Gardening work wanted

[watervole]

Today, (and yesterday, and several days last week), Richard and I have been working on micavity  and entorien 's back garden.

So far, we've cleared and shredded a large quantity of brambles (and dug out the roots), removed large quantities of weeds from around the pyracantha, deduced one of the pyracantha to be  a trailing variety which isn't going to work in what is supposed to be a hedge (they were given it as a gift, so not really their fault).  Today, I've been clearing around the pond, digging brambles and matted grass from around the edging stones.  Richard has been working on rubble clearing.

When we've removed all the brambles, willow, buddlia, etc, and the remaining rubble (there's an old path and the remains of some kind of sand pit), then we'll level everything off and work out where the new lawn should go.

Do you have a garden that needs major work doing on it?

Do you need to get a garden in good shape in order to sell a house?

Do you need to sort out the garden in a house you've just moved into?

Do you have a garden that went wild while you were ill/depressed/overworked?

Would you like a wildlife friendly garden?

Would you like to be able to grow fruit/veg, but need someone to get it all started for you?

Would you like your garden organised by someone who can tell a pyracantha from a pansy?

If the answer to any of the above is 'yes', then drop me a line and we can discuss costs.  (If you don't live near me, but are willing to provide a spare bed, then I'll happily come and stay for a week.)

Comments

[djelibeybi-meg.livejournal.com]

I really don't have any gardening needs at the moment but I hope that you are successful with this venture. What I would have given for a competent friend to sort out my back yard a few years back would have been a pleasure. I definitely approve of people doing what they're good at and enjoy, for the benefit of those who cannot do or don't have time to do.

[telynor.livejournal.com]

Our garden's in a terrible state, but we're really *not* gardeners. Is there a way to make a maintenance-free garden that will still be a nice place to look at/hang out in?

PS:
Our garden is the size of a postage stamp, and we have an extra room.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I can't do maintenance-free, not if you want actual plants, but it is possible to go for reasonably low maintenance.

There's several ways of approaching it, and the best options depend on whether it gets a decent amount of sunshine, and how you want to use it.

eg. You can put down paving and restrict plants to planters, BUT, you still have to weed the planters.

You could go mostly for shrubs - which need cutting back occasionally. However, they don't need cutting back very often, and you can pretty much eliminate weeds underneath them with a thick mulch of shredded bark or shredded woody stuff of any kind. That kind of mulch will last several years before you need to top it up.

People try and sell heathers as low-maintenance, but I'm not that keen on them myself. For one thing, they're only going to be happy if your soil is acidic. And you get weeds while they are establishing.

If you get a reasonable amount of sunshine, I'd suggest the shrub route (I don't want the shrubs to block out all your sun if you only get a tiny bit). The size of the shrubs can be varied depending on the space.

Could you send me a couple of photos showing me what the space looks like from different directions and which way north is and how much sun/shade you get?

Also, do you insist on a lawn, or is decorative paving or even mulch/gravel/etc/decking okay for your sitting area. (Or is there an existing patio?) Or stepping stones if you just want a pretty access route.

I have some mental pictures, but they depend very much on what the space looks like and how it adjoins the house.

How do you want to be able to use the space? Do you want to be able to sit out and read a book, hold a party, or just look at the view from the window?

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

You are good! I will repeat this again and everywhere!

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

Hmm. We really need to sort our garden out if veg is to grow better next year, but have a chronic lack of time (esp with ongoing DIY within the house). Might have a think about this option!

[watervole.livejournal.com]

If we can get the soil well sorted out (depending on what you want to grow, I could add either manure or compost) then it will have the side effect of making the plants compete better against the slugs, as well as improving the yield.

This is a good time of year for adding stuff to the soil, so let me know if you want us to have a go at it.

I can also check the pH and see if that's correct for the veg you have in mind. eg. cabbages like it a bit more alkaline than most. Raspberries like a more acidic soil.

[i-smell-shite.livejournal.com]

Ohh! I'm planning a rather large job at the moment, the only problem is we're in Edinburgh. But we would feed you both very well and we have a good spare room, I could take professional photographs for your portfolio and I'd be very happy to help too. I'm converting my garden from lawn to a veg and fruit garden, keeping some of the lawn so people can sit and relax surrounded by veg and raspberries and other berries.

We have a wooden decking and I want a whole area around this raised bed with strawberries, herbs and lavender, edible flowers and chard and brocoli, tomatoes. I want to paint the decking and the raised beds too, and I need to make the decking safe so you can't slip.

Then at the end of the garden there is a little patio and around that I want a shingle path with stones and more beds for veg like potatoes, carrots, parsnips and turnips, pumpkins, squashes etc. And near the patio I would like to grow raspberries against the fence and an apple tree in a planter.

One side of the garden is hedge the other is bushes and roses, blackberries and I like to grow a few more planters along here more fruit and veg. So they'll be lots of digging involved!

Hope this sounds interesting to you, please feel free to get in touch joanna@iaincoleman.net with a quote.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

I may require your services in the spring. I need to get an idea of what I have before adding more plants.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

That would be great. In addition to identifying the plants that you have, try and get an idea of what the soil is like (sand/silt/clay) and see how much builder's rubble remains (even after a house has been lived in for quite a while, you'd be surprised what remains).

Make a note of where the sunny spots are at different times of day and see if there are any spots with bad drainage.

For friends, we charge £20 an hour for both of us, or £10 an hour for just one of us.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Noted. :-)

And thanks.