A catalogue of trial, error and advice

ArbitraryRandom

Yes, that was my thought. Using them to let me actually start growing something/test out the layout/spacing/area, then winter after next they can be built around or moved to try somewhere else. 

Apparently you can just use acrylic paint (with the surface clean, sanded and primed) though I probably wouldn't bother at least in the first year. 

I don't think 'cooking' will be too much of a problem because we're actually talking quite a volume of earth and galvanised steel isn't a great conductor of heat - but who knows  

-taff

conngratulations on your retail therapy! I can think of worse things to buy...:)

You could spray with enamel paint too...We sprayed our glavanised garage door with black [obviously] and there's no peeling or flaking yet 3 years down the line...

ArbitraryRandom

If people can remember the little 24 lavender plugs potted in regimented lines in the largish container from a couple of months back? I got around to planting them out in the front this morning. I've been meaning to do it for a while but keep not bothering, so I figured first thing would get it done before I could get distracted. 

I lifted the probably 10 year old and perished 'weed suppressant', dug a trench, put in some decent compost, then watered in. A little closer together than recommended, but will hopefully form a dense low 'hedge' along the front given a bit of time. 

I'm not really sure what my plan is for the rest of the front right now, especially given still no word from the housing association about the shared fence. I'm not going to do much else with it this season at least.

June:


Just now: 

YoungBlueEyes

I do remember, my ocd brain remembers the gap  

That'll be a lovely hedge, in my (non-expert) opinion. Also I like your wall ! 

Farway

That'll look wonderful next year when they flower & all the bees a'buzzing

[Deleted User]

ArbitraryRandom said:

If people can remember the little 24 lavender plugs potted in regimented lines in the largish container from a couple of months back? I got around to planting them out in the front this morning. I've been meaning to do it for a while but keep not bothering, so I figured first thing would get it done before I could get distracted. 

I lifted the probably 10 year old and perished 'weed suppressant', dug a trench, put in some decent compost, then watered in. A little closer together than recommended, but will hopefully form a dense low 'hedge' along the front given a bit of time. 

I'm not really sure what my plan is for the rest of the front right now, especially given still no word from the housing association about the shared fence. I'm not going to do much else with it this season at least.

June:


Just now: 

Whilst they're still newly planted, and before their roots have established in their forever home, gently lift them up and position them away from the wall another few centimetres, so they're in a more central position between the wall and membrane thing - check the ultimate dimensions of their spread because at the moment the spread will be curtailed by the wall.

twopenny

They'll look good against that wall.
My offer is a touch of bonemeal and fine grit in the soil.

What sort of lavender is it?

ArbitraryRandom

It was a T&M special offer - 24 mixed Hidcote and Munstead.

I'll be completely honest and say I very much doubt I'm going to move them (I'm lazy and don't have anywhere else to put them right now), and they are going to be overcrowded when they bush out - but I did put a sprinkle of Q4 pellets along the trench when I was putting them in.

Ideally I want a dense 'hedge' along the top of the wall and I will expect to either thin them down the line or for some to be crowded out as they grow. 

ArbitraryRandom

Overdue, overlong, and rambling update from me. 

Looking back over the last 3ish months, I've not really done much that you could see a difference. Kept the brambles down if not gone, strimmed the grass a couple of times, and been adding things to my compost as and when. I've only trimmed the hedges, but will give them a good cut in October probably. I've also got a decent size bag of strawberries (plus the odd blackberry) in the freezer. Not weighed them, but I'd say at least 1lb, so enough for that jar of jam - I'll make it in September maybe. 

I now have a decent mix of perennial plants in tubs waiting for me to decide where they're going to go - 2x honeyberry, a dwarf mulberry, a raspberry honeysuckle, and a small forest of strawberries. Plus mint, thyme, and two rescued holly that I keep forgetting about. 

A Nottingham medlar (quince c), a Little Miss Figgy, and a Greensleeves apple (M27 rootstock) are due to be delivered in the Cold Times. Since noticing the apple tree in next door's garden, I'm still debating if I want a Laura for the front... I think I do, but I want the fig to arrive first so I can pace everything out and check I'm happy. I also bought a 'Raspberry Yummy' (Rubus idaeus), which is reportedly a 'dwarf' thornless variety, suitable for container growing. Was basically free (pushed me into qualifying for free delivery), so I figured it was worth a shot. 

Looking futureward, I've booked my dad to come in September and help me put together the aluminium 'raised beds' I ordered (2@130cm round and 1@240x80), I also picked up a small polycarbonate and aluminium cold frame (180x50x50) that will hopefully be useful in spring so I can get a nice early start on things. They're going to bring the big car so I can get more free compost from the local tip - and all I'll cost me is making my Mum's favourite salmon dinner and enjoying an evening of their company (sometimes I feel I'm only pretending to be an adult!) 

I want one of the beds to have one/two blueberry bushes - so I think I have to add sulphur to the soil... but not sure how much? And I know most fruit and veg will grow in acidic soil, but is there anything else that actively prefers/needs it? Rhubarb? 

Also on my to do list is I've got a half dozen packets of various wild flower seeds that I need to sow as soon as it stops raining long enough for me to rake up some of the moss for them. And there's a gardener/landscaper who's going to come around some time (when he remembers) to give me a quote for levelling the back/putting in a base so I can move/replace the shed that's currently in the worst possible place, so I'm trying to put pennies aside for that. I did mention a micro digger and he didn't immediately say not possible - not that he said yes either. And garden adjacent, I need to paint my garden furniture and log store before winter, and ideally before getting a delivery of logs next month. 

Can't decide if that's a lot or a little, but I'm leaving it there for now. Good to see it written out  

twopenny

I was curious about the lavender because Hidcote is good for your project.

Also I've found, it has the novelty of being able to send up shoots from the base of the stem if it's open to sunlight. So if like mine it starts to look a bit less than desired after 4yrs, you can slowly take out a centre stem and get it regenerating,

I don't know about Munsted. I rejected it for my hedge because it grew a little larger and more straggly.

Just remember to trim it after flowering. Take the dead heads off +a bit of leaf. Never cut into the wood.

Again in spring shave down a bit to get the side shoots and thickness.

You've done a lot since the beginning. Definitely time to relax and enjoy what you've done