big baskets on, and the centre as deep as possible. It will look much more natural like that than being confined to the bath shape.

I for one applaud all the hard work you are putting in, and I think your finished results will be amazing.

 

I don't mind hard work if I can see an end result. At the moment all I can see is a vaguely round hole and a whole big mess everywhere. And there is the question of what am I going to do with all the bags and piles of excavated earth . One of my concerns gap between the bog garden and the pond. It's very narrow so there's the pond liner might move as not much space to secure it with rocks/ gravel. To make a wider ledge I think I will have to move the pond sideways a bit and dig into the two banks. I could move the bog garden back but that I involves even more work. I've never done anything like this before and after looking at various things online I didn't think it would be that difficult. And it's not, I'm probably going about it the wrong way. The hole in the middle is as deep as it gets unless I bring in rock breaking equipment . Roger was working yesterday and today so not able to help - although in some ways that's maybe a good thing as considerably less arguments

 

A rockery? A stumpery (also great for wildlife)? Gradually feed it into your compost bin? Offer it out on Freecycle? Make a raised bed?

 

I echo Tetter's advice. However, I would not go as " deep as possible" and settle for the depth you have now.
No, I would forget the bath lucius.....get rid of it. It is merely one more thing to confuse you
Try to relax about this too.....take your time. You will get it right. I can sense your increasing anxiety. Of course there will be a mess right now....always is when we try to build something...but it will be gone at some time. When you have your pond ready you will be delighted with it. Mark my words
The excavated soil? Again, relax. One thing at a time. Perhaps you could advertise .....somebody is likely to want the soil.

 

It's very difficult to retain focus when you're doing so much hard work. It is certainly not the best weather for doing it, but at least you'll be able to enjoy the finished pond in the summer.
It's easy to get a bit downhearted, when there's so much to do.
In my experience, what didn't help was that I found my wife didn't have the vision of the completed project during my last build, what she saw was this, from the kitchen window.
But I understood her distress.





Again, this isn't a criticism, just some advice from experience for anyone contemplating building a pool.

I'd suggest using a hosepipe to describe the perimeter of the pool, then "look at it for a few days" until you're happy with what you see. Then take a photograph of it. So when you're up to your knees in muck and mire, It'll give you and anyone else some encouragement, as to what you will eventually achieve. It will also stop the project from getting away from you as it's easy to change your mind as you progress.

 

Had visit from tree surgeon last week!!!! Acquired carpet which is too big for veg patch so will be in garden trying to cut it to size. Need to have a small bonfire when it gets dark, just to get rid of small branches and debris.
List of jobs to do, tidy greenhouse!

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

 

Hello molliemargaret.....welcome

 

to GC @Molliemargaret lovely to have you join us.

Hope you manage to get the carpet all sorted out for your veg patch. A bonfire this evening sounds just the ticket to warm you up as well as clearing your debris

Where on the planet are you located? Roughly

Looking forward to seeing you around the forums.

 

I havent read the thread so dont know what the plan is for the pond but regarding the waste earth etc i woul use it to create a mound that could be used to house a waterfall the feeds the pond.

Wildlife would like the added oxygen it will bring and humans like the sound it makes. Stick a light under the waterfall so at night in the summer you can chill watching the movement of the water. Much better thsn just a stagnant pond all imho

 

@Molliemargaret

@luciusmaximus , I always keep excavated soil in a heap out of the way until I need it for topping up raised beds - or ordinary beds come to that. I also use soil in pots, mixed with peat, or grit, or whatever the plants need.

I mentioned depth in the pond in case fish are ever to be introduced. My fish stay down as deep as they can get in very cold weather, where the water is just a little bit warmer for them - don`t fancy them turning into ice lollies.