New Garden 2022
Jezz and I decide to spend what little money we have and redo the garden. It's out with the centrepiece (that Debs always said looked like a grave - lol) and the grass area is going. The new garden will have a calming 'Zen' theme and involve a gravel area, lit by 6 Chinese lanterns, displaying a mains-powered water feature, some sleeper stone pavings as stepping stones lit by solar-powered glow balls. At the house end of the garden, all plastic pots are going and being replaced with composite decking, a fire pit and a 9ft cantilever parasol.
STAGE ONE
- Clear the garden of weeds, dead bulbs and flowers
- Remove the centrepiece
- Strim the grass area down and level flat
- Use a paving edge from the middle and relocate at the top of steps
- Empty all pots and buckets
- Clear bench seats and remove
STAGE TWO
- Dispose of filled heavy-duty garden waste bags and sweep the area
- Lay and pin woven membrane over levelled grass area
- Put the water feature and the sleeper pavings in place
- Place Chinese lanterns on fence hooks
STAGE THREE
- Take delivery of chippings bags
- Distribute all gravel evenly over membrane area
- Decorate with more solar-powered lighting (Chinese lanterns on fence hooks, glow balls for the stepping stones)
- Position firepit
The Gallery of the New Garden 2022
And here are some photos of the products and the results of the labour in their various stages.
Garden Cam still image
This was taken by the garden cam sometime in July 2022, at the planning stages and before anything was done.
Harbour Slate Water Feature
We just had to get this because of the offer in Squires Garden Centre. It was £110 cheaper than in Dobbie's... but also, because we like it. It's mains powered, which means we've had to arrange for electrical power to be installed in the garden.
3m Cantilever Parasol
We first noticed an £800 parasol and could only dream of having one, but then, walking around Chessington Garden Centre, we saw this one on offer. It was the same size but just had one feature different to that of the expensive one. This was £500 cheaper.
The gravel we've chosen
Some decision-making came from Ben in the Landscaping department of Chessington Garden Centre. He said that he needed to get rid of some stock and these bags that were usually £6.99 he could sell to us for £3.50. Amazing. Again, a huge saving.
Berwyn Green Chippings
Advised by Ben, we went for these as they were a suitable colour (not white because although popular were a nightmare to keep that colour). Also, the size was ideal. We ordered 45 x 20kg bags.
Sleeper Pavings
We've got one large for the initial step and then 6 medium-sized stone slabs that look wooden.
Creating an edge at the steps
Jezz gets to work creating a trench for the edging slab that will prevent any loose gravel from migrating away onto the steps.
The step's edge
This is it, in place and complete.
Deb and Jim
Deb's drags Jim around for a measure up, as he's been nominated to carry out any installation of the decking. He did theirs in their garden, and it looks fab. We fed and watered them, and he's going to get back with some costings.
The grass is prepared and ready
Jezz distributes some more earth from the tubs and levels off the grass area in readiness for the woven membrane to be fitted.
Membrane down and in place
Early Tuesday morning, before the heatwave starts, Jezz and I get the fabric laid and pinned down, ready for the gravel the next morning.
Electricity is now in the garden
Wednesday 10 August 2022 - Busy day and first job was calling in Essy to install 2 x twin RCD power outlets
Gravel Bags Pile
They arrived and with Amanda's help and a borrow of her warehouse trolley, we wheeled through the house 45 bags of 20kg gravel bags.
Partial install
As Amanda and Wayne hump the bags from the patio area to the once lawned area, Jezz opens the bags and starts to spread the gravel over the membrane and in between the sleeper pavings.
And so...
The gravelled section of the garden starts to take shape, but it comes alive after we've added the lights.
This is the water feature, in place, tested and working well.
This is one of the six solar-powered Chinese lanterns that we have hanging from fence hooks, original basket hangers.