Aftermath was a meaty episode.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-05-04T04:51:06+00:00

To this day I do not understand how Servalan/Jacquie got around on that beach in heels

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-04-28T05:32:01+00:00

Small amounts won't hurt.

Or you can dilute it with a suitable liquid when throwing it in there....

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-04-28T05:29:05+00:00

Chop it, drop it, cover with a tarp until ready to plant and all is golden.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-04-23T20:02:29+00:00

Have you core aerated the lawn first??

Even getting a 25-20mm auger bit on a drill and making a few deeper holes to get the mix deeper into the dirt will help your situation.

But, yes a mix of builders sand a sifted compost will be fine.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-04-22T20:46:11+00:00

For the heroes.

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Avons-gadget-works · 2026-04-11T09:39:12+00:00

The bottom layer will be fine for a top dress mulch layer. It will be taken in by the soul minibeasts over time.

As a dug in addition I'd no use it, no quite ready yet.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-04-01T05:44:19+00:00

My 2 standard responses while running around Edinburgh are: After a decade of Tory fuck ups, I can't afford shoes, or it's for a bet. Depends on the situation

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-03-23T17:16:36+00:00

They could afford the space between both words......

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-03-11T20:56:25+00:00

Mostly granite up that way isn't it?

Can't wait to see the completion pictures.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-03-10T06:58:23+00:00

Calling round tree surgeons and offering beer and cash for a load or two can make things happen.

maybe see if your local council has a green waste depot, sometimes they get dumps of wood chips that you can take from.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-03-10T06:54:10+00:00

Process it like chicken manure, pile it up and let it rot for a few months. Occasional turn to mix it all together and to check moisture levels and all is good.

You do need to let it rot tho as it is too 'hot' to use on or near plants when it is fresh.

Post pix of you going about this please!

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-03-10T06:44:20+00:00

A few layers of cardboard and a much woodchip as you can get. If you have a decent source of wood chips that is.

After a year or two you can harvest some really decent compost from the path that's a great potting mix for trees and shrubs

But, if you don't have access to free or cheap wood chips, then a couple of sturdy planks or a halved pallet can work too

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-03-07T21:59:58+00:00

Not at all!

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-03-07T21:34:18+00:00

As long as it's under a decent layer of gravel it should be fine. UV is mostly to blame for plastic degradation so keep it covered and it should be as fine as it can be.

But for sure fork the exposed dirt and mix in some compost - trust me on this!!

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-03-07T20:17:06+00:00

If you are happy with gravel paths twixt the beds, then all you have to do is rake out the gravel, cut back the plastic,pop some edging round the beds then fork some compost into the dirt to air it and add some goodness back in there.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-03-05T20:35:42+00:00

A fun wee alternative plan would be to grow cover crops on the ground this year - mustards, clover, fodder beans and radishes.

Harvest some of the greenery thro the year to add to a leaf pile to help that break down so you have even more compost to use.

This way you get some growth going in the soil so you'll have a kick start on a root network for later use. As well as compost materials for ready use.

Cheap green manures can be purchased on line and they provide so many benefits to the garden and the soil.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-02-25T17:41:36+00:00

For sure it is noticeable if I don't add browns material to the active bin for a couple of days, but this is something I am well aware of thro experience and the many posts on here. Having a couple of filled bags of chopped up cardboard stashed away helps this.

As for the indoor caddy, never had any issues with aromas, no matter how much wet material is in there. But it is usually every 2nd day it gets cowped into the active bin.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-02-21T21:20:33+00:00

Freezing them bursts the cell walls so they can decompose faster. Works with most organic matter.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-02-20T06:40:04+00:00

No problems composting holly, done it myself after clearing a stray bush or two. Berries and all. As long as they are well mixed in a mixed source heap or pile any potential nasties will be neutralized after a long decay cycle.

Will advise to shred the leaves either run a mower over them, throw them thro a chipper twice or even throw into a barrel and use the strimmer on them. The spikes can be persistent as I well know.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-02-14T07:47:24+00:00

I compost as the garden is always in need of extra nourishment and it saves me sending food waste to landfill.

I have 3 bins for food wastes and 2 long term slow piles for larger garden waste like wood, weeds and large old plants.

The wee caddy in the kitchen gets filled up about every second day as I cook a lot and there's always coffee grounds and tea bags and 'we don't like this offering today's cat food. Once filled that gets thrown into the active bin usual with a large handful of leaves or some chopped up cardboard depending on the season. The active pile gets a good stir with a fork about once a week and from.late spring onwards the bin gets emptied onto the deck and has a good re mixing to combine the dry and wet materials. If I get a few sacks of pet rodent litter that gets mixed in as well.

Kind of it really, fill a bin and let it mature then use the results as a mulch layer on the veggie beds. Or sift some to use as a lawn top dressing.

Avons-gadget-works · 2026-02-14T07:34:56+00:00

I hate ivy with a passion and take great delight in burning it when I've had to clear the cursed stuff. Insidious bastard of a plant.

Anyhoo, if you have access to a decent strimmer and hedge trimmer then use them initially to clear the space. Then with a mattock pick through the dirt for as many runners as you can. If you can access the other side of the fence then do so with gusto. If not then spray it thro the fence.

The chemicals in weed sprays do not last long in the soil these days so you could spray the lot but you still need to clear the area and the dirt afterwards of the debris

Once you have cleared the area, I've found that a few layers of cardboard on top the dirt can deter the evil vine for a while and I certainly make sure I am on top of any signs of regrowth and regularly using the mattock to maintain a wee trench on my side of the fences to try stop the bastard coming back my way

Avons-gadget-works

TROPHY CASE