Just spent a few quid hiring Mr Muscles to help me for 3 hours with my garden renovation, So far it has taken me 4 hours, 4 wheelie bins and eight black bags to hold the stuff he dug out in his three hours and which I cut up and bagged/binned - and I still haven't finished! The best £30 I've spent in a long time. He was like a machine - but still showed respect for the garden - will def hire him again.
My garden is looking a lot better - barer - but lots of planting opportunities once I have dug over the borders. I am so frightened of all the work still to do that I haven't even made a list of what needs done. I'm going to do one border at a time - dig it over - decided what I'm keeping and get it ready for planting in May time - and then move on to the next one - and the next one etc. The greenhouse is bursting with plants which will all go in in May or thereabouts. Wish now I hadn't decided to do the whole garden at once. And having spent some time in the front garden yesterday I realise one of the big borders there needs totally dug out and started again. Hey ho!
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
I thought Mr Muscles was Pansy's OH! Has he been propagated?
I have got as far as moving my pots of hostas and the acers onto the new shade border so I can think about placings and then spent ages watering all those pots and the others which will want sunnier spots.
Last edited: 02 April 2017 21:12:17
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
After saying earlier that I wasn't planning on doing much this year I have decided to put in a wildlife pond. This is the area that it will go in.
behind the bench is a large log pile and it's quite overgrown so it should work quite well.
The area where the conifers were has been replanted. You can see the the stumps along the fence. Just need it all to fill out now and the two new trees to grow.
Obelixx, I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of the perfume garden when thou have it how you want it! Climbers are going to bolt up that fence in no time! What colours are the roses you are planting?
Bob, I don't envy you having clay! Your going to feel that digging! What exciting plants are going in the boarder?
Victoria, just because you have completed your projects, doesn't mean we don't want to hear or see pictures!
Hogweed, how fantastic that he achieved so much! It must be lovely to have all those possibilities before you! Before and after pictures? Of the garden!
Yvie, love the pond idea! Think you will spend hours plonked down nearby watching the wildlife! What shape and size pond? Looking forward to seeing the pictures of during and after have fun!
After lifting the lawn, leveling and reseeding, the grass seed has started to grow, albeit in patches! Cats don't understand that its not to be walked, run or for frolicking on! greenhouse base that I had prepared for the second hand greenhouse I was getting, needs to be adapted as the new one is a slightly different size. Papa womble is assisting with this tomorrow.
Have been AWOL for a bit (final week at work stretched into several more days sorting stuff out) but thought I'd post the picture of the stepover apple tree I promised. It's got more leaves - and buds- on it now.
And that weedy hole halfway up the lawn on the left is where the pond is one day going to be. I look forward to seeing what you do, pondwise, Yvie.
How's the new greenhouse Wonky?
Last edited: 08 April 2017 10:15:26
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Morning LG love the step over apple tree! Perfect height! It looks very happy and healthy So now work is finished, are there more garden plans? Is the pond imminent? great location for it, looking forward to seeing the progress pics!
Greenhouse foundation has been made and is level and we are just looking at the greenhouse instructions now....it says allow 8 to 16 hours! think this may get complicated!
LG, I like the pond idea and the stepover is looking good.
Wonky, I seem to have been 'accidentally' collecting peonies (some came with offers) - just counted and have 11 in pots so some of those will have to go in there! Also have a dozen roses in pots, an assortment of potted shrubs including weigela, cornus, deutzia and potentilla which have been sitting around for over a year plus a couple of integrifolia clematis. Also lots of potted spring and summer bulbs which I never managed to find room for elsewhere earlier in the year.
In fact I've more than twice as many plants as I need so will probably revamp another border too (if I can find the time and energy!)
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Sounds like there's a lot of intended changes Bob! Love finding homes for new plants! have you chosen the next bed that's getting reworked? I'm sure you will prioritize you to do list and Make time! I find when we get stuck in, sometimes even nightfall doesn't get us gardeners to down tools!
Hi everybody. I'm new to this site, even though I've been gardening for years, I never thought to look on here.
My garden has suffered for the last few years, as I was working but now that I am retired, I am giving it the attention it deserves. Trouble is, I am plant mad and have too many, I think. I need to reorganise as it is not a large garden at all.
Posts
Just spent a few quid hiring Mr Muscles to help me for 3 hours with my garden renovation, So far it has taken me 4 hours, 4 wheelie bins and eight black bags to hold the stuff he dug out in his three hours and which I cut up and bagged/binned - and I still haven't finished! The best £30 I've spent in a long time. He was like a machine - but still showed respect for the garden - will def hire him again.
My garden is looking a lot better - barer - but lots of planting opportunities once I have dug over the borders. I am so frightened of all the work still to do that I haven't even made a list of what needs done. I'm going to do one border at a time - dig it over - decided what I'm keeping and get it ready for planting in May time - and then move on to the next one - and the next one etc. The greenhouse is bursting with plants which will all go in in May or thereabouts. Wish now I hadn't decided to do the whole garden at once. And having spent some time in the front garden yesterday I realise one of the big borders there needs totally dug out and started again. Hey ho!
I thought Mr Muscles was Pansy's OH! Has he been propagated?
I have got as far as moving my pots of hostas and the acers onto the new shade border so I can think about placings and then spent ages watering all those pots and the others which will want sunnier spots.
Last edited: 02 April 2017 21:12:17
After saying earlier that I wasn't planning on doing much this year I have decided to put in a wildlife pond. This is the area that it will go in.
behind the bench is a large log pile and it's quite overgrown so it should work quite well.
The area where the conifers were has been replanted. You can see the the stumps along the fence. Just need it all to fill out now and the two new trees to grow.
Can't wait to get started on the pond.
Obelixx, I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of the perfume garden when thou have it how you want it! Climbers are going to bolt up that fence in no time! What colours are the roses you are planting?
Bob, I don't envy you having clay! Your going to feel that digging! What exciting plants are going in the boarder?
Victoria, just because you have completed your projects, doesn't mean we don't want to hear or see pictures!
Hogweed, how fantastic that he achieved so much! It must be lovely to have all those possibilities before you! Before and after pictures? Of the garden!
Yvie, love the pond idea! Think you will spend hours plonked down nearby watching the wildlife! What shape and size pond? Looking forward to seeing the pictures of during and after
have fun!
After lifting the lawn, leveling and reseeding, the grass seed has started to grow, albeit in patches! Cats don't understand that its not to be walked, run or for frolicking on!
greenhouse base that I had prepared for the second hand greenhouse I was getting, needs to be adapted as the new one is a slightly different size. Papa womble is assisting with this tomorrow. 
Looking forward to seeing everyone's progress
Have been AWOL for a bit (final week at work stretched into several more days sorting stuff out) but thought I'd post the picture of the stepover apple tree I promised. It's got more leaves - and buds- on it now.
And that weedy hole halfway up the lawn on the left is where the pond is one day going to be. I look forward to seeing what you do, pondwise, Yvie.
How's the new greenhouse Wonky?
Last edited: 08 April 2017 10:15:26
Morning LG
love the step over apple tree! Perfect height! It looks very happy and healthy 
So now work is finished, are there more garden plans? Is the pond imminent?
great location for it, looking forward to seeing the progress pics!
Greenhouse foundation has been made and is level and we are just looking at the greenhouse instructions now....it says allow 8 to 16 hours!
think this may get complicated!
Good luck Wonky and Lovely Hub!
((hugs))
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
LG, I like the pond idea and the stepover is looking good.
Wonky, I seem to have been 'accidentally' collecting peonies (some came with offers) - just counted and have 11 in pots so some of those will have to go in there! Also have a dozen roses in pots, an assortment of potted shrubs including weigela, cornus, deutzia and potentilla which have been sitting around for over a year plus a couple of integrifolia clematis. Also lots of potted spring and summer bulbs which I never managed to find room for elsewhere earlier in the year.
In fact I've more than twice as many plants as I need so will probably revamp another border too (if I can find the time and energy!)
Sounds like there's a lot of intended changes Bob! Love finding homes for new plants!
have you chosen the next bed that's getting reworked? I'm sure you will prioritize you to do list and Make time! 
I find when we get stuck in, sometimes even nightfall doesn't get us gardeners to down tools! 
Hi everybody. I'm new to this site, even though I've been gardening for years, I never thought to look on here.
My garden has suffered for the last few years, as I was working but now that I am retired, I am giving it the attention it deserves. Trouble is, I am plant mad and have too many, I think. I need to reorganise as it is not a large garden at all.
Will read all your posts to get some ideas.