Border 'Fencing'

[Shortie]

Hmm.. this one I think could be a bit contentious, sorry

Our allotment site say no fencing around the plot, and I respect that.

I took on a plot 1st Jan that is at the end of a long line of lotties, and when I took my plot on the ground steward 'took back' 2 rods to create a turning circle/parking bit to make life easier for the cars. No problemo

However...

Recently I found a new set of fresh tractor prints on my plot and it got me wondering whether others are turning around on the plot too. The bit at the front is mainly still grassy as I started at the back of the plot, but there are definate plot markers to show where mine starts at tthe front (fruit trees, compost bins, etc).

I realise as time goes on I will have dug over the front too and it will be hard to deny the turning circle from my plot but I'm also accutely aware that me taking on this specific plot has annoyed the chap opposite who apparently had his eye on this one. He drives a car and when we've both been there before he's blocked me in when there's been plenty of space not to (I pretended to ignore it and just waited him out so he left first - I didn't want the hassle of approaching him or letting him know he had 'won' as it were). It has made me wonder though how safe the front of my lottie will ever be with the tractors around muck delivery time, or grumpy bum opposite me

So, it got me wondering about some kind of not-really-fencing, fencing. I've been looking around at other plots and some people have obvious knee height metal fencing (but if I tried that he'd be likely to jump on the opportunity to complain about me) and everyone else seems to have worked around it by either building a huge shed at the front of their plot (including grumpy pants) or growing mahoosive bushes (bay I think it is) neither of which I want to do.

I'm not looking to barricade myself in, just protect the front from wandering vehicles. I was trying to think along the planting lines, but flowers come and go quickly and when gone I'm back to a lack of border... If I do plants, they need to be perennial but not invasive so I end up in trouble, or obvious they're being used as a fence.

Maybe I'm stressing to much about the reaction to a fence of some sort? Sigh... maybe no one will care as long as it's not 'in your face'...?

Have others had similar issues and how did you subtly get round it?

[singleseeder]

Raspberry canes? Plant them further apart than you normally would. Easy to dig up/control when necessary. Get some on Freecycle or a friendly plot holder perhaps.

[veggiechicken]

Can you put your compost bins at strategic intervals along the boundary?

[Shortie]

I had wondered about the composting bins, but with just two Daleks and a burning bin it'd be thin spread lol

Oh now raspberries.....problem is, I don't get there every day which could be an issue when they're in full fruit, but then.... maybe that shouldn't matter if I'm not using the purely as a crop?? Hmmmm...... And I have regretted pulling them up from the back garden when I had them years ago.... They benefit from a metal frame too don't they?

[Snadger]

Bollards...................

Easily made from thick lumps of wood, only need to be one foot high above ground and spaced at about 5 foot (less than car width)
Failing that lumps of stone set at same spacing (painted white) or breeze blocks stuck in ground vertically!

A nice pond wood also be a deterrant!

[Nicos]

How about a bit of vertical planting too? ( to compensate for the 'lost' land?
Build a couple of 'permanent' pergolas to grow climbing beans etc etc up.

I like the idea of a pond too- needs a mesh cover to stop kiddies from falling in though- you can say you're encouraging nature!

Or....a couple of stacks of pallets planted up with potential nesting/hibernating sections- and a few nasturtium to make it look prettier in the summer?

or- a fruit cage ( te he!- but costly)

Easier still - a small woodpile neatly stacked ( for your BBQs and wildlife)

or- a row of gooseberries


...or a combination of all of those?

[Nicos]

Have a look at these...







This would be nice to support your sunflowers/JA's/beans/Vine...

[Shortie]

Snadger, problem is with just posts is I wonder if I'll wind people up as it's obvious I'm blocking cars out (I know it sounds daft, I just don't want to aggrovate the situation with the chap over the way...)

I've just asked of Freegle if anyone is thinning out their raspberries, and I'll have plenty of beans on the go which is a good plan for a mix of height with a tall barrier - but it's for planting, right?

AAaaanndd... I have a pallet in my garden from building work last year, and a pallet place nearby when I could maybe scrounge a few more to make some shallow but firm planters - Nicos you''ve reminded me that I saw somewhere a picture of someone planting between the slats of the pallets - a good place for some lovely sprawling annuals, and no-one will fancy running over a pallet in flower or not


Thanks as always guys, I feel a plan hatching!

[Sanjo]

I used a pallet a few years ago. I painted it green and then lined it with black plastic. As you say Shortie, not very wide but deep.
It is still in my garden actually (acting as a barrier funnily enough) and I looked at it yesterday and wondered whether, if I lay it down I could use it as a strawberry planter!!

[lottie dolly]

he sounds like the site bully,perhaps he's used to dominating women,if so get ready to duck as teddy gets slung,after you put your plans into action teeeheee,we each have a little book of rules on our site,so much better,can you not have a quiet word with who ever is in charge,steward ext,happy growings and good vibes sent your way,

[Thelma Sanders]

I'd stick my runner bean frame there - and make it out of something substantial low down so no-one is tempted to reverse into it 'by mistake' That'll stop 'em

[Pies]

dig a trench

[Shortie]

Hehehe, I can just see myself coming to the lottie to find his car upended, nose in the air if I dug a trench, lol

Pies, love the avatar btw, I have two ruby king cavs, one looking just like yours (ie stereo-typical king cav face) and the other with a very different face shape and shorter hair on the ears. They're both snoring away on the sofa as I type!

[Shortie]

Lottie Dolly, from whisperings I've heard there are a group of them around me who are suspeted not to have paid ground rent for a good few years . The ground steward I know well-ish is trying to prove this is the case so he can take some action.

Thing is, he already has two lotties and we have a waiting list at ours. Don't get me wrong, I had two last time I was here (I'm newly back) and if the plots are kept good and there are plots going spare, then absolutely fair play to getting a second (or thrid etc) one. But both of his have HUGE sheds on and look to be cultivating on half to less than half of both (the other areas seem to have permenant looking structures on them for burning, storing pallets, etc, etc) so I don't have much symapthy for him. If he had two well utilised plots and still needed / wanted space, then fair enough but it seems he just wants to grumble

So with that in mind, I'm going to keep my head low, be safe in the knowledge I can drive darned well and get out of tight spaces if the what-not chooses to block me in again, and try to not aggrivate the situation while the powers that be sort things out in other ways (or not if it so happens). Oh, and maybe send my 9 year old over to tell him to stop swearing so loudly when he's on the phone (I didn't hear it, my 9 year old came over to me and told tales, lol) - I'm sure that'll help smooth things over a bit

[veggiechicken]

Pies, love the avatar btw, I have two ruby king cavs, one looking just like yours (ie stereo-typical king cav face) and the other with a very different face shape and shorter hair on the ears. They're both snoring away on the sofa as I type!

And I have two black and tan Cavs, snoring away on the sofa as I type! They're a very relaxed breed!