The Gardening thread.....

[InThe Sticks]

[hifi_dave]

Just gave the hedges out front a little tidy up. Bloody hedges drive me nuts - could be my OCD..

[CageyH]

That is one reason I refrain from planting a hedge

[hifi_dave]

Very wise.

We have yards and yards of hedges around the front garden, planted there to disguise the ponds and they are a right royal pain, needing to be cut on top and front and back sides every week or so. In places, they are quite high and up to 6 ft deep, so it's a stretch to reach across. I use a Ryobi batter powered long reach hedge trimmer but because the weight is all at the far end, it's unwieldy. I am thinking of investing in a Stihl long reach, as it's better balanced with all the weight at the operator's end. Seems to be what all the 'pro' gardeners around us, use.

[guy]

You trim your hedges every week or so

[hifi_dave]

I can't stand the little bits poking up. They have to go. I like nice straight lines.

[Covenant]

As I am furloughed (sounds painful) I have been cleaning the moss from the patio by hand using one of those wire scrubber things on a stick. Mega job but better result than power washing I think.
I have too much paving though and am thinking of taking up a section and either planting shrubs or grass. the block paving will be on sand and gravel-will I need to remove it all or could I just replace the sand with soil?

[hifi_dave]

Have you tried Patio Magic ? I bought a couple of containers of this after some friends said how good it is for removing/killing Moss and Algae. Apparently you just spray it on or apply with a watering can and the stuff just comes off. Haven't tried it yet, just waiting for the warmer weather.

No idea about the paving - sorry.

[guy]

Not an expert, but I would have though a couple of inches of topsoil over the sand/gravel would be fine for grass - after all, grass seems to be quite happy self seeding in the gaps between my block paving (also laid on sand/gravel with silver sand in the gaps between the blocks).

I have just pressured washed my block paving, really quite satisfying

[struth]

leave sand as it will add good drainage(Fork it over too).. yup pop a couple of inches min of soil; more if you have it. get top of it a seive it so its very fine. level it and tamp it down a bit. sprinkle grass seed and cover with something if possible clear plastic with plenty holes is good or just use string with foil spinners.. it will help keep birds away.