pergola material
jiw9102
4 years ago
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Kiyohara Moffitt
4 years agoRelated Discussions
New Kid friendly garden help please
Comments (12)Hi. I have a couple of ideas. First, I'd rule out trying to flatten it to one level - it is very expensive, even though it doesn't look like it is a big deal to do. You'd end up with retaining walls around the sides and back and have to redo the fencing and labour costs would be big because the access isn't good (think wheelbarrows of dirt for weeks!). Second, I'd talk to the church. Say that you want to trim the holy bushes so that they are level and lower. Tell them you'll pay for that (rent a hedge trimmer for a day - less than £100) but will need access from their side too for trimming and to clean it up (because you are a nice friendly neighbour :). Then say that you are worried about the trees because you think they are getting so big they might be dangerous and they should be trimmed. I'm not suggesting they should be cut down. If they are under a Preservation Order, they are protected, but trimming is normal and healthy for a tree. I know if the tree is in the street the council has to do it and where I used to live "the Swiss church" (never got any more info than that) had a giant horse chestnut tree that they had to trim every five years because it was massive and surrounded by everyone's back gardens. I don't know about the legality of all of that but a third alternative is for everyone affected by the super large trees pitches in and pays for the trimming. There will still be leaves, but their will be less and you'll have more light back there. Anyway, on to the more interesting bit. In the spring, hire a Karcher (a high powered hose) to clean off the green from your fences and your patio area. It'll also clean out all the muck on your little retaining walls. Then I would stain all the fences the same colour - Cuprinol stains and protects the wood too. I'd keep the front as a patio for a table and scooter laps, keep the middle as lawn with narrow garden beds on either side and plant honeysuckle in a couple of corners of the pergola - it is slow growing at first but easy and very low maintenance (and doesn't drop much stuff!). A hammock is a lovely idea for under there. Let it go back to lawn so you aren't worried about falling toddlers. I'd move all your nice pots down to the patio area and group them. It is really easy to put herbs and annuals in them in the spring for colour. As nasmijati recommended, the back section could be rubber tiles or a sandpit. I can't tell if it is paved at the moment or just sodden grass.... if soggy grass, do the sandpit, if paved, put the rubber tiles over the top. You can move the little playhouse back there. Now you should have plenty of areas for the kids AND the adults. Oh, and get a couple of kids rakes for Christmas and teach them how to help their mama with the garden! I hope that helps....See MoreGarden design help needed
Comments (44)This thread was started by minnie101 in March and her comments at the end of May indicated she may have been by then well advanced in the planning if not the implementation. Doesn't that make suggestions for clearing and early stage design the following January somewhat posthumous? Changing topic to a piece orf growing advice for minnie101: we are now in a new year with a new growing season coming up. Instead of buying new lavendar plants to replace those which are getting leggy annd unkempt, why not look up how to take cuttings from those you have and replace with newly grown, free plants of your own? This will not only work with lavendar but with a huge variety of herbacious plants as well as most shrubs andd, if you have the patience to wait for the results, trees. You need some cheap plastic plant pots and some compost. A trowel would be useful. But you could even use an old spoon from the kitchen and a few empty yoghurt, margarine or other empty, washed packaging tubs with a couple of holes punched in the bottom for drainage. Here's an offer for all you Houzzer folk. If enough people would like to learn how getting free plants from your own cuttings works, I shall write an article for you and post it with a few pictures or drawings for clarity, here on the Houzz site if I can find out where to put it!...See MoreNeed ideas for a new garden!
Comments (23)Wow that is an amazing garden and view. A pergola is a good idea to add a feature but for a more serviceable structure you could opt for a patio roof or garden roof. These aluminium roofs contain fully automated louvres so you can control whether your relaxation space is sunny of shaded depending on the day. Another plus for the UK is that these roofs become watertight when the louvres are flat so you can use your outdoor space, and appreciate that view no matter the weather. Let me know if you have any questions www.umbris,uk...See MoreGarden - before and before but with sketches
Comments (11)Dear Rachel, Thank you so very very much for your comments - I have uploaded an amended version of the design: "The problem I have with your sketch is that everything is in a straight line and all the planting is shoved up the back. I think by playing around with the orientation and shapes of things you can create much more interest and by having planting closer to the house it will invite you to see what is beyond." So the text above - other comments have expressed similar feedback. I have looked at the diagonals but can’t quite make it work - I think I need to go to pencil and paper - the sketching tools on computer aren’t dynamic enough. As I was struggling with diagonals I went for that curve coming out from the decking (pagoda maybe) all the way down. I’ve also added in the areas of planting. My mother has some gorgeous huge ceramic pots that she is prepared to donate to me so plants will all be grown in things as my soil is not very good quality. "So I’ve roughly sketched a couple of ideas (click to enlarge pics) working from the wall and steps. I would leave the patio by the house as is for now and yes, if it will fit relocate shed to the side, paint it black!” Wonderful, so grateful, love them! "Main feature is the decking or platform area which I think you’d like a pergola type structure? maybe with hanging chair?" Yes, that is the part of the garden that has the sun pretty much all day. It would either be. swing/hammock type thing or sofas - I’m going to do pencil and paper sketches - have done some actually - will scan and upload Also put in a little decked bridge to link both areas. " To define the edges between borders I would use railway sleepers to stop everything looking the same colour but you could use anything you want." I am able to get sleepers from a charity I am involved with but was thinking maybe bricks along the curve? Loving your feedback and ideas - spent the day in the sun weeding and I’ll organise a weeding party when my friends are available which should be pretty soon. Also doing time-lapse pictures to see progress. Thank you thank you once again, so grateful :) Nieko...See MoreKiyohara Moffitt
4 years agojiw9102
4 years agojiw9102
4 years agoKiyohara Moffitt
4 years agoJames Nelson
2 years agoJames Nelson
2 years ago
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