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I thought I’d start this thread to share my progress in creating a new potting/utility area for my garden. Partly as I find these threads interesting and thought others might, partly to give myself a kick up the backside and get started and partly to get any advice, ideas or tips.
A bit of background, last year we had our garden redesigned and landscaped. We are very excited to see how our new borders and planting schemes progress through the year! Part of the garden is a dedicated area for growing fruit and veg. I’ve got two 6x3ft raised beds and two 2x4 ground level beds. I’m using the raised beds for a square foot gardening system - not much in there now but I do have some strawberry plants (still dormant but healthy looking), some onions, garlic and broad beans in there. The ground beds are being used for soft fruit. Raspberries on one side, a compact dwarf blackberry and a tayberry on the other. The tayberry will be trained along the fence.
So now I’m left with some space around our rear garage. I had planned to utilise the rear of our shed on one side of the garage as a potting space but I’ve since promised my daughter I’d demolish the shed, put up a smaller one and turn it into a play area to accommodate her swing.
So I’m left with the narrow space between the garage and the fence. It’s about 1.2m wide and 6m long so I think I can work with it. I’ve attached some photos.
The main space:
We had planned to use this space for a rotary washing line but I’m trying to think of somewhere else for this so might be able to make use of this space too.
So, the initial plan is clear the space, treat the weeds and level it all out (it’s mostly a mix of pea shingle and rubble). Then lay some weed membrane. I’ve kept the old slabs in the photo above to lay along the bottom of the garage wall to provide a level base for a potting bench/shelving units/maybe a leanto greenhouse. Then top the whole lot off with 10mm shingle.
For the far end, there’s already a diverter on the drainpipe but no water butt so putting one in seems like a no brainer. I think there might be room at the end for a small compost bin too. I’ve got my eye on one of those hot bins.
I’m still trying to decide what I want to do in terms of workspace. I quite like IKEA’s HINDO range which includes matching shelving unit, potting bench and cabinet as well as a greenhouse cabinet. Some shelving on the wall, maybe some plastic bins for storing compost etc.
As far as a greenhouse goes, the IKEA option seems like a good, cheaper alternative to a proper lean to greenhouse and better than the cheapest blowaway option. I’m wondering if I might be better off putting it against the fence on the left in the second photo. To give you an idea of sun direction in the second photo I’m facing south east. I had expected to get some sunlight down the side of the garage as the sun gets higher but I’ve since discovered our neighbours, who are having an extension, will be relocating their shed to the corner of their garden on the other side of the fence which will block out even more light.
Anyway, first step will be to get the area prepared so I will be back with progress photos soon I hope!
A bit of background, last year we had our garden redesigned and landscaped. We are very excited to see how our new borders and planting schemes progress through the year! Part of the garden is a dedicated area for growing fruit and veg. I’ve got two 6x3ft raised beds and two 2x4 ground level beds. I’m using the raised beds for a square foot gardening system - not much in there now but I do have some strawberry plants (still dormant but healthy looking), some onions, garlic and broad beans in there. The ground beds are being used for soft fruit. Raspberries on one side, a compact dwarf blackberry and a tayberry on the other. The tayberry will be trained along the fence.
So now I’m left with some space around our rear garage. I had planned to utilise the rear of our shed on one side of the garage as a potting space but I’ve since promised my daughter I’d demolish the shed, put up a smaller one and turn it into a play area to accommodate her swing.
So I’m left with the narrow space between the garage and the fence. It’s about 1.2m wide and 6m long so I think I can work with it. I’ve attached some photos.
The main space:
We had planned to use this space for a rotary washing line but I’m trying to think of somewhere else for this so might be able to make use of this space too.
So, the initial plan is clear the space, treat the weeds and level it all out (it’s mostly a mix of pea shingle and rubble). Then lay some weed membrane. I’ve kept the old slabs in the photo above to lay along the bottom of the garage wall to provide a level base for a potting bench/shelving units/maybe a leanto greenhouse. Then top the whole lot off with 10mm shingle.
For the far end, there’s already a diverter on the drainpipe but no water butt so putting one in seems like a no brainer. I think there might be room at the end for a small compost bin too. I’ve got my eye on one of those hot bins.
I’m still trying to decide what I want to do in terms of workspace. I quite like IKEA’s HINDO range which includes matching shelving unit, potting bench and cabinet as well as a greenhouse cabinet. Some shelving on the wall, maybe some plastic bins for storing compost etc.
As far as a greenhouse goes, the IKEA option seems like a good, cheaper alternative to a proper lean to greenhouse and better than the cheapest blowaway option. I’m wondering if I might be better off putting it against the fence on the left in the second photo. To give you an idea of sun direction in the second photo I’m facing south east. I had expected to get some sunlight down the side of the garage as the sun gets higher but I’ve since discovered our neighbours, who are having an extension, will be relocating their shed to the corner of their garden on the other side of the fence which will block out even more light.
Anyway, first step will be to get the area prepared so I will be back with progress photos soon I hope!
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