My hubby who is 7 years younger than me was also born in 1957. I know you're only joking on here, but I hate OAP even pensioner sounds old and awful. I just say, I am retired. Oddly enough a lot of people on Mumsnet are actually retiring in their 50s.
This is so interesting @GardenerSuze, but must be back-breaking work. The soil situation looks very difficult. I can imagine someone with no experience in the same situation, could have no idea what to do. The transformation is already so inspiring!
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
That's what the soil is like here on any new plot, or on any uncultivated one. I've done it many times. Manure and/or soil conditioner is the best approach, and then plant up with things that can withstand it. When you dig out a hole, it looks like you've taken out enough to fill a container twice the size because it's so solid. All the planting around my pond is on exactly that kind of ground. The bits where I'd had a raised lawn were slightly better, but not by much What are you intending doing with that stretch you're sorting? A small hedge? A line of shrubs?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Nanny Beach I always thought that Mum's Net was for the yoing and trendy. Yes OAP was in jest. When people retire they often take up Gardening as a hobby. When you have been a Gardener for 24 years a new hobby for me at present is yes...Gardening!
@Busy-Lizzie When the Landscapers had finished it was pristine, they used something like a round floor mop. They were also very careful not to get it dirty in the first place. The manure was a concern as it made marks if not removed straight away. If you look closely it's not that clean. It's something I have accepted from the start it won't always be very clean, more used which I like. The paving is called Florence Beige and one of the darker colours I had to choose from. Some are nearly white, great for a show garden but not really practical.
@clematisdorset Thankyou I started it Friday but had a day off Saturday very tired, Did more Sunday. I've always known about soil 'pans' I think my Father spoke about it when I was a child. A conversation relating to the garden was always interesting to me.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@Fairygirl Yes it did seem like more came out than was actually there! In terms of what I am going to plant all I can say is it might be one, two or three plants repeated. It is very sunny being South facing. There will be a house built at the bottom of the garden but there is a drive directly behind the fence so it will be further back. It was very hot at times this summer so some shade will be welcome. I am sure there will still be plenty of sun. An alternative to planting for next year would be lots of Cosmos with or without some Obelisks . Red Heucheras and Black Grass is another thought. I will need to be careful of the Lawn so this may be a border that will be always changing. The original plan as mentioned earlier by the Landscaper was for arches all the way down. I decided to find other ways of getting some height. I would love Nasella and Erigeron Karviskianus but not alot to see from a lounge window in winter and sadly too wet. More ideas and thoughts are always appreciated.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
GardenerSuze, you get worse🤣. Mumsnet for the young and trendy!! Tut,tut. You get men posting on there,and childless. Sometimes people post their ages. There is also a Gransnet. There are daily new postings, I go through them, often people want to know if you have been in a similar situation to them, how did you deal with it,it could be violent husbands, barking dogs, needing a recipe. Some is annoying "with the cost of living, how can I survive on £250k a year", scenarios. I like that we don't just chat about gardening on here, I have met and made friends in real life from here. Keep up the good work.
@GardenerSuze, I can thoroughly recommend Burgeon & Ball's Ladies Groundbreaker Spade, it's stainless steel with a pointy edge and is brilliant for digging in clay soil. I've had mine since 2018 and wouldn't be without it.
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What are you intending doing with that stretch you're sorting? A small hedge? A line of shrubs?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Busy-Lizzie When the Landscapers had finished it was pristine, they used something like a round floor mop. They were also very careful not to get it dirty in the first place. The manure was a concern as it made marks if not removed straight away. If you look closely it's not that clean. It's something I have accepted from the start it won't always be very clean, more used which I like.
The paving is called Florence Beige and one of the darker colours I had to choose from.
Some are nearly white, great for a show garden but not really practical.
@clematisdorset Thankyou I started it Friday but had a day off Saturday very tired, Did more Sunday. I've always known about soil 'pans' I think my Father spoke about it when I was a child. A conversation relating to the garden was always interesting to me.
It is very sunny being South facing. There will be a house built at the bottom of the garden but there is a drive directly behind the fence so it will be further back. It was very hot at times this summer so some shade will be welcome. I am sure there will still be plenty of sun.
An alternative to planting for next year would be lots of Cosmos with or without some Obelisks . Red Heucheras and Black Grass is another thought. I will need to be careful of the Lawn so this may be a border that will be always changing.
The original plan as mentioned earlier by the Landscaper was for arches all the way down. I decided to find other ways of getting some height.
I would love Nasella and Erigeron Karviskianus but not alot to see from a lounge window in winter and sadly too wet.
More ideas and thoughts are always appreciated.