Closing time

Our gates were installed today. Wrought iron at the front:


Cedar on the side passage:


And that finishes up the outdoor work which we started back in March. Shelving for the library is probably the next thing on the agenda, but we've no firm plans to do that yet: maybe some time next year.

Bye for now!

Break out the deckchairs!

Because the front lawn is done:

Shrubdown

Down went the trees and plants:


Meanwhile, on the other side, some new concrete in-fill:


Looks like the grass is next.

Growers

New topsoil went into the beds at the front today, and the plants started to arrive:

That's two mountain ash trees, a dwarf cherry tree, and a bunch of shrubs I don't know the names of.

Filling in

We're getting to that time when the landscaper works to sunset.

Yesterday the kerbing was taken away from the front of the house, and it looks neater now:


The space between the stones was filled in with sand, thus completing the structural works.

Attention turns to the gate-fitter who will be over on Saturday to take the final measurements.

Meanwhile, we discussed plants with the landscaper -- rowan, bamboo, foxglove, rosemary, gorse, fuchsia: that sort of thing -- and we had a meeting in the yard to discuss arrangements.

In a reversion to much earlier plans, we're going to have a small piece of lawn, in a sort-of kidney shape in the large bed, pegged out here:


More top soil is on order, and he'll be going shopping for plants tomorrow. I doubt the next phase will take long.

When Saturday came

Yesterday was all about fixing the paving, so the edging stones are now cemented in like this:


There was a bit of controversy over this kerbing along the front of the house:

We don't like it, so next week it'll be taken out, cut down to ground level and put back. And then it'll be time to talk about planting.

Curb it

This is how things were left yesterday, with the edging in place:

There was actually more work done today but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see that.

The day before

Sorry, I've fallen a day behind. This is how things looked at close of play yesterday:

Nice eh? Looks even better now: pic tomorrow.

Block party

Rain hampered progress towards the end of the day, and the light was a bit poor to show off the new blocks by the time it finished, but here's the new driveway so far:

Hopefully the rest of them will be put down tomorrow.

Screeds and screeds

Here is the base layer of screed, ready for the blocks:

That will hopefully be tomorrow, though is very much weather-dependent.

Flat out

It all started looking a bit more final today:

The last of the breaking-up was done, the hardcore layer arrived ahead of schedule and was flattened on.

That's it for now. Early next week there'll be a layer of sand, followed around Wednesday by the new surface.

Since there'll be no updates for the next few days, here's a bonus picture from the front:

He pegged it

With the skip out of the way, the front is really starting to take shape now:

The wooden pegs show the level of the finished drive, rather higher than at present.

The central causeway is due for break-up tomorrow, then there will be a break while the construction materials are ordered. He hopes to have the first layer of hardcore down next week.

Goods outwards

It's getting on for two years since there was last a skip outside 265, but there's one now:

The excess soil and big rubble is for carting away, the smaller rubble will stay and be a foundation for the new driveway.

And, as you can see, the digging work for the south side of the driveway was done.

I'm looking forward to seeing it all cleared and ready for building later this week.

End of the break-up

That's the last of the driveway broken up, except for the thin access causeway:


Next, the rubble is to be carted away and the right-hand shrubbery is to be dug out in a matching arc.

Smashy smashy

In a change to our previously-advertised schedule, the landscaper left his shovel behind today and got busy with the sledge hammer and crowbar instead:

That will continue Monday, once he's found somewhere else to park his van.

Arc dig conditions

The landscaper arrived today and started digging out the lawn, completing the big curve of the new driveway:


The immediate plan is to attack the shrubbery opposite tomorrow, and on Monday break up the surface of the driveway. However it's all very weather dependent so delays are to be expected.

The eve of destruction

We've been making gradual progress with the front garden over the last couple of months.

The front lawn has been sprayed and is very nearly dead:

The landscaper has measured out the design and drawn us a plan:

We've been to the stone merchants to choose a surface paving:

And we've had the gate man over to give us an estimate for the main gate and side passage, though he can't take final measurements until the new surface has been laid.

We expect the ripping and digging to commence in the next day or so.

The front lines

The landscaper was back last week to begin planning the front garden. Our one technical spec here is that it must allow for a car to be turned. He took a rather functionalist interpretation of this and the first design was as follows:

A sort of parking space cut into the lawn. We didn't like it, wanting a bit more symmetry and looking less like it has been specifically designed for a car (something we don't have and have no plans to acquire).

