Topic: The RAWK Gardening Thread. (All Questions Answered)

[L8Craig]

Really like the cherry blossom tree that is directly opposite my house. Was in full bloom the past couple of weeks but seems to have shed a bit?

My dad came up last night and had a good go of my front garden. Looks a million times better as it was in a bit of a state. Need to pay someone to come and remove some bits in the back garden then try and tidy that aswell.

Front gardens grass is bad
https://imgur.com/a/E08FREX

[John C]

Front gardens grass is bad
https://imgur.com/a/E08FREX

My front grass is like that mate, I've conceded it will never improve, it gets very little sunlight. Trying to kill the moss is like getting Donald Drumpf to read a book. SAD!

[L8Craig]

My front grass is like that mate, I've conceded it will never improve, it gets very little sunlight. Trying to kill the moss is like getting Donald Drumpf to read a book. SAD!

It’s south facing so gets plenty. Would it be best just to buy new turf and start a fresh as it’s such a small size and costs would be little?

[Sarge]

My front grass is like that mate, I've conceded it will never improve, it gets very little sunlight. Trying to kill the moss is like getting Donald Drumpf to read a book. SAD!

Have you fan racked it hard then add a weed and feed?

[Sarge]

It’s south facing so gets plenty. Would it be best just to buy new turf and start a fresh as it’s such a small size and costs would be little?

You could just dig it all up and buy some top soil and a bag of hardy grass seed. The area is not huge so the cost would be minimal.

[John C]

Have you fan racked it hard then add a weed and feed?

To be honest mate, I haven't and you're right I know that's what it needs. I think a quality scarifier would do my front and back garden a lot of good.

[L8Craig]

You could just dig it all up and buy some top soil and a bag of hardy grass seed. The area is not huge so the cost would be minimal.

Sounds like that’d be the best route to a nicer garden.
Me and my dad tidied the back garden out earlier. Weeds gone. Some dead plants. Lawn mowed. The lawn needs some care though

Stuff on the far right to hopefully be removed tomorrow morning

https://imgur.com/a/kxG2Td5

[Sarge]

To be honest mate, I haven't and you're right I know that's what it needs. I think a quality scarifier would do my front and back garden a lot of good.

Then get off your lazy arse and do it

[Sarge]

Sounds like that’d be the best route to a nicer garden.
Me and my dad tidied the back garden out earlier. Weeds gone. Some dead plants. Lawn mowed. The lawn needs some care though

Stuff on the far right to hopefully be removed tomorrow morning

https://imgur.com/a/kxG2Td5

Cracking garden and so much you could do with it.

Shrubs/Small trees on the left of picture to make it more full looking, add a small flower border on the lawn in the patch that in rectangular in shape. Do the same at the end of the garden on the left. On the right the square can be and shrub and herb garden. the concrete on the right could be removed and made into a lawn also and you could add plants along that side too to make the garden more fuller looking.

Just a couple of ideas maybe.

[Filler.]

It's a large white blossom cherry tree (I think). Big as a house. It got a bad haircut by the council a few years back - took a hammering aesthetically, but at least it's putting on some sort of show.


I wouldn't bugger about with turf and seed and stuff now Craig. Do it after the summer. You'd have to water it constantly. Leave it till the early autumn.

[Sarge]

It's a large white blossom cherry tree (I think). Big as a house. It got a bad haircut by the council a few years back - took a hammering aesthetically, but at least it's putting on some sort of show.


I wouldn't bugger about with turf and seed and stuff now Craig. Do it after the summer. You'd have to water it constantly. Leave it till the early autumn.

Perfect time to do it now

[Filler.]

Perfect time to do it now

Really?



Been away in Italy for a few days. In laws, us 4, her sisters lot, so 10 in total. Don't get away often. First time flight for kids too. Family shit - they're part Italian through a grandmother. Was fun, but hard going too.

Have been in bits about having the greenhouse door closed these last 4 days. Gave them a really good soaking just before I left and kissed them all goodbye and that I'd promise to be home soon. I had slug pellets all over the floor from weeks back so couldn't leave the door open so I shut it. I knew it was the wrong thing to do, but we were rushing etc.

Anyway... thankfully not too bad it seems. I gave them all a small drop tonight just to be getting on with. Most were on their knees. You have shit weather for fuck knows how long, and you go away on the one weekend you're needed, plus you closed the door!  *wail*


Followed the goings on at Chelsea while walking round the oldest botanical gardens in the world in Padova. 1545 I think. Must upload a pic. A place to revisit I hope - needs a whole day - preferably cooler, preferably with a smaller group (!). Parrots were nesting in the open air part - was a beautiful thing. The contrast with the noise that goes on after an important match was invigorating, as was the numerous plant 'graves'. The outdoor gardens were all highly organised and subdivided, and subdividead again in rows of 2x2' squares of bordered off space, each with a label hand written in Italian and welded onto tall metal spikes 2 ft high - many had nothing growing in it, just the label and the description sticking out of dry dead earth, but next door might be a wonderful plant. It closed before we got to the indoor bit, but it was so fucking hot I didn't mind. Some beautiful trees too.


 

[Mr Mingebag Squid]

Quick question....

We've got a sort of rockery at the back of the house that just grows weeds and shit like that which we want to get rid of. The past couple of years we spent ages digging it out, only for everything to constantly grow back. How can we get it so nothing grows? My wife has suggested we dig out what we can, then put a sort of mesh/tarpaulin over it and cover in gravel or bark. Would this work? I'm a complete novice and have literally no idea.

[redbyrdz]

Quick question....

We've got a sort of rockery at the back of the house that just grows weeds and shit like that which we want to get rid of. The past couple of years we spent ages digging it out, only for everything to constantly grow back. How can we get it so nothing grows? My wife has suggested we dig out what we can, then put a sort of mesh/tarpaulin over it and cover in gravel or bark. Would this work? I'm a complete novice and have literally no idea.

Listen to her.


Nah seriously, that is what will work.

[Danny Boys Dad]

Quick question....

We've got a sort of rockery at the back of the house that just grows weeds and shit like that which we want to get rid of. The past couple of years we spent ages digging it out, only for everything to constantly grow back. How can we get it so nothing grows? My wife has suggested we dig out what we can, then put a sort of mesh/tarpaulin over it and cover in gravel or bark. Would this work? I'm a complete novice and have literally no idea.

Why not spray it with something? You can still get some pretty evil weed-killers that will sort it all out and nothing will grow back for ages.

[BlackandWhitePaul]

Quick question for Percy Thrower, can you get decent size onions planting onion sets,  or is it not worth my while?

[Sarge]

Listen to her.


Nah seriously, that is what will work.

[Filler.]

Step 1: Build two raised, tiered beds. Done. Step 2: Weed, prune, feed, dig, manure, prepare. Step 3. Plant. Step 4: Tell yourself you're just going to hoe it every so often. Step 5: 12 weeks later, spend most of the weekend pulling up bindweed and triffids in the sunshine.

[John C]

Step 1: Build two raised, tiered beds. Done. Step 2: Weed, prune, feed, dig, manure, prepare. Step 3. Plant. Step 4: Tell yourself you're just going to hoe it every so often. Step 5: 12 weeks later, spend most of the weekend pulling up bindweed and triffids in the sunshine.

I actually sighed feeling your pain mate. But then I wondered is it a satisfying task or is it slogging toil?

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

Any good places for plants/flowers in liverpool? cheap like

[BlackandWhitePaul]

So, these onion sets?     

[Filler.]

I actually sighed feeling your pain mate. But then I wondered is it a satisfying task or is it slogging toil?

I'd rather it was finished - or at least so it's all cleared/flattened, and all the plots for raised beds/football, greenhouse/shed/kitchen in place. Am surrounded by knock on effects to do with the house too. Build 'this', so then 'that' can go there, then the crap that's 'there' can go 'there', then ...etc' x 100. It would change our lives completely if it was all 'done'. I have to get diggers in, I've accepted that. And a chainsaw.

If it's done you can have dreams. Was washing up this morning listening to some heavy heavy rock (Sleep's 'The Sciences') and asked my wife...

'I wonder how difficult it would be to...'
'... get a new husband?'
'.. to have Sleep playing live at the end of the garden. Huge stacks of speakers piled on top of eachother at Who 'Live at Leeds' volume levels. Richard Dawson in support.'
'hmmn'

You can't dream till it's done sadly. I've spent 20 years living in building sites, and I need to move on!

So, these onion sets?     

Plant small onion sets and they just become a big onion, they don't subdivide like potatoes for instance, but you'll get a nice one. I grew them once and wasn't really worth it as they're quite cheap to buy. Shallotts I'd do again tho, and garlic. Wouldn't be planting onions now. Buy some over wintering onions and sow them Sep/Oct for this time next year.


-
Weedkillers are great for killing stuff off for 3/4 months, but they'll return. If you want to keep weeds away, you have to lay matting, and I'd be removing the deep rooted stuff by hand before it's put down too.

[reddebs]

Need help on ideas to fill this gap I've just cleared.  Preferably nothing too big, as I quite like the extra light, but I'm sure the rear neighbours would prefer their privacy back [emoji848] 

I'm happy for it to be in a container or the ground, deciduous or evergreen, flowering or not.

[Sarge]

Herb garden?

[Filler.]

I'd get rid of the tree and put up a fence. Or bricks if south facing. Massive paddling pool in the middle.

[Filler.]

Or continue with those slats at the bottom with more slats and grow a climber? Or remove bottom slats and make a trellis to fill the space and grow it up that way. I'd get that tree out tho. Terminate with extreme prejudice.

[reddebs]

Yeah I hate the slats and was already thinking of covering them up with some bamboo type fencing?

Hadn't thought of taking the tree down but if we have the privacy of bamboo then why not as it is blocking out a view of an RSPB reserve.

That part of the garden only gets sun from the mid afternoon so it's either in shade or full sun during spring and summer.

No chance if a paddling pool.  I've no kids and that's where I park the car 🤣

[Filler.]

Ah! I thought it was fully enclosed. I'd chop it down if you could see Goodison, so the fact you can look over a reserve!!? I'll come and do it myself. Do it now. Get a saw and cut that fucker down.

[reddebs]

I know!  I used to be able to watch barn owls hunting at dusk when we bought the place now all I can see is a tree

I'll have to wait till autumn though as we've got nests in it.

[Filler.]

I'll have to wait till autumn though as we've got nests in it.

Tell them that they can live at yours and can watch the final.

[redbyrdz]

Debs, is it open to the left of that image?

I'd chop that tree down and plant a traditional hedge. You can hide a wire link fence in it if you want. Or something hedge like wildish rose bushes. Something to make the transition to the reserve

[harryc]

Careful with planting bamboo the runners after a few years will run wild.

So if you do decide to go the bamboo route make sure you use a bamboo root barrier.

[Filler.]

Agreed. Don't plant bamboo. That would be regrettable.

[princeoftherocks]

Holding a strimmer, I always imagine the scene in 'predator' with the total annihilation of half the rainforest with big guns. 

[reddebs]

Debs, is it open to the left of that image?

I'd chop that tree down and plant a traditional hedge. You can hide a wire link fence in it if you want. Or something hedge like wildish rose bushes. Something to make the transition to the reserve

Unfortunately not no.  That bit you see is my bit of a communal area for 3 other houses.  This is from March from the kitchen, rubbish pic really till you zoom in on the sparrkwhawk in the silver birch [emoji4]

[reddebs]

Careful with planting bamboo the runners after a few years will run wild.

So if you do decide to go the bamboo route make sure you use a bamboo root barrier.

Not planting noooooo would never do that.  I mean the stuff you buy on a roll [emoji23]

[Nobby Reserve]

Careful with planting bamboo the runners after a few years will run wild.

So if you do decide to go the bamboo route make sure you use a bamboo root barrier.

If only you'd been around to post that sage advice 14 years ago. And I'd been around to read it.

[redbyrdz]

Unfortunately not no.  That bit you see is my bit of a communal area for 3 other houses.  This is from March from the kitchen, rubbish pic really till you zoom in on the sparrkwhawk in the silver birch [emoji4]

Maybe no hedge....

I'd still get rid of the tree, but some bushy plants up in containers, and/or something climbing on the fences.

[Nobby Reserve]

and/or something climbing on the fences.

[reddebs]

Maybe no hedge....

I'd still get rid of the tree, but some bushy plants up in containers, and/or something climbing on the fences.

Yeah I've got some climbers, honeysuckle and clematis ready to go and for now I've put an old chimney pot with a photinia in a container there which has helped fill the space.

I've ripped out a load of old ivy that had taken over and found a straggly pyracantha cutting I'd put in years ago.  Maybe now it's got some space and light it might thrive.

Anyone else noticed the masses of Hawthorne blossom this year?  Don't know if it's just our area but I can't remember ever seeing it like this