Building a rockery..

[tactcom7]

Ok so I want to build a rockery in the back garden.

Here is the space I have available.

uXO8PjGroaA

And here are the rocks I have so far been given by the neighbour.

g0XGte_dWTM

First step was to chop down the tree, (in 90 minutes no less!)

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd319/tactcom7/Untitled.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd319/tactcom7/Untitled-1.jpg

Look at those bloody roots, it was only a small crab apple tree. Alas no more of my crab apple cider, which, lets face it can only be a good thing.

Now the plan is maybe to have a water feature so it's more of a rockery/babbling brook. So i am after ideas and inspiration from you lot, anyone done it, care to show off your work? Cheers :)

Si

[Owenski]

Matt Owen Landscapes at your service...
Now doing good work with sleepers. lol

We've just started on Tom(_the_great)s garden Si and we're using sleepers its a different direction to the masonry work you've seen I did at my current house but its quick work if you're not digging through solid (bstard) stone.

How about doing something like these suggestions I've pulled off google, I can design you up for pretty much what ever you go with so dont be shy about asking.
http://www.petals-landscaping.co.uk/var/al/23123/258245-water-features-carmarthen-glamorgan-petals-landscaping-services-planting-scheme.jpg

http://www.feelgoodgardens.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/slate-rockery/rockery-and-sleeper-beds.jpg

http://www.amazinggardens.co.uk/Makeover/sleeper%20pond.JPG

[tactcom7]

Ooh i like that, the missus wants a japanese style garden so perhaps i should just cover the whole thing in sand and rake it every day?

[Owenski]

http://www.garden-design-pictures.com/image-files/japanese_gardens_9.jpg

http://hometrendy.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/small-japanese-garden-design-ideas-san-francisco.jpg

[Owenski]

SO she wants you to turn your back garden into a giant kitty litter?

[SoulKiss]

Ooh i like that, the missus wants a japanese style garden so perhaps i should just cover the whole thing in sand and rake cat poo out of it every day?

Cats like to bury their poo.

Cats are lazy.

Cats will use it as a toilet.

How many cats in your neighbourhood?

[tactcom7]

both valid points. there is a ginger tom that likes to crap in the garden and scare the rabbits.

the other downside is its still rented and the landlord gave me strict instructions to keep it 'low maintenance' so i think the maple bridge over the koi pond is beyond my scope :(

[SoulKiss]

both valid points. there is a ginger tom that likes to crap in the garden and scare the rabbits.

the other downside is its still rented and the landlord gave me strict instructions to keep it 'low maintenance' so i think the maple bridge over the koi pond is beyond my scope :(

Rented?

I'd be mowing the lawn and not spending a penny on it, and referring any maintainence to the landlord.

[Owenski]

Yeah that does change things a bit, basically you're hoping to make that random array of rocks into something pretty with minimal cost to everyone?

[tactcom7]

basically yeah. i dont mind spending a bob or two though to make it look nice.

[dizzyblonde]

If its rented I wouldn't do too much or spend owt either!

Oh......and you'll need more rocks ;)

Join your local Freecycle and watch out for adverts by people giving them away, that goes for any sleepers or stuff that crops up you might need. My parents had rockeries for years, and they were big ones, PITA to maintain, you've less maintenance in your lawn and flowerbeds!

[Spank86]

If you dont mind spending a bit then get some weed control matting.

Great stuff, cover it with gravel/chippings/soil and it'll prevent the weeds getting purchase in most areas and you can cut little holes for the plants.

Vital for any sparsely planted garden IMHO.

[dizzyblonde]

If you dont mind spending a bit then get some weed control matting.

.


Aye, was going to say that myself, got a roll under the stairs that was surprisingly cheap from B&Q. No use in my garden now as I've ripped up the flower beds for more flags.......but will be most useful if I get my hands on an allotment :cheers:

[tactcom7]

O.K cheers for that, i'll put weed matting and rocks on the shopping list :) oh and join freecycle.

[tactcom7]

Rait well the sleepers are down...

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd319/tactcom7/20120614_170334.jpg

Delivered to the side of the house last tuesday and manhandled/dragged/flipped end over end all by my good self. Was bloody hard work to say the least!

Not sure if I ordered solid oak sleepers or in fact the 10mm coach screws I tried to attach them to the 4 support posts with are made by suzuki, and therefore prone to shearing. Managed to snap 4 of the 8 I had bought :( Meh.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd319/tactcom7/20120614_170354.jpg

Another big thanks to Owenski for the postcrete suggestion, bloody amazing stuff!

(And yes Matt I will stick 2 angle brackets at the join :) )

Worked out I need roughly 1.5 cubic metres of soil to fill them now, Kind of out of inspiration at the minute but I'm sure it will look fine, fingers crossed! :)

[Specialone]

Rented?

I'd be mowing the lawn and not spending a penny on it, and referring any maintainence to the landlord.

Yep me too.

I done a rockery type water feature for a mate, he bought the moulded stoney looking kits and i used normal rocks to build it up and make it look natural.

[Specialone]

BTW, when using coach screws in timber like sleeps, drill a big pilot hole first and dont use cheap screws.

I use the turbo thread ones for decking etc, they drive in ace.

[tactcom7]

BTW, when using coach screws in timber like sleeps, drill a big pilot hole first and dont use cheap screws.

I use the turbo thread ones for decking etc, they drive in ace.

I did! 8mm pilots for 10mm screws, although i admit they were cheap ones, 6 quid for 8 of em, guess thats where i went wrong...

[Tom_the_great]

I did! 8mm pilots for 10mm screws, although i admit they were cheap ones, 6 quid for 8 of em, guess thats where i went wrong...

buy cheap buy twice !!! ive spent about 150 quid on bolts nuts washes etc !!! owenski may have the link still but the m12 coach bolts seem to be doing there job very well !!!

Im going to get a few photos of my garden project up soon. just need to decided how to finish it off

[tactcom7]

http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd319/tactcom7/