Version 2 was designed under closer supervision. It's in the same yellow paint, though so I've cleverly digitally enhanced the new line for illustration purposes:

There'll be a large quarter-circle on the right hand side when driving in, and the shrubbery opposite will also curve away closer to the house. Symmetry of a sort, practical, and low maintenance.

He has taken meaurements for this and now we're waiting for an estimate.

Rear ends

The last feature of the back garden went in a week or so ago: the hop trellis.


The idea here is that the hop vines act as a shade for the back patio during summer and then get cut completely away at harvest time leaving the back patio in full daylight until the following summer.


All the rest of the work at the back is up to the plants.

Meanwhile, the old shrubbery at the front has gone a lovely shade of autumnal gold:


Well, that's weed killer for you.

The plantation begins

The landscaper was back today and put in most of the plants.

Starting at the left-hand wall, there are four trees:

That's two apple (for cross-pollination) and self-pollinating plums and cherries.

At the back, behind the rear patio we have a fig sapling, cranberries and blueberries, interspersed with fennel, yarrow, heather and more.

The raised beds have been planted with raspberries and rosemary (left), broccoli and peas in the middle, and chives, sage and something else on the right:

And then up at the front we have pansies and other things I can't remember.

He's doing us a plan so we'll know what's what. After he's finished planting, of course.

Grassed up

The lawn's finished and so the project grinds to a halt for a few weeks as the grass beds in.

Next we'll have to pick our plants. The landscaper isn't confident that he'll be able to get exactly what we've asked for but we'll see how it goes.

Square dance

The spaces for the bushes were moved yesterday, as requested, and we have some paving for our bins too:

Lawn time coming

And this is the new lawn:

Well, most of it. The suppliers didn't send enough grass, so more is due on Tuesday.

The strange squares on the left are intended for fruit tree planting, apparently. We'll be having those moved tighter against the wall before the grass takes root.

Here it is looking the other way:

Muchos grasses

It's here!

All square

A concerted effort on patio-related things today. The last stones of the back one are now in place, plus two new stones at the entrance to the shed where the grass used to wear badly.

Also there are some flags laid between the planting beds, and the groundspike is in place for the washing line, between the patio and shed.

On the big patio, meanwhile, the final stones are in place, just needing to be grouted, and a few more have to go on the step to finish it:


Inching steadily towards completion.

Stony grey soil

... or, more accurately, gravel:

This is a preparatory layer to aid drainage when the lawn goes on top of it.

Other bits and pieces today included a couple more blocks on the step, plus the grouting of the remaining bits of both patios, even though neither has all its stones in place. Odd. Anyway, the whole place should be looking very different by the end of this week.

Epic conclusion

The years long saga of the front hall finally concluded today when the plumber came round to fix the radiator to the wall:

One resident of 265 wasn't even born the last time that was in place.

Time for beds

The landscaper and his glamorous assistant worked a ten-hour day today, in the sunshine. It was all about moving the big pyramid of topsoil from the front of the house to the raised planting beds:


Most of the rest of the garden got rotivated in preparation for the lawn which is scheduled to be laid on Thursday. In the meantime, I hope, we'll get the patios finished.

Excitement!

This was the most interesting thing the landscaper did on his half day today, rendering the patio wall and laying a couple more blocks for the step:

Maybe tomorrow will be more interesting. Watch this space...

This and that

He takes quite a scattered approach to the project, our landscaper. Today, for instance, even though the big patio was ripe for grouting, he never touched it, opting instead to concentrate on laying the small patio, not that he finished that either:



He also made a small start on the steps up to the big patio:


Lots of new topsoil arrived today too, so there's another strand to be woven in over the next few days.

Laying stone, and plans

A tale of two patios today. Construction of the rear one continues, with the pouring of a cement foundation:

And we're nearly done with the front one, with just a few final stones and the last of the grouting to do:

Once these two are finished we'll be into endgame. The landscaper says he wants to just throw down the paths and the lawn, and then leave the planting for three to four weeks. That, he says, will give him a chance to launch a final assault on the serious weed issues we have, and will continue to have. Hit 'em hard is the only way.

Shrink my patio

Had a big discussion with the landscaper this morning concerning the back patio, and whether the washing line will fit between it and the shed. End result: the back patio is now a metre or so narrower.


It was another filthy day so not a whole lot else happened. Just more clearing of debris from the garden. Not that that isn't important. The rubble itself has been thrown into the rectangualr hole to form the lowest foundation level for the new patio.