2017 - Update on new garden

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Hi GOY’ers,

It’s been a while but i have been a little bit busy.

We are now 11 months into the bungalow and although it doesn’t look as though a lot has been done – it sort of has.

We have a lot of work in progress and one or two things have been completed.

So where to start?

How about a couple of pictures of what we moved in to.

This is where we intend to put the new Koi pond.

This is a view across the back garden.

This is a view going the other way.

As you can see ….. quite a mess.

The first thing i did was to erect a new greenhouse as there wasn’t one on the property. I couldn’t warrant having one as big as the last garden so purchased a 10 × 6. On reflection after this growing season a bit too small.

The next job was to try to keep the dogs in our garden and out of next doors. The boundary on that side was just a tree line which was the old field edge boundary before the houses were built. The Westie being a terrier could get through anything.

I decided on a green 1 metre high mesh fence and spent a few days digging holes through clay and tree roots to put the posts in concrete.

Not a pretty site but the garden was now dog safe.

My next job was to prepare the ground for the new Koi pond as the pond had been delivered.

There were two identical “L” shape raised borders just outside the back door so i decided to get rid of the one on the right to make way for the pond and started removing the soil.

But of course i had to store it somewhere so made use some available space by the fence.

The first job after clearing most of the soil was to erect the pergola. I wasn’t going to try to put it up on my own with the pond in place.

One side up.

Complete.

It isn’t that difficult to put up your own as long as you think it all through before you start.

Now i just had to get the ground flat for the base area.

…and added some gravel and sand and also included a bamboo roof to shade the pond for when the sun comes out.

Next job was to build the pond. I had decided that i was getting too old to dig more holes for fish so i found this wooden raised pond on the internet. It was very easy to assemble and i had a 10ft diagonal pond built in the day.

Next was to add the sand base to support the liner.

Next was to insert the liner.

After the liner was stretched into place and secured in the grooves around the edge of the rim i had to insert the hose tails for the inlet and outlet hoses

Last job was to install the pump ….

….. and start filling

When the pond was full, which took all day to fill, we had to leave it for a few days for the water to settle and the neutraliser/de-chlorination to work.

About a week later we added our 10 baby Koi all around 4 inches long

So now at last i could start looking at the garden.

First job was to find somehere for the Golden Showers rose to grow against. Unfortunately we didn’t have any spare walls so i had to create one with wire mesh against the greenhouse. Mi logic was that it would double up for supporting tomatoes.

Now all of my plugs were delivered so i had spend some time potting these on and decided the best place for them was in our large conservatory on a trestle table.

So now all i had to do was wait for them to grow.

In the mean time, we had some good weather so i took advantage and had breakfast in the garden.

OH had seen a fish viewing dome on youtube so we just had to have one of those.

On a visit to the local garden centre we purchased a Red Robin

Nice to see the Clematis Montana in flower for the first time

So now we are more or less up to date here are some photo’s as of today.

The first one is a view from the kitchen sink which is my normal position in the house when i’m not aweating it out in the garden.

As you can see some of it is coming on and some of it is still work in progress.

The new fencing is a joint project with my lovely neighbour, who just happens to be a really good builder. I paid for the wood and he is putting it up for me so we both benefit.

You may also notice that i am in the process of digging out a new pathway down the left side of the bungalow.

When we moved in this was completely overgrown with hawthorn trees and bushes and sloped right into the garage wall.

Digging it out is a job i wish i had never started. Too many roots and stumps, but i am getting there.

At the front of the property i have started painting the fence and concrete posts – dark brown and white – it is starting to look quite good. However there are some 30 panels double sided in places and of course the new fencing when finished.

The picture of the wooden sleepers is for a project in the back garden when the fence has been completed.

I intend to create a raised bed/rockery all down that side of the garden by laying 3 sleepers high all the way down to the greenhouse.

This will also help me get rid of the excess soil that is now laying all around the garden where i am digging things out.

Whoever said that i would be bored in retirement couldn’t be more wrong.

I will be 70 in December …. if i make it without keeling over.

OH not doing much these days as she has become quite immobile of late and mostly sits watching me. Some may sensible girl. I have another saying but i do like a quiet life.

Happy reading GOY’ers and i look forward to keeping you up to date as we progress.

• 19 Jul, 2017
• 8 likes

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