Hi Guys, Hope everyone is well and having a good start to the year. I thought that I would do a photo update. I'm glad Feb is nearly here...as that means we are getting closer to spring.! I have had a quiet winter in the garden this year compared to this time last year when I was digging the boarders and working on the dug out area at the back. It's been nice to have a few more evergreens planted than last year. I hope to add a few more.
I'm going to really work on the lawn this spring as it's pretty soggy over winter, although it is looking much better than it did this time last year. I'm planning on hiring a hollow tine aerator, top dressing and over seeding. If I keep doing that over the next few years it should hopefully start to improve.
I'd use a fork instead to aerate the lawn, due to the size and shape of the lawn it be easier and of course cheaper to do it manually. Its will probably take you half hour or less . When you put the fork in rock it back and forth to lift the turf slightly . I would look in to these jobs in March
I'd use a fork instead to aerate the lawn, due to the size and shape of the lawn it be easier and of course cheaper to do it manually. Its will probably take you half hour or less . When you put the fork in rock it back and forth to lift the turf slightly . I would look in to these jobs in March
Hi, Thanks, I had considered using a fork, but have also read that it can have a negative effect by increasing compaction, where as the hollow tine removes a plug. The manual hollow tine are hard work.. and never seem to work that great. I'll see when March comes I guess..
I use an ordinary fork for spiking my lawn. I have one of the manual hollow-tine jobs but my soil is sandy so it doesn't compact like clay does, and it has pebbles in it which tend to get stuck in the hollow tines. If you don't have that size stones in the soil, hollow-tine aerating is good particularly on heavier soils.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
You have a fantastic garden! I missed this thread last year so am cheered to see your photos and video! Lawns are a constant concern for most gardeners but it sounds like you're getting to grips with it. If you resort to using a hand held hollow tine fork, it will work best when the ground is still moist, so before it heats up and starts to dry. Keeping a bamboo cane handy also helps you to clean out the tines. It's hard work so do sections at a time! I'm also interested in your fence colour, would you mind confirming which brand and colour you have used please - it really sets off the green of your planting. (I have a new project planned!) Get ready for Spring!
It's been 2 months since I posted. I moved into the house 2 weeks
ago. It's great to be moved in
As promised, here is a little update..
I have done a couple of bits in the garden, mainly planted some
trees that I managed to get for free. There are 2 pear trees that had
been trained previously against a wall, and a quince. I had to cut
all of them back pretty hard before removing them from the ground so
that I could transport them easier. I have planted them in a location
that I think will continue to receive the most sunlight.
The first issue that I have encountered, is , bloody
leatherjackets. Hundreds of them in the turf and the terrible job
that they did laying the turf on top of all kinds of rubble. As you
can see from the photos, the turf isn't looking very good and it's
only a few weeks old.!!
I may just have to start rolling it back and pick out the
leatherjackets and rubble add some compost and then put the turf back
down (it hasn't rooted much yet and the ground is compacted with
rubble, sticks, weeds, although the quality of the soil is not too
bad).
I may also try nematodes when the ground warms up and then
overseed.
Along the left side fence, I have my potted plants from my old
house. There are 3 feijoas, 2 x blueberry, some strawberries ,
redcurrants and blackcurrants.
The right hand side is shady, I am playing around with some string
for border shapes, you can just about make it out..! There are some
hellebores that I dug up from my old house. I will put them and some
other shade tolerant, tropical looking plants there.
Damn that turf looks terrible in the photo! I have e-mailed the
developer to complain. They should have at least rotavated and or
removed some rubble. The leatherjackets came with the low quality
turf I'm assuming. Which, they include a clause for in the house
documents.
Anyway, I'm focusing on a curvy border design for now. I think it
will have to be wider than the string is in the photo and that's just
a very rough idea.
I have ordered a ton bag of organic compost for the borders and I have currently been using homemade compost and john innes 3 when i planted the trees,
I'm also interested in your fence colour, would you mind confirming which brand and colour you have used please - it really sets off the green of your planting. (I have a new project planned!) Get ready for Spring!
Hi, thanks, yes I'm also happy with how the fence turned out. I don't know why they make out that it's a grey, as it has blue tones to it and looks more blue than grey (it does depend on the light though) But I really like it and it went on well/didn't drip too much. It definitely needs 2 coats. Good luck!
Posts
Hope everyone is well and having a good start to the year. I thought that I would do a photo update. I'm glad Feb is nearly here...as that means we are getting closer to spring.!
I have had a quiet winter in the garden this year compared to this time last year when I was digging the boarders and working on the dug out area at the back.
It's been nice to have a few more evergreens planted than last year. I hope to add a few more.
I'm going to really work on the lawn this spring as it's pretty soggy over winter, although it is looking much better than it did this time last year. I'm planning on hiring a hollow tine aerator, top dressing and over seeding. If I keep doing that over the next few years it should hopefully start to improve.
Other than that, speak to you all in the spring!
I would look in to these jobs in March
Thanks, I had considered using a fork, but have also read that it can have a negative effect by increasing compaction, where as the hollow tine removes a plug. The manual hollow tine are hard work.. and never seem to work that great. I'll see when March comes I guess..