A catalogue of trial, error and advice

ArbitraryRandom

Shamelessly cutting and pasting something I prepared earlier  

Stage 1 was hedges out/fences up, clear the garden and level (late last year); 

Stage 2 was trees in, this small patio area and the beds (all along the right hand side of the garden); 

Vague plans for the rest of the work are:

Stage 3: a large (4x6m ish) concrete slab at the bottom of the garden, running electrics to it from the house (maybe also running a water pipe), and breaking up the two previous foundations from the greenhouse and a previous small shed, plus moving the existing aluminium shed onto this new base; (maybe September, funds permitting) 

Stage 4 is a large patio under where the existing shed is currently located (on the left) (next year)

Stage 5 is building/buying a new shed to go on the concrete platform (the builder is trying to convince me to let him build it basically as a garage out of blocks...but we will see) (maybe 26/27, funds permitting)

Paspatur

@ArbitraryRandom it looks so much better with the hedges out and the fences in
I think a block built garage type shed might be a step too far in the balance between garden and hard landscaping
How about a greenhouse?

ArbitraryRandom

Paspatur said:

@ArbitraryRandom it looks so much better with the hedges out and the fences in
I think a block built garage type shed might be a step too far in the balance between garden and hard landscaping
How about a greenhouse?

I want/need a shed for storage and workshop rather than for growing - I just really don't like the current shed right in front of the kitchen window, hence needing it moved. 

If I go for a block built thing, I'd paint it and plant something like feijoa sellowiana or actinidia arguta to grow up and soften it

Farway

ArbitraryRandom said:

Paspatur said:

@ArbitraryRandom it looks so much better with the hedges out and the fences in
I think a block built garage type shed might be a step too far in the balance between garden and hard landscaping
How about a greenhouse?

I want/need a shed for storage and workshop rather than for growing - I just really don't like the current shed right in front of the kitchen window, hence needing it moved. 

If I go for a block built thing, I'd paint it and plant something like feijoa sellowiana or actinidia arguta to grow up and soften it

That would be wonderful if they grew & fruited,, perhaps with nice warm bock wall they may just do that

FreeBear

If you lay in electrics & water to the bottom of the garden, I'd suggest burying a length of conduit ~750mm below the surface. Use something like downpipe (should be black for electric, and blue for water), and then you can pull cables/pipe through when you are ready. Thread a length of rope through the conduit as you go, and then you are not fighting to do so once the conduit is buried.

A solid brick/block shed would be preferable in my opinion if you are going to use it as a workshop. Wooden sheds require regular maintenance, more so than brick/block.

-taff

FreeBear said:

If you lay in electrics & water to the bottom of the garden, I'd suggest burying a length of conduit ~750mm below the surface. Use something like downpipe (should be black for electric, and blue for water), and then you can pull cables/pipe through when you are ready. Thread a length of rope through the conduit as you go, and then you are not fighting to do so once the conduit is buried.

That is the best idea I've heard this year!

FreeBear

ArbitraryRandom said: If I go for a block built thing, I'd paint it and plant something like feijoa sellowiana or actinidia arguta to grow up and soften it

Planted an actinidia arguta a couple of years ago to climb up an arbor. The first year, it shot up ~5ft. Last year, just had a few tufts of leaves and didn't do much. This year, it looked like it was going to put on a good spurt with some healthy looking leaves appearing. Had a couple of nights this last week where the temperature has dropped to 2°C, and it looks like the leaves have been killed off. I suspect it is going to be another disappointing year.

Depending on where you are in the country, if you really want fruit off an actinidia, it would be better off in a greenhouse. Same for a feijoa..

ArbitraryRandom

I'm not interested in having a greenhouse - and I'm not really all that fussed if it fruits tbh... there may be something better suited when I get around to it (it's not for a few years) but I'll be looking for something unusual and bushy that has the potential to fruit - then if it does once in 10 years I'll be excited  

ArbitraryRandom

A few more progress pics now I've actually got some plants in the beds.

Forced perspective a bit on this first pic, combined with things being a little tighter than I'd like due to poor planning on my part. Onions planted in groups of 4 (2 to a paper pot).  Netting to stop the cats digging. I'm working on some painted rock labels, but it's a slow process and I need to get some yacht varnish  




This is 12 corn, 6 broad beans, 6 tomato plants and 4 summer squash. Front row of toms is tumbling (so should come over the edge of the bed, second row is bush. The planted space is about 1.2x3m. The back area against the fence is where the rest of my bean supports are going (when I finish building them!) and the other side of the L (not pictured) is my peas and winter squash.



And final picture for today, my herb bed. Marjoram (yes I spelt it wrong on the sign ), Thyme, Sage and Chive in the forefront, with salad burnet seedlings looking sad and weedy behind.   

Merlin's_Beard

That looks so satisfyingly neat and organised!