MBE's new garden

[veggiechicken]

Well done MBE
Where to next?

[mrbadexample]

I need to mark out the 3m wide strip over the sewer that I can't really use yet. Once I've done that I need to work out where the rhubarb and asparagus are going. The were in the same bed next to each other at the old house, and they seemed happy enough. It has to be soon though because the rhubarb's not happy in the recycling tub, and the asparagus takes years.

At the moment I'm hoping for three raised beds for a bit of rotation (two to the right of the one in the above picture, each a little longer), and one for stuff that doesn't move, i.e. the rhubarb and asparagus. Those two could equally be separate though.

[mrbadexample]

I've laid out the sleepers and slabs to approximately where I think the beds should go.

Does it look all right?



I was hoping to use this corner for herbs:



The sleepers are <expletive deleted> heavy. Once I'm happy with the layout I'll have to move them all again, lift the turf, move them all back and fix them in place. Yay.

[mrbadexample]

Looks better with the ends on. Nothing fixed in place yet.



Whilst I originally thought of putting rhubarb and asparagus in the solo bed, I now realise it's not big enough. Looks like the rhubarb will have to go elsewhere, but it's a tough old bugger and it'll cope.

[mrbadexample]

And I thought the Hozelock reel was a decent price from Screwfix at £29.99.

[Jay-ell]

Coming along nicely - where's the turf stack going?

[mrbadexample]

Coming along nicely - where's the turf stack going?

At the end of the garage.

[mrbadexample]

Getting there:

[vivienz]

Just a thought - could you sow some wildflower seed over the problem sewer pipe area? They're pretty shallow rooted and usually annuals so you could see how you get on with them for one year.

[mrbadexample]

Just a thought - could you sow some wildflower seed over the problem sewer pipe area? They're pretty shallow rooted and usually annuals so you could see how you get on with them for one year.

That is certainly an option which I'm considering, but probably more towards the back of the garage. At the moment it's becoming a bit of a dumping ground - the cut turf, horseradish (if it survives), comfrey, wild garlic and the odd strawberry. Also considering a little seating area as it gets the best of the evening sun. Some kind of flower border by the garage too I think.

Raised beds had to get priority though, or I'd lose most of the season. Need to pick up some manure and get some organic matter in there - it's pretty stony rubbish at the moment.

[Bigmallly]

The dumping ground sounds perfect for some rambling squashes.

[mrbadexample]

Squashes sown, but old seed so might need fresh.

Beds ready to go (with the exception of a large quantity of organic matter). This pleases me:

[mrbadexample]

This, however, really does not:





It's growing in the tarmacked area by the electricity substation. There's also a bit more out the front (areas circled in blue). I suspect it has come from the electricity substation, but I've had a look over the wall and can't see any.



Looks like I'm in for a protracted battle, particularly as it's under tarmac (I wonder why? ). There is evidence of it having previously broken through.

On the plus side, it is a reasonable distance from my chosen (i.e. sewer-enforced) growing area. I've given it a good blowtorching - not so much because I thought it would do any good in the long term (although fairly sure it'll kill the spores at least), more as a gentle introduction to what it faces mucking about in my garden. Hopefully it'll think twice.

[mrbadexample]

I've also had a look over the boundary fence on the affected side. Judging by the amount of carp piled up just over, and in between the double-skinned fence, this is not something that the neighbour is going to give a monkey's about.

[mrbadexample]

Sadly, the bloke just up the road wants paying for his horse manure.