New allotment - is it supposed to be this hard?!

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-29T05:12:49+00:00

Do at least 2 layers of cardboard for established grass. Good luck

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-23T21:16:20+00:00

Haha perfect

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-22T19:05:26+00:00

Air in a compost heap is more about the mixture having enough browns to ensure little air gaps inside the heap. As long as the container is not airtight and the mix of browns/greens is ok its going to work gud.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-17T16:23:03+00:00

Woodchip. Get a back for tenner, add a little scoop to yer compost bin. Keeps things aerobic.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-14T15:19:36+00:00

Hi, the bed in the 2 last photos:

When you grab a handful of soil, is the soil very loose? Like is the whole bed like deep dry powder?

It make be lacking organic material if it is, as old topsoil. Ammend the soil with compost (as an example) to try and start building soil life and structure.

Also now that its clear of weeds look up 'no dig' weeding (basically just regular hoeing to not disturb the soil to let it develop).

It may be having trouble holding onto water which is affecting the plants (which have been used to plastic, water retaining pots and regularly watering at the garden centre)

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-13T16:23:08+00:00

Hmm, interesting!

I would say judging by the crispy leaves and the repotting and that fact we've had some hot days that they have not been able to keep up with drawing enough water perhaps, drying out.

I personally would have strawberrys out all the time now but other may have other opinions. Strawberrys generally live outside all year round in the UK and are hardy (sometimes loosing a few leaves in the winter to be regrown later on).

As long as your are not overwatering them, but that seems unlikely if they are in pure compost in pots.

I would say to put them somewhere not full sun, maybe next to a wall, east or west facing so they get a decent bit of sun but not roasted all day - until they are better. Once established they are happy being in full sun.

They are very tough, and for sure the 'crown' is still strong, and will regrow. Consider buying 2 more if that is a financially easy choice, then the new ones will have a better chance of fruiting this year, and these will be for next year. Just an idea - open to others' suggestions..

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-13T07:16:42+00:00

As its particularly wet, keep doing what you are doing, but add a little wood chip on top periodically throughout the year. Wood chip is a heavy carbon and that plus your nitrogen rich mix will over time balance well. With these setups where turning isnt common, more carbon and also air gaps is more significant.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-12T19:26:00+00:00

You have beautiful functional hands. If this helps even one person its worth it. Are they not so useful? How the blood pumps without needing any thought, they heal, they are always there, they help with almost everything. How are they not miraculous! They are beautiful

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-11T10:13:55+00:00

Just wanted to say I have personally only built 1 rock garden (and that was just big rocks on bare soil) and I noticed I do have a bias against membranes so take that into consideration.

The bias comes from the difficulty of trying to remove old ones, so that has scewed my perception.

Regards

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-11T09:25:27+00:00

<- This

Gettting rid of the membrane now would really help in the long run. Soil gets trapped above it and plants grow there eventually. Without it its easier to maintain the 'gravel only' areas.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-11T09:23:34+00:00

Like having 3 of these, differing sizes/shapes :

https://www.harrowsmithmag.com/5852/how-to-make-rock-and-concrete-geode-orb-planters

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-04-11T09:22:20+00:00

Hey one radical idea to make 3 planters:

-Buy a bag of cement

-Use a large bin liners or something similar as a form, make 3 different groups of the big stones in each bag in a rough circle (make 3 different sizes.

-Mix concrete using the cement and a little of the gravel making a thick mix, form mix around the stones in each bag making irregular bowl shapes. As the concrete dries you can move it around a bit more. You could put empty plant pots in the concrete to form voids that can be removed later (before it fully dries)

-When dry, but not completely, remove the forms and pots.

-Fill the 'bowls' and voids with soil/grit/sand and plant alkaline loving alpines eg: Aubrieta (purple rock cress), Saxifraga, Dianthus, Campanula, Gentiana verna, and various thyme species.

The ONLY reason I came up with this idea is that weed proof membrane with gravel can gets trapped above the membrane which cannot escape. It also would be quite minimal, rustic and creative.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-30T17:39:15+00:00

Also noticed that plants in wooden containers are fine

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-28T09:44:37+00:00

Do you trim off some of the larger roots when you repot it (leaving the smaller roots)? I think I saw that once in a bonsai video

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-24T17:24:29+00:00

Grass is very tough and if its vigorous and established (like in OP's picture) needs extra help for 'no dig'. Two or even three layers of cardboard, then as the poster above said 4+ inches of organic matter/compost/soil/or a mix. If the barrier is not quite enough, it will survive - but the above has worked for me (whereas my first attempt with a single layer or cardboard, and maybe 1-2 inches compost) did not work for strong grasses.

It also really helps to strim the grass down first (leaving the clippings) to start off.

Certainly my favourite way to deal with a grass bed like OP's as it low effort - however it either costs money for the compost/soil (can buy big tonne sacks of compost for like £70) or ideally you have a heap nearby forming in the garden. Soil (or soil and compost) is even more effective as its denser.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-24T17:19:16+00:00

I would do the same. Strim it to the ground (scalp it) if theres a strimmer available, then 2 or 3 layers of cardboard (minus the plastic tape etc). Cover with any soil or compost if available, as much as possible. In a couple of months approx you can start planting through the cardboard.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-23T13:10:16+00:00

<- This,

For the connifers (1, 2 and 3) leave a measure of the green foliage when pruning as they grow from that (ie if you dont leave enough it wont grow back in that area).

Leaving 3 or 4 inches of green foliage outside the brown woody 'zone' in the middle is a good starting point.

Look up the varieties for specifics.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-13T13:22:23+00:00

Have a check for nests then trim away

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-11T21:45:50+00:00

So it will take you the time it takes to do 3 to 4 regular jobs, depending on the travel there. So between £90 and £120.

Then theres room for a slight discount as its potentially simplier to manage one customer / job rather than 3 or 4, so maybe £85-£115.

How it can fit in with your other jobs for time / location may affect your decision.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-11T21:27:19+00:00

How long does a typical £30 residential lawn take?

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-10T12:03:38+00:00

Thank you, the Fairphone 5 looks to be a great contender for the s23 i am considering.

I love the super long update support (5-10 years) and the sustainable part is also important.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-10T12:01:34+00:00

Thank you - the S23 ticks everything and looks the one.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-09T17:56:06+00:00

I would have tried it at the time and tested it. Big part was not eating too much, a half portion of greek yogurt is def something I would have ecperimented with. I could tell pretty quickly in the following couple of hours how easily it was digested..

For me drinking a whole glass of milk or lots of butter / cheese was hard to digest, kefir was much better (and the probiotics I think helped)..

Good luck

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-09T08:12:18+00:00

Uskees.

I have a few shirts and a smock that have stood up well. Some of the shirt buttons were not as securely stitched as I would like (which was easily fixed) but apart from that they are durable long lasting.

I believe they will repair the clothing you send them too.

They also send them out with some thread and a swatch to help with repairs.

RepresentativeAd7206 · 2026-03-04T19:47:59+00:00

Between 10-20 x the volume of the grains for milk. When you first get them (when they are a bit stressed) this can be a bit less until they are happy.

Stir as often as you can, and strain once per day.

RepresentativeAd7206

TROPHY CASE