Artjack - I think it's a weeping willow??? It's probably only just 30feet away from both houses I would guess. To be honest I do need to go out and measure. Both house are semi' s and we are both owner-occupier. She has had two companies come out before to chop the tree back to around 9/10ft high but she said that on both occasions they took half the money up front and didn't return to do the job. Although my money is quite tight I would be willing to pay half just to stop the blooming thing from hanging over and dropping all it's leaves into my garden.
When I had a survey done on my house I asked about the foundations and was told they are fine. I'm hoping this is the case.
Berg hill and Mrs G - thank you for the advice re the uneven lawn. I think that's going to be my next project. I have quite a few champagne rhubarb plants dotted around that area though with massive routes as well as a small blackberry bush that keeps growing back. gonna be a lot of digging I fear
Pauline - thank you. it was hard going today but so worth it
Yes it is definitely worth it, especially if your area doesn't have green waste collection. If you can get hole of 3 or 4 old pallets you can make some for free just by hammering them together with long nails. My Mum just had some building work done so I managed to scavenge some and was really pleased with the results. You could go online and get some plastic daleks for reduced price through your local council. These also work fine. You want to aim at putting 50:50 brown: green waste in in thin layers then you won't have to bother turning it. Put your grass clipping in (green waste) in layers of about and inch so you don't get a sludgy mess. I also put shredded paper in mine (brown waste). Plus peelings, egg shells, kitchen scraps and cut up garden clippings. When it breaks down you can use it on your new veg beds.
Wow! That is so impressive! I bet it was hard work but what a great result. Now you can see what you are working with and gradually restore it back to a lovely place for your children to play and maybe even for you to relax occasionally.
Nothing to add to the advice above but just wanted to add my congratulations
I have had mine for about 20 years and it is the best 'tool' I own. I keep all my hand tools, string and a couple of pairs of gloves in it. Easy to pick up in one hand with a trug bucket in the other and set off to wherever you want to work. No need to keep going back to the shed for something you have forgotten. When I am weeding or planting I can sit on it and move along a path or edge of the border without continually getting up and down. It saves your back and knees from unnecessary wear and tear and makes a comfy seat to just sit back and admire what you have achieved.
Congratulations Donna, what a difference a day makes, as they say.
I know you are not keen on veg growing and the greenhouse but I would hold fire before getting rid of it. I have a relatively small garden and never thought I would be interested in propagation or veg growing. In fact when my father in law died we gave away two quality greenhouses. This year I have bought a very small GH and absolutely love it. Its much nicer to raise plants from seed and so cheap compared to buying plants. If you have a large space to fill you will really save money, especially as you havent had to buy the greenhouse in the first place. I dont plan to heat my greenhouse but have still found loads of flower seeds that I can overwinter ready for the spring. I now find (after joining the forum) that I'm becoming interested in perhaps growing some veg but I'm finding it difficult to find the right spot in the garden. I suspect that if your grandad grew fruit and veg that part of the garden will have some good soil. I would just say 'never say never' and concentrate on getting the rest of the garden straight, by the time it is you might really have got the bug and want to grow flowers and veg from seed.
By the way Daryl, I quite liked the idea of your toolbox so looked on Amazon. It looks like they have stopped doing the one you have and from the reviews the suggested replacement doesnt appear to be very sturdy.
As a working single parent of two young children, I doubt if Donna will have much to time to use a greenhouse! I've been a single parent a long time, and it's very hard to keep on top of everyday stuff, let alone any substantial gardening, unless you have parents or relatives to help. I didn't, so I know how hard it is.
The greenhouse could be a nuisance just now rather than an asset, so it might be better to make it safe so that the children don't go in it, and save that for the future when you have more time to spend in it. I'd concentrate on getting the rest of the garden in a state where it's manageable. Maintenance alone will take up a fair bit of time. Grass can be a dripping roast. For children playing, it doesn't need much more than regular mowing, a squaring up and feed in spring, with a bit of spiking and scarifying in spring and autumn if you can be bothered.
You've made tremendous progress so far Donna. Take some time to enjoy doing nice bits, especially with your girls, so that you don't wear yourself out!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It is bad enough finding time to do all the housework and garden jobs when you are not a single parent with a 2 year old and another on the way, never mind doing absolutely everything yourself!
Posts
Artjack - I think it's a weeping willow??? It's probably only just 30feet away from both houses I would guess. To be honest I do need to go out and measure. Both house are semi' s and we are both owner-occupier. She has had two companies come out before to chop the tree back to around 9/10ft high but she said that on both occasions they took half the money up front and didn't return to do the job. Although my money is quite tight I would be willing to pay half just to stop the blooming thing from hanging over and dropping all it's leaves into my garden.
When I had a survey done on my house I asked about the foundations and was told they are fine. I'm hoping this is the case.
Berg hill and Mrs G - thank you for the advice re the uneven lawn. I think that's going to be my next project. I have quite a few champagne rhubarb plants dotted around that area though with massive routes as well as a small blackberry bush that keeps growing back. gonna be a lot of digging I fear
Pauline - thank you. it was hard going today but so worth it
Is it worth me making a small area to create a compost bin do you think? Is this an easy thing to maintain?
Yes it is definitely worth it, especially if your area doesn't have green waste collection. If you can get hole of 3 or 4 old pallets you can make some for free just by hammering them together with long nails. My Mum just had some building work done so I managed to scavenge some and was really pleased with the results. You could go online and get some plastic daleks for reduced price through your local council. These also work fine. You want to aim at putting 50:50 brown: green waste in in thin layers then you won't have to bother turning it. Put your grass clipping in (green waste) in layers of about and inch so you don't get a sludgy mess. I also put shredded paper in mine (brown waste). Plus peelings, egg shells, kitchen scraps and cut up garden clippings. When it breaks down you can use it on your new veg beds.
Nothing to add to the advice above but just wanted to add my congratulations
I have had mine for about 20 years and it is the best 'tool' I own. I keep all my hand tools, string and a couple of pairs of gloves in it. Easy to pick up in one hand with a trug bucket in the other and set off to wherever you want to work. No need to keep going back to the shed for something you have forgotten. When I am weeding or planting I can sit on it and move along a path or edge of the border without continually getting up and down. It saves your back and knees from unnecessary wear and tear and makes a comfy seat to just sit back and admire what you have achieved.
Congratulations Donna, what a difference a day makes, as they say.
I know you are not keen on veg growing and the greenhouse but I would hold fire before getting rid of it. I have a relatively small garden and never thought I would be interested in propagation or veg growing. In fact when my father in law died we gave away two quality greenhouses. This year I have bought a very small GH and absolutely love it. Its much nicer to raise plants from seed and so cheap compared to buying plants. If you have a large space to fill you will really save money, especially as you havent had to buy the greenhouse in the first place. I dont plan to heat my greenhouse but have still found loads of flower seeds that I can overwinter ready for the spring. I now find (after joining the forum) that I'm becoming interested in perhaps growing some veg but I'm finding it difficult to find the right spot in the garden. I suspect that if your grandad grew fruit and veg that part of the garden will have some good soil. I would just say 'never say never' and concentrate on getting the rest of the garden straight, by the time it is you might really have got the bug and want to grow flowers and veg from seed.
By the way Daryl, I quite liked the idea of your toolbox so looked on Amazon. It looks like they have stopped doing the one you have and from the reviews the suggested replacement doesnt appear to be very sturdy.
My local garden centre have started selling some too. I'll have a look next time I'm there and see who makes them and what the quality is like.
Apologies for the confusion
As a working single parent of two young children, I doubt if Donna will have much to time to use a greenhouse! I've been a single parent a long time, and it's very hard to keep on top of everyday stuff, let alone any substantial gardening, unless you have parents or relatives to help. I didn't, so I know how hard it is.
The greenhouse could be a nuisance just now rather than an asset, so it might be better to make it safe so that the children don't go in it, and save that for the future when you have more time to spend in it. I'd concentrate on getting the rest of the garden in a state where it's manageable. Maintenance alone will take up a fair bit of time. Grass can be a dripping roast. For children playing, it doesn't need much more than regular mowing, a squaring up and feed in spring, with a bit of spiking and scarifying in spring and autumn if you can be bothered.
You've made tremendous progress so far Donna. Take some time to enjoy doing nice bits, especially with your girls, so that you don't wear yourself out!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It is bad enough finding time to do all the housework and garden jobs when you are not a single parent with a 2 year old and another on the way, never mind doing absolutely everything yourself!