The Great 'spruce up your garden' Hunt

Jo4

My garden is just a green area which is uneven and the grass could do with being greener. Can anyine suggest what I could do to improve it so it is even and the grass is greener? Also I would like, although the dog and hubby wouldn't, to have some scented flowers in the garden which would grow every year - has anyone got any suggestions how I could make an area for bedding?

Finally I went to a garden centre today to get flowers for hanging baskets and containers, as the dog doesn't normally destroy them, but their flowers didn't look like much. Is there any website that sells these types of flowers and delivers them to you door?

harryhound

bertiebots wrote: »

Isnt it banned in the uk now?

http://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/copr/creosote.htm

If its wood preserver you are after -any garden centre or diy/hardware shop will sell it.

The substitutes are expensive rubbish in comparison.
You might find some at a boot sale.

alfie_1

bertiebots wrote: »

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.

I suggest then that you save the mirror for D Day anniversary and charge an admission fee to guests [to recoupe on plants!], to see a reanactment kindly given by said blackbird....

alfie_1

Jo4 wrote: »

My garden is just a green area which is uneven and the grass could do with being greener. Can anyine suggest what I could do to improve it so it is even and the grass is greener? Also I would like, although the dog and hubby wouldn't, to have some scented flowers in the garden which would grow every year - has anyone got any suggestions how I could make an area for bedding?

Finally I went to a garden centre today to get flowers for hanging baskets and containers, as the dog doesn't normally destroy them, but their flowers didn't look like much. Is there any website that sells these types of flowers and delivers them to you door?

if you can set aside an area. dont dig it, let the grass grow and spread wild scented seeds to come up every year. just leave and enjoy! mow athe end of the season but leave grass cuttings laying so seeds can be winter protected an d come up next year.

alfie_1

alfie_1 wrote: »

if you can set aside an area. dont dig it, let the grass grow and spread wild scented seeds to come up every year. just leave and enjoy! mow athe end of the season but leave grass cutting laying so seeds can be winter protected an d come up next year.

oh and the cheapest way for pretty poppies [usually pink, mauve, creams etc] is to buy a bag of poppy seed in the COOKING section of your local supermarket... you get thousands for a couple of £s. chuck them everywhere !

alfie_1

DillyD wrote: »

When sprucing up my garden last year I spent a few trips out to look at water features.Not finding anything within my budget I almost gave up. However, on a visit to my local garden centre I spotted sizable pieces of broken grey slate paving on a reduction stand and I decided to buy around 6 large pieces. We stacked them on top of each other with smaller pieces and dark pebbles to steady them drilled a hole through them to allow a pump tube through (already having dug a hole with a bucket in below holding a small pump enabling a water resevoir) and hey presto a lovely gently cascading water feature for a fraction of the cost.

another idea ..get a bag of cement,sand and some BIG rhubarb leaves ! build a mound of sand [x however many you want but try 1 first!], put rhubarb leaf over mound [face down] so its arched. slap cement mix evenly over the top [approx 1-2 ins] and to the edges, taper off with cement at edges. leave to set. remove creation, turn over and hey presto a large cup in the shape of a leaf. ideal to tier them in a rockery either as a waterfall to a pond or just bird baths. they will age nicely and blend in well.
p.s. you can add a water sealant type additive thingy to cement or a bit of washing up liquid apparently to help strengthen??
pps. apparently washing up liquid NOT a good idea... straight from horses mouth so to speak so dont ruin a good effort by using it please. thankyou Mr.H.

alfie_1

artydoll wrote: »

You will have to brush the leaves off,lol.:rotfl::rotfl:

you could always wood bark/chip on your carpet, makes a lovely seating area and stand pots of flowers round the edge....NO WEEDS!!
oops sorry meant for Big mommaF

alfie_1

alfie_1 wrote: »

if you can set aside an area. dont dig it, let the grass grow and spread wild scented seeds to come up every year. just leave and enjoy! mow athe end of the season but leave grass cutting laying so seeds can be winter protected an d come up next year.

also you can get what i call "wibble wobble" tape from nurseries [£3 ish]. you suspend it across the area you want to protect quite tightly and it vibrates in even a breeze ! deters animals as they cant make out exactly where and what it is....doesnt harm them.

sspaceflyer

I buy coriander seeds in a large bag from an Asian shop or the world foods section of supermarket. Plant them indoors or out and get coriander leaves which are nice in salads, curries, mexican cookery etc.

System

We moved into a house with a "full" garden in Feb. By "full" I mean it has what we call a cottage garden with pond/shed in the first section then through an arch to a wild area, and another pond, via a twisting pathway and behind a length of fence panels, was another two sheds and a greenhouse.

Last week we demolished the greenhouse and the adjacent shed and was left with a large clear open space which was pea shingled. We dark stained (Wilko's)anything which was timber, beige painted (Wilko's)any stonework, sky blue painted Wilko's) almost every container and turned the whole area into a sun terrace. The table is almost 40 yrs old bought half price from Woolies, the parasol £3 from a recycle centre.

I will add pics later today.







it might not be much to you, but knowing what a heap of rubbish was there before,it means a lot to us.