The Great 'spruce up your garden' Hunt

alfie_1

1. if you have a wooden shelf, must be at least 6in depth, take to someone you know who is a diy anorak, and get them to cut out 2-3 holes same size as half way up a flower pot [so pot will sit in but not disapear!] space holes so you can fit another pot ON shelf inbetween. fix to a wall or fence and arrange pots, plant with nasturtiums etc and enjoy..
2. if you know someone with a large willow tree, ask for some thinnish branches . approx 3-5 ft long. get a garden seat/bench. place seat on grass area and stick willow sticks along ends and the back, lightly tie willow to seat to keep secure, water regular and it will start to grow [should!] when it reaches about 7 ft, start to tie it in to each other to form a canopy over the seat, bending the branches and weave. [allow height for you to sit in] just prune to keep the shape and you have a "living" canopy. you can use the woven cane tip [previous] if it needs extra support.
3. when the local councils change the town/village flower beds [ie. roundabouts] they just chuck all the flowers, many are not passed it, just out of fashion and bit tired. most are rescuable, you just have to have the cheek to ask the workmen when you see them on the move...
4. if you have a mirror that has cross wooden bars [resembles a window frame] put on a blank shed/garage wall and it lightens up a blank area and looks like a window! [again look at carboots/tip]

bertiebots

alfie_1 wrote: »

1. If you have a large mirror [off wardrobe, carboot sale or local tip] place it against a wall in your garden and it looks like your garden is bigger . if you have [again the tip has lots] an old metal gate, put it ajar in front as if a gate to a secret part of the garden. grow roses or clematis etc either side and it looks great !

I remembered we had an old mirror upstairs so decided to try this. It looked really good:D
BUT ... I now have a demented male blackbird nearly knocking himself out against it as he obviously thinks he is someone else -trying to invade his territory:eek: He just keeps coming back and wont quit.
So maybe mirrors in the garden arent such a good idea after all. I am going to have to put it back inside:(

alfie_1

Minerva69 wrote: »

Anyone got any tips to sort out a derelict garden that's chock full of brambles? It's been like that for 10 years, my other half is disabled and I'm his carer, as well as looking after my elderly parents so I just don't have time to do any gardening. I'd love my daughter to be able to play out there but you literally can't get up the garden for the brambles and bindweed. We've also got 2 dry stone walls that are falling down and some leylandii that are well overgrown. We can't really afford to get anyone in to fix them. We tried asking at the local college to see if any students wanted to have a crack at it (they do horticulture courses there) but they weren't interested. Can't blame them really!

if you /or the owners of a pig, can make the garden secure, it will strip your garden in days and rotovate it to boot! maybe someone in your area has one that would be more than pleased to occupy thier pig for a while. and they DONT smell....

alfie_1

]if you /or the owners of a pig, can make the garden secure, it will strip your garden in days and rotovate it to boot! maybe someone in your area has one that would be more than pleased to occupy thier pig for a while. and they DONT smell !! but dont let near to the leylandii

alfie_1

with my mirror idea , i suggest you place some plants at base of mirror, the birds soon get over the "competition", i live by a wood and have lots of wildlife and my mirrors have been in situ with no casualties!

alfie_1

look out for two big tree stumps/logs and put large plank across [scaffold boards are strong] fix to logs. you can put two taller at back and screw across another board. recommend you put "post fix! [couple of £ a bag] to hold in place back stumps or you and your cuppa could go for a burton!

bertiebots

alfie_1 wrote: »

with my mirror idea , i suggest you place some plants at base of mirror, the birds soon get over the "competition", i live by a wood and have lots of wildlife and my mirrors have been in situ with no casualties!

I did! But obviously Mr blackbird was havin' none of it:rotfl:! I now have some very battered plants too....
Shame because its a fab idea.

laurel7172

This is really boring, but mowing the lawn, neatening the edges and weeding the borders and patio has got to be the most MSE way to tidy up a garden.

laurel7172

Minerva-it sounds as if you have your hands very full.

If you can find the time to blitz the garden, go for it! Don't try to do too much-aim to do enough well, rather than exhausting yourself doing a lot badly.

But what I'd be tempted to do in your position is ten minutes a day. Keep a pair of secateurs and a trowel by the back door, and spend ten minutes a day cutting back/digging up the brambles. You'll be surprised how quickly you start to chip away at it.

jtz

does anyone know where to buy tall bamboo willow style fences cheaply?
TIA