Must be a fair size if you ended up going for a sit on mower.Front is a tiny 4x4m, the rear is vast, space enough to get lost in. When I moved in, the rear was totally wild, two massive weeping willows, and bramble had spread from the railway land at the back, up to our back kitchen window. It was so vast, people used to take a shortcut through our garden, to get to the rail station.
I chain link fenced it, to prevent anyone using it as a shortcut, then spent years cutting back and defeating the bramble. Eventually, I cut the two willows down, and 'bought' an odd triangle shaped piece of council land, to extend it even more. I went through struggling with one inadequate mower for the size of it, after another. I eventually gave up the struggle, and bought a little tractor mower, which not only made it easy, but cut it all easily in 30 minutes, versus a full days hard work, using a normal mower.
It was a bit of pain dragging the mower or tractor all the way round, to do the tiny front, so I pebbled that over. So all there was, was grass, until Avril arrived, but since then she has taken over planting and growing lots of flowers - I just keep out of the way, and leave her to it, aside from making up planters, and erecting greenhouses
It's a shallow bit of soil, atop heavy clay, so if it rains much, it floods and goes boggy. I added french drains to the worst of it, years ago, I'm just in the process of adding some more, at the moment.
Gardening
- Thread starter diy_fun_uk
- Start date
It is rather, as all visitors mention how vast it is, when they see the size of it for the first time. I have a big double garage on it, front to rear drive, with the caravan parked on it at the rear, a 12x8' hut, and a 16x16 summer house, with a similar sized lean-to shelter on the back of that, where the tractor hides, when it's not in use. Then there is still a massive area still left, of grass to cut - which I cut this morning.
The little tractor, not only saves time, and a massive amount of effort, but it also uses less fuel than a walk-behind, because it's so much quicker.
My rear boundary, it the railway fence, 50 yards then the main line in a cutting. Except they recently began to make use of that 50 yards, as a temporary depot, to work on electrification. They cleared, and levelled it, piling a 3m high row of soil close up to their fence. Alongside, on the right, is some inaccessible land, which they set aside as a nature reserve.
It was built in the 1950, when land was relatively cheap. Just at the far side of the track, are some much more recent homes, which have almost no front garden because of an existing road at the front, and almost no rear garden, between the house and the cutting. The passing trains must be quite deafening for them.
With just the two of us living here, and so many places to hide - we do often lose contact with each other
One word ... jealous! I'd make do with the double garage, alas not enough room. And close to trains, bonus!It is rather, as all visitors mention how vast it is, when they see the size of it for the first time. I have a big double garage on it, front to rear drive, with the caravan parked on it at the rear, a 12x8' hut, and a 16x16 summer house, with a similar sized lean-to shelter on the back of that, where the tractor hides, when it's not in use. Then there is still a massive area still left, of grass to cut - which I cut this morning.
The little tractor, not only saves time, and a massive amount of effort, but it also uses less fuel than a walk-behind, because it's so much quicker.
My rear boundary, it the railway fence, 50 yards then the main line in a cutting. Except they recently began to make use of that 50 yards, as a temporary depot, to work on electrification. They cleared, and levelled it, piling a 3m high row of soil close up to their fence. Alongside, on the right, is some inaccessible land, which they set aside as a nature reserve.
It was built in the 1950, when land was relatively cheap. Just at the far side of the track, are some much more recent homes, which have almost no front garden because of an existing road at the front, and almost no rear garden, between the house and the cutting. The passing trains must be quite deafening for them.
With just the two of us living here, and so many places to hide - we do often lose contact with each other
It's an awful lot of work, to keep up..
When i visit the kids houses or rentals first thing i do is start pulling the weeds as they are all in slate or gravel they pull straight out i cant understand why as they walk past it isnt automatic and just pull them out takes seconds
I hate gardening I believe in the concept of re wilding to save the planet 
Not to say it’s not nice to see decent garden
My old man was well into gardening he won a couple of best garden cups in his day
Hard work that never ends
I was forced into some gardening when my neighbour got banged up for embezzlement
He used to cut my lawns
Not to say it’s not nice to see decent garden
My old man was well into gardening he won a couple of best garden cups in his day
Hard work that never ends
I was forced into some gardening when my neighbour got banged up for embezzlement
He used to cut my lawns
I suppose when you have an knackered old Pontiac on bricks on the front lawn and a load of old V8 blocks strewn around the back, it can be quite challenging.
According to the experts there's some logic behind this. They're encouraging people to allow their gardens to become a bit more 'wild' and less perfect as it's better for wildlife. I suppose the challenge is there's a fine line between gardens that are a bit more wild and basically look a complete mess. Even more so front gardens I suppose. And there can be an issue if one neighbour likes to keep their garden pristine and gets more weeds etc due to a neighbour who doesn't give a sh1t.I hate gardening I believe in the concept of re wilding to save the planet
Not to say it’s not nice to see decent garden
My old man was well into gardening he won a couple of best garden cups in his day
Hard work that never ends
I was forced into some gardening when my neighbour got banged up for embezzlement
He used to cut my lawns
One of my neighbours isn't keen on gardening and tbh their front garden (basically all grass) is looking pretty good at present, a bit like a meadow. However some will no doubt be thinking 'get that blo0dy grass cut!'
It all depends on the neighbourhood - on a comfy lane nearby lies an immaculate garden in front of an Art Deco bungalow. Next door squat Friends of the Earth with a ramshackle assortment of trees, bushes and grass full of flowers. Which would you rather see on your way past to work?
- Joined
- 11 Jan 2004
- Messages
- 43,322
- Reaction score
- 2,758
- Country
Looking for a pet friendly weed killer for paths and drives.
Acetic acid seems to be popular. Is this the best solution (excuse the pun)?
Acetic acid seems to be popular. Is this the best solution (excuse the pun)?
white vinegar with salt or bi carbonate
- Joined
- 11 Jan 2004
- Messages
- 43,322
- Reaction score
- 2,758
- Country
Sadly, you're not my neighbour either!