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Space - Everyone just wants a space to call there own. The garden challenges this idea it doesnt just give someone space it gives them a hobby! And in these economic down times we need something to look forward to, a hobby that gives back, well i hope you find that in gardening! So here are some fabulous ideas for experienced and newbie gardeners. Really hope you enjoy! (If you use one please tell me how it went).
Wigwam -
An old art from brought back to life in the style of gardening.
A fun idea instead of buying a small thin one from the garden centre, make your own!
What you will need -
To make the structure -
6 - 25 Bamboo sticks (The size that you want to have your wigwam)
Garden twine
Scissors
To do the greenery -
Plants (you will need up to 12 plants to grow up the side of you wigwam, these can edible or ornimental - I recomend Runner Beans if you would like to do a vegetable and Sweet Pea if you would like to a flower)
water (hose or watering can)
Gardening gloves (you can go without)
Trowel
Fork (You may not need this)
Spade
Compost
EXTRA (if you make you're wigwam large enough you can make a seat inside of it)
You will need -
Waterproof garden material
scissors
twine
Method -
1. Dig out the area you would like the wigwam to be.
2. Tip in compost and mix in with spade.
3. water your plants (you need to do this before you make the wigwam so that they are ready to plant.)
4. Place up to 5 bamboo sticks in the ground (the sticks must be in a triangular shape with the top of each one gathering in the centre).
5. Tie them together with twine t the top.
6. Add up to 20 Maximum more bamboo sticks and tie them together at the top aswell.
7. Water the ground around the wigwam.
8. Dig a hole big enough next to a bamboo stick to fit your plant in.
9. Plant your plant in the hole you've made.
10. repeat the planting process for the rest of the plants you have,
11. Water your newly planted plants and you have finished !
EXTRA -
1. Make sure the person who would like to sit in the wigwam fits.
2. cut you're material big enough to be placed inside your wigwam.
3. cut small holes part way into the edge of your material at points infront of your bamboo sticks. (you will need 6 holes atleast)
4. Cut small pieces of twine to tie the material to the bamboo sticks.
5. Tie the materail to the bamboo sticks using the holes you have made.
6. Sit in your new creation because you have finished!!!
Pond -
A great idea would look amazing in a large or meduim sized garden. And to get just a little bit more out of the pond how about you even create it yourself ?!
What you will need -
Tools -
Shovel
Cutting tool with heavy-duty blade
Materials
What else you will need to make -
String and sticks, or flour
Rotproof polyester underlayment or old carpet
Liner
Rocks
Permeable fabric, such as old towels or scraps of underlayment
Gravel
Pump and filtering system
Black plastic edging
Plants
Permeable landscape fabric
What You’ll Need for the Patio
Other materials -
String and sticks, or flour
Builder’s sand
Flagstone pavers
Step-by-Step Directions
Method -
1. Using a string and sticks, or flour, outline the shape of the pond and the circular path around the outside. Dig a hole for the pond with a shovel. (If you dig a pond that is more than 2 feet deep, you may need to fence it in; check local zoning regulations.) Dig out a ledge about 4 inches deep and 6 inches wide around the perimeter of the hole.
2. Line the hole with underlayment or old carpet to protect the pond liner from punctures. After the underlayment is in place, pull the sides of the liner together at the top in the shape of a bag and lower it into place in the hole.
3. Spread out the liner and temporarily secure the edges with rocks. Fill the liner with water, smoothing out wrinkles as the pond fills. Fold over excess portions of the liner, repositioning the rocks as needed. Stop filling the pond before water reaches the outer ledge.
4. Place rocks along the ledge surrounding the pond to permanently hold the liner in place and to camouflage it once the pond is filled. Leave about 1 foot of liner beyond the rocks; use a cutting tool with a heavy-duty blade to remove excess liner.
5. Wedge sections of permeable fabric, such as old towels or scraps of underlayment, behind the rocks to keep soil and debris from entering the pond. Cover the fabric with gravel, then place rocks on top of the gravel. Finish filling the pond.
6. Install the pump and filtering system.
7. Position black plastic edging around the inner planting bed. Install a second band of edging around the first to create a circular path. Dig the path about 4 inches deep.
8. Add plants to the inner planting bed, then spread permeable landscape fabric along the circular path to create a weed barrier. Top the fabric with several inches of gravel.
9. Using string and sticks, or flour, outline the shape of the patio.
10. Dig out the patio to a depth of 4 inches. Fill the hole with a 31/2-inch layer of builder’s sand, then work flagstone pavers into the sand. You may need to lift the pavers and add more sand until they’re level. Fill gaps between the pavers with sand, then sweep off excess.
11. Your now finished so enjoy!
Fence Growing Grape Vines -
Looks great and tastes great! Sounds complicated but should be easy once you get started!
What you will need -
Tools -
Tape measure and pencil
Strong gloves
Heavy-duty 12-gauge wire
Adjustable spanner
Pliers
Planting Materials & Tools-
Vine
Spade
Garden twine
1.8m (6ft) cane
Secateurs
Method -
1. Make a support against a fence. You using four horizontal wires - the first 40cm (16in) above the soil and the rest, 30cm (12in) apart.
Drill holes in fence posts and put an eye bolt in each. Loosely attach a nut.
2. Wearing gloves, thread wire through an eye bolt, bend it back and twist to hold. Unwind wire and cut with pliers. Thread through second eyebolt and secure as before. Tighten bolts to take out the slack. Repeat until you have four horizontal wires.
3. Dig a hole, wider and deeper than the rootball of the vine, 15cm (6in) away from fence.
4. Plant so the rootball is the same level as the surface of the soil. Mulch with leafmould or bark chippings.
5. Push a 1.8m (6ft) garden cane behind vine and attach to the wires with twine.
6. Prune vine, leaving three good buds beneath the bottom wire.
7. In the spring, allow three shoots to grow, securing them at regular intervals to the cane. Remove any side shoots, pruning to leave just one leaf.
8. In autumn, cut twine and secure two branches to bottom wire, one either side of the cane.
9. Cut third shoot, leaving three healthy buds.
10. In spring, allow vertical shoots to grow from horizontal branches. Tie to wires. Aim to have a shoot every 15cm (6in) - you may need to prune some out to achieve this. Prune any sideshoots growing the upright branches, reducing them to a single leaf.
11. Tie the three branches that grow from the healthy buds to the cane.
In late autumn, cut off horizontal branches and repeat the process, tying down the branches secured to the cane.
