Gogglebox's Garden Blog:Year Three

[GoggleboxUK]

Finished off the raised beds this morning and planted all the hardy stuff out:
Fargesia 'Simba', Sumach Firefern, Paulownia, Hedychium Greenii, Brezia Maxima, Pieris Forest Flame & Papaver in this one


More fargesia, Camelia Alba Simplex, Azalea Geisha Purple & Azalea Japonica Isabel in this side.


Looking considerably tidier at the back now:

.

Now grow plants, GROW!!

[Tropical Bob]

Grow they will

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

Nice one GB,

DO YOU MAKE THE CONCRETE PLINTHS WITH BALLS ON TOP YOURSELF

[GoggleboxUK]

Nice one GB,

DO YOU MAKE THE CONCRETE PLINTHS WITH BALLS ON TOP YOURSELF

I did Arlon, altough I had help, I have a friend who is the boss of a concrete garden product manufacturer who lets me go in on a saturday and use the moulds and materials.

I've also done these in the front garden:





and my patio furniture in the back:

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

Nice one, looking at the weathering i'd say you're using a dry mix ?

I got my own molds. Gotta make a new bird feeder as i knocked it over when building the dry bed. Its now held together with snotballs

I use a concrete mix .........

[GoggleboxUK]

Nice finish on those pieces Arlon, much smoother than mine. You're right, I had to use a dry mix so it would set quicker. Needed to get them out of there before 9am Monday

How long to you leave yours to set?

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

Pop em out the next day, quicker than dry mix imo. I used to do dry mix but i never found them as strong and always seemed to get the odd failure i.e. cracks etc and as you know its a time intensive operation and i hated having to do extra's. The advantage with a dry mix tho is they weather quicker to give that old look but i cracked that with wet mix by rubbing the finish when popping em, if the old look is needed.

[The Codfather]

Do you want to make me some of them Arlon

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

No worries.......got some BIG envelopes in me draw

[The Codfather]

The first 1 is class.....

[GoggleboxUK]

Arlon, if you're having problems with stuff cracking using a dry mix then add in some wire mesh. Even fine holed chicken wire makes a big difference. I just cut or bend it to the rough shape then build up the mix in layers, backfilling and bending as I go so that it doesn't poke through. Even if you do get the odd crack it doesn't affect the stability of the piece and it won't fall apart.

That said, I did have to file off a few bits from the edges of the table, it seems easier to do in posts or plinths than flat moulds.

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

Thats why i use wet mix GB, just pour and vibrate.........jobs a goodun.......Budweiser's in the fridge

[GoggleboxUK]

New Arrivals:









;d

[GoggleboxUK]

Nothing to do with my garden but here's a house that looks like Hitler:

[Mr List]

lol