Dear sweet Cat could always be relied on for a good gardening thread couldn't she (sigh - I miss her).

I'm not a mad keen gardener or even a very good one, but I do like my garden to look nice. However this year I feel I have bitten off more than I can chew and I'm a bit fed up.

After a big clear up of rubbish in my fairly small back garden I decided to dig up a raised flower bed at the end and level it out into a patio area as it gets the best sun in the garden ... but I can't do it!! i've dug loads of stuff up, moved loads of stuff but it's just too much hard work, but I've gone too far and can't put it back the way it was ... I really fed up actually, which is why I'm on here on such a lovely day cos I can't face sitting in the garden looking at a pile of rubble.

I hope those who do it are having a better time gardening!

i have found myself a gardener for when i finally complete on my new flat, he is going to do all the big stuff that needs doing as in fencing and decking, then ma is doing me some big terracotta pots of plants i cant kill and are low maintenance and then this gardener chappy will come once a fortnight to mow the front lawn for me and tend to the flower beds out there.......

im rubbish at gardening, dont have a clue, but my mum is really good so will be relying on her to pick the right stuff for me, im also going to try and grow a Torbay palm here in Warwickshire.....all this global warming should help it survive......

Another non-gardener here. Our front garden is the worst in the square and yesterday I felt motivated enough to attempt to tidy it up. We had the lawn (only about 12' square) re-turfed a few years ago, but all that seems to grow is weeds. Our unkillable outdoor pot plants died yonks ago, so all that was left in the pots was twigs and weeds. The rose bush that will not die is still thriving in the middle of the "lawn", despite being levelled and the roots pulled out years ago (or so we thought).

So, off I went down to Homebase yesterday and bought myself a pruner, some trimming shears, a fork, trowel, 2 pairs of gardening gloves, an outside dustpan and brush and some green bags.

I must say, I am pleased with the progress so far. I've trimmed down the weedlawn to an acceptable level, stripped most of the moss from the paving stones and probably killed a million snails. The backs of my legs are a bit achy today and I don't know when the mood will take me again, but at least I've made a start.

Anyway, here are a couple of pics.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/Patsy271/garden2007001.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/Patsy271/garden2007002.jpg

Now I have the tools, I may even trim my bush, which has gone from being merely unruly, to frankly ridiculous.

Edit: I meant to keep those dandelions. No, really. :blush:

We now have a front and back yard!

They are rubbish tips. :w00t:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/Patsy271/garden2007001.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/Patsy271/garden2007002.jpg




Where are the "after" photographs Pats? :unsure:

Im not a gardener. The last time i was asked to do some weeding (about 8 years ago) i pulled out all the fledgling plants ... and left the weeds in the flower beds. Mr.B was not amused, and i have been pulled off all gardening duties from hereon in.

So i have been sitting in my sun-lounger, with a large G&T and Marie Clare magazine whilst Mr.B has been puffing and panting around the yard.

At the moment our back garden looks rough. Last October we had a party under canvas in the back garden, and the grass disappeared and was replaced by mud. We left it over winter, and now we are re-seeding. But gawd knows how long it takes for the grass to start poking through *shrugs*

Where are the "after" photographs Pats? :unsure:

These are "mid" photographs she says ignoring Groucho's cheap but predictable shot. You will probably never see the finished product - because it will probably never be finished. :assshake:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/Patsy271/garden2007001.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/Patsy271/garden2007002.jpg




Haydon,


Look and learn, Look and learn. You can have this too

:shocking:

Not unless he pays for it, he can't.

Not unless he pays for it, he can't.

How much does a tray of those yellow flowers cost? :wink2:

I reached the pinicle of my gardening skills yesterday...I mowed the weeds (I don't have a lawn I have a weed patch...grass died off yonks ago)...I also took on part of the giant bramble bush that occupies the bottom left hand corner of the garden...I got bored of the whole thing very quickly adn am still pulling splinters and thorns from my body...hate gardens...hate gardening! :(

Do you know I think I may join in this thread this year. I have always scoffed at people who love thier gardens(hang my head in shame) but now I actually have a garden I like I may well show some enthusiasm.

I can't post pictures at the moment as we have no internet at home (got the plasterer in) but I shall do so as soon as possible.

I have a raher beautiful rhodadendrun(god knows how you spell it-phoentically is best attempt) bush I want to show off....

So you're doing this at work then.

Oh, how standards have slipped.

I have a rather beautiful bush I want to show off....

:shocking: I think that's something you should keep to yourself young lady!:ohmy:

I have a lovely garden.

It is laid to lawn which Mr Figaro diligently mows on a regular basis after some gentle encouragement from me (he forgets otherwise).

We have some flower beds which have some plants which our predecessor planted and luckily only need a bit of watering in the summer to thrive.

We also have a plethoera of beautifuly flowering hanging baskets and patio pot plants which look gorgeous during the summer months. We buy these from the garden centre at £15 a shot and they last us all summer and make it look like we've made an effort. Superb value for money, I've always thought!

So you're doing this at work then.

Oh, how standards have slipped.
I am actually entitled to a lunch break you know:mad2:

Lunch? No wonder the education sector's rubbish:glare:

Lunch? No wonder the education sector's rubbish:glare:

I don't actually TEACH the little treasures....don't like kids that much!!