My garden needs a makeover

Slinky

If you have an iphone, download Plantnet app. Great for identifying all sorts of plants. We also like the Merlin app which helps to identify birdsong whilst out in the garden.

moneysaver1978

Slinky said:

If you have an iphone, download Plantnet app. Great for identifying all sorts of plants. We also like the Merlin app which helps to identify birdsong whilst out in the garden.

Or alternatively, if you don't want to register etc and you already use Google services, you could use the Google app which allows you to take a photo and use that to search.

If you have an iPhone, where it can look up a a plant based on the photo you take although it's not always reliable.

Jemma01

5th Update: 
It was a sunny but windy day, and because I'm so smart, I decided to broom the driveway 😖 I was chasing the leaves!



Right side with dry-brushed fence, didn't want to wash it because the water would have gone straight to the neighbour's driveway as my property sits higher than theirs. The wife didn't give me positive vibes so I didn't want to push it despite the fact rainwater filters to their driveway



Then I discovered that there is a gap between the wall and my house 😭😭😭😭 how am I supposed to clean this, I only managed 2 meters in with a broom, I need a leaf blower to blow it all out 😭😭 I didn't see it before because the pipes block the view (you can see that from the first before/after).



Feeling crappy about the above, I left the driveway to clean the deck, it was a lot of bird poo and I didn't have a mask on, it was a disgusting job that had to be done but it was theraputic 😅, I still need to clean between the slats.



Then I cleaned the tank from the outside, it is full of water, so I couldn't clean the inside, I want the water to clean other parts of the garden. This is the lid. I found a slug living there and had to usher her out.




@WIAWSNB, @sheramber, @Slinky, @moneysaver1978
Thanks to all of you, I'll look at the google option I have an android. Little Jonny has little chance of survival, he knows that, I want a palm tree (like European Fan palm) if that's possible... 

@vic_sf49 oh your garden looks so prettyyyyyyy 🫨 I love the look of stones with the vase, the whole thing is gorgeous. 

twopenny

Lollipop one could be Pittosporum,
One by corner of shed Winter Jasmine 
And Accuba, 
All good backdrop plants. 
Whoever made the garden knew what they were doing.
Bonus! 😄 

No idea on willows. Ask on the gardening forum. They'll know. 

Jemma01

Ah @twopenny I forgot to check what they are 🙈 your post reminded me.

Update 6:
I was avoiding edging the right side because truthfully what an awful job 😖 I did and ended up doing it by hand (literally) so it is a bit jaggeredie, I also made it wider because I can't be bothered to keep doing it, so I'll look to redo the left side. When I can afford a gardener, I'll ask for fancy looking edges 😅.

I also cleaned the bricks up to little Jonny, and mowed the lawn, I didn't follow a pattern this time, I didn't want the grass to get used to one way, so next time I'll do it stipped. Observing the way the grass grew, I didn't do a good last time, so I need to revisit my technique.

Between the bricks, the mortar is worn out and flaking, I'll probably grind it out and redo it, but I suspect it needs to be of cement kind to withstand walking... needs research.......



The before above is not the best quality it is a zoomed-in version, this is taken from the shed side



Looks like I barely scratched the surface!! It took the whole day 😖...

twopenny

Ah but when it's done you forget that.
I did a garden from nothing (never again) and today sat out in the sun with a good book and refreshments with just the sound of the birds, bees and a little fountain.
Bliss 😊 

Hope you've got the sitting area in first so you can rest some time and look at your achievements. Needs to be done 😉

Jemma01

Update 6

First fence was cleaned on friday evening + painted coat 1 (saturday) and coat 2 (sunday). The colours of the photos are a little off depending on the location of the sun, I took the photo of coat 1 around 6:30ish in the morning, so it is a bit cool

It's been very windy so painted with a brush, and I didn't want to wait any longer for the perfect day






It could do with a 3rd coat, but ya know, there's more to life than a fence 😖

twopenny said:

Ah but when it's done you forget that.
I did a garden from nothing (never again) and today sat out in the sun with a good book and refreshments with just the sound of the birds, bees and a little fountain.
Bliss 😊 

Hope you've got the sitting area in first so you can rest some time and look at your achievements. Needs to be done 😉

The sitting area came ready with the house 😁, the wall needs a bit of love and I don't have seats yet 😅 managed to convince myself that I need to pay my mortgage first then go fancy with furnishing.
I could do with planting the area, but I need to find low-maintenance plants that could survive the weather 🫡 not a fan of small flowers. I prefer succulents. 

Working_Mum

It looks like you are really making progress and seem to be having fun!

I bought a second hand conservatory suite from a charity shop and varnished it for use in my garden when I moved here 5 years ago. It cost me £75 (I think from memory) and it is still going strong - it is super comfortable and I love it.

Freecylc9 and FB MarketPlac9 often have bargains too.

Keep us posted - I feel sure you've got the makings of a beautiful space.

((WM))

Jemma01

Update 7: Driveway

You would have seen this before and after with just dry brushing the fence

I decided to clean it again with s spray bottle and a brush, didn't want too much water flowing into my neighbour's driveway, the guy is so lovely always says hello and comes for a chat when he sees me, I invited him to see my garden and we had a lovely chat

This is it cleaned


I painted an undercoat to make it bright and shiny 😁



this is the first coat, I appreciate the colour isn't everyone's cup of tea 😅 but the driveway is lifeless, I'll consider faux greenery in the future along the fence and the wall



this is the second coat



That's it, not been feeling great, forced myself out today to get my head off crappy things

For this one I didn't use an undercoat with it, I prefer the bright one.

twopenny

Looking good 🙂
You really are making a difference. You must be pleased with that.