I agree there's too much hard stuff there, but might it be possible to remove a lot of the bricks but leave a path behind. maybe a winding path with lots of room for planting to soften the edges?
I know you'd have a bit of an odd edge to the path, but you could easily hide it with foliage, or set in an edging and fill in the little triangles where you've removed bricks, with gravel?
It looks nice and sturdy. I'd work with it, rather than rip it out and start again.
I will definitely do some progress pictures. And yes I was thinking of taking up some bricks to make winding path and make more beds. The concrete base will definitely have to come up at some point as it's so uneven. I've gone round the whole patio area with Round up weedkiller today.
I don't think roundup will be much help.it will only kill the weeds that are growing now. What you need is Pathclear which will not only kill the weeds growing but which will remain in the soil and kill further weeds. If you use roundup you will need to do it at least every month. With Pathclear, twice a year will do. But don't use it on flower beds!
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Once you do have the weeds under control with Roundup, just use the remains of your boiled kettle to kill off any more that poke up their ugly heads. I do that.. it works a treat, especially if you catch the weeds young. If it starts to get out of control, I still go back to the Roundup. Boiling water is nice though, as I don't have to worry about keeping the kids or dog off the area for a day or two.
This is a close up of the area which needs working on. Today I lifted all of f the slabs and weeded. As you can see there is a large concrete base which I wanted to have taken up but for now I'm going to work with it and disguise it somehow. I'm going to relay some of the slabs in front of the composter. That's as much planning as I can do at the moment. Hopefully when the slabs are back down I'll have a clearer picture in my mind of how I want it to be.
I have to say that I feel great for having got started, I've managed to 'do' my way out of obsessing over it than thinking the same thoughts over and over?
Needless to say I'm having a well earned beer now! Was wondering if I could use the 'bed' in the middle to plant some vegetables and herbs but not sure if veg need full sun? Also there's sand leftover from where slabs used to be so thinking I can dig it into the soil underneath to help with drainage. I'm going to take some more bricks up (very satisfying job) and make a bed at the end of the concrete base so that once plants are there, you hopefully won't see it.
Well done LG77 enjoy your well deserved beer after a hard days graft ?
Sandy soil in that bed would work well for Mediterranean herbs. No veg expert, still learning but think you'd have to enrich it for veg. Someone clever will know better.
Your bricks made me think of another thread I've just seen. Check out the photos barefoot gardener put on the 12x12 thread. Some inspiration from another forum member with a similar space maybe?
Posts
I think it has a lot of potential.
I agree there's too much hard stuff there, but might it be possible to remove a lot of the bricks but leave a path behind. maybe a winding path with lots of room for planting to soften the edges?
I know you'd have a bit of an odd edge to the path, but you could easily hide it with foliage, or set in an edging and fill in the little triangles where you've removed bricks, with gravel?
It looks nice and sturdy. I'd work with it, rather than rip it out and start again.
I will definitely do some progress pictures. And yes I was thinking of taking up some bricks to make winding path and make more beds. The concrete base will definitely have to come up at some point as it's so uneven. I've gone round the whole patio area with Round up weedkiller today.
I don't think roundup will be much help.it will only kill the weeds that are growing now. What you need is Pathclear which will not only kill the weeds growing but which will remain in the soil and kill further weeds. If you use roundup you will need to do it at least every month. With Pathclear, twice a year will do. But don't use it on flower beds!
Once you do have the weeds under control with Roundup, just use the remains of your boiled kettle to kill off any more that poke up their ugly heads. I do that.. it works a treat, especially if you catch the weeds young. If it starts to get out of control, I still go back to the Roundup. Boiling water is nice though, as I don't have to worry about keeping the kids or dog off the area for a day or two.
I have to say that I feel great for having got started, I've managed to 'do' my way out of obsessing over it than thinking the same thoughts over and over?
Well done! It's good to get started isn't it? Keep us filled in with what happens
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I agree, well done, great start. It really could be a very pretty area and all your own efforts.
You should be very pleased with what you have done.....a big improvement. You will be able to enjoy sitting out seeing the results of your efforts.
Well done LG77
enjoy your well deserved beer after a hard days graft ?
Sandy soil in that bed would work well for Mediterranean herbs. No veg expert, still learning but think you'd have to enrich it for veg. Someone clever will know better.
Your bricks made me think of another thread I've just seen. Check out the photos barefoot gardener put on the 12x12 thread. Some inspiration from another forum member with a similar space maybe?
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/garden-design/12x12-garden/995309.html