Just adding to what everyone else has already said.... you have the right to expect it to look nice from the beginning. Even if waiting for plants to grow. The "soil" isn't soil. It's just dirt and lumps of rocks. Any planter should be finished off and the growing medium should look nice or covered with a mulch that will look nice. At least they didn't just cover this with a thin layer of topsoil so you wouldn't know how bad it was beneath until much later.
They have put a mulch and bark over it this morning. However I have said we are not happy with the plants in the second planter. He said they will replace them tomorrow. The soil I did query with them and it does has a mulch or something in it but is just very lumpy. We have taken pics and when the boss comes back we will say we are unsure about the soil and the effect on the plants in time. He has been back quite regularly to take pics.
When filling raised beds in this garden we used two-thirds good quality sieved topsoil and one-third well-rotted organic farmyard manure - if I was paying someone to do the job that is what I would expect.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We have to be a bit careful atm as they are finishing the work at their expense due to the shortfall in slabs. If we go in like a bull in a china shop and complain then that's not good as we don't want them to walk! They are doing an outsanding job on the patio and yes whilst we are unsure of the soil content we have to approach with car whilst they are still finishing off the patio. Towards the end we will probably query the content of the soil.
I hear what you're saying Emma lou, but if they walk they're in breach of contract and you should take them to the Small Claims Court (very simple).
The work is being done for the price quoted - if they made a mistake in their calculations that's their problem and not yours - they'll be more careful in future, but you should not be the loser.
The soil should be suitable for the purpose (it very obviously is not) and the plants should be of a similar size to those in the illustration unless there was a written proviso that smaller plants would be used.
Stick to your guns! We're behind you
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We have just been out and had a look at this soil. When it crumbles it is actually very fine and actually feels quite good soil, quite damp and better than what we have in our beds!. The first impression suggests it is dry hard and clumpy. Some of it is more an issue of it not being broken down in the planters very well. There is a mix of mulch and/or peat in it too, it clearly isn't just dug out from next doors field, so whilst it isn't very fine topsoil I am a little more rested on this matter, but will still raise this. I think a good dig is what it needs too. The issue of the plants they know about now, so will pursue this matter. Thanks for all your advice. They are a very big gardening company here and are not short of work, so to a degree they should know their job, and is always a fine balance between moaning and upsetting the apple cart and telling someone their job.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Just adding to what everyone else has already said.... you have the right to expect it to look nice from the beginning. Even if waiting for plants to grow. The "soil" isn't soil. It's just dirt and lumps of rocks. Any planter should be finished off and the growing medium should look nice or covered with a mulch that will look nice. At least they didn't just cover this with a thin layer of topsoil so you wouldn't know how bad it was beneath until much later.
They have put a mulch and bark over it this morning. However I have said we are not happy with the plants in the second planter. He said they will replace them tomorrow. The soil I did query with them and it does has a mulch or something in it but is just very lumpy. We have taken pics and when the boss comes back we will say we are unsure about the soil and the effect on the plants in time. He has been back quite regularly to take pics.
A mulch won't change the fact that the soil is unsuitable - I'd be furious!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
When filling raised beds in this garden we used two-thirds good quality sieved topsoil and one-third well-rotted organic farmyard manure - if I was paying someone to do the job that is what I would expect.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We have to be a bit careful atm as they are finishing the work at their expense due to the shortfall in slabs. If we go in like a bull in a china shop and complain then that's not good as we don't want them to walk! They are doing an outsanding job on the patio and yes whilst we are unsure of the soil content we have to approach with car whilst they are still finishing off the patio. Towards the end we will probably query the content of the soil.
I hear what you're saying Emma lou, but if they walk they're in breach of contract and you should take them to the Small Claims Court (very simple).
The work is being done for the price quoted - if they made a mistake in their calculations that's their problem and not yours - they'll be more careful in future, but you should not be the loser.
The soil should be suitable for the purpose (it very obviously is not) and the plants should be of a similar size to those in the illustration unless there was a written proviso that smaller plants would be used.
Stick to your guns! We're behind you
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We have just been out and had a look at this soil. When it crumbles it is actually very fine and actually feels quite good soil, quite damp and better than what we have in our beds!. The first impression suggests it is dry hard and clumpy. Some of it is more an issue of it not being broken down in the planters very well. There is a mix of mulch and/or peat in it too, it clearly isn't just dug out from next doors field, so whilst it isn't very fine topsoil I am a little more rested on this matter, but will still raise this. I think a good dig is what it needs too. The issue of the plants they know about now, so will pursue this matter. Thanks for all your advice. They are a very big gardening company here and are not short of work, so to a degree they should know their job, and is always a fine balance between moaning and upsetting the apple cart and telling someone their job.
Thank you Dave for your reply, I will do as you say.
I love birds, I am carefull and I check my pots every day, but I will get some Grit and be a more aware person. A reminder is good for me.
I will check out the thread.
Thank you Frances.
emma lou...The green in the planters look like bamboo...
The pics are still upside down even when I click on them!...thankfully the lap top isn't too heavy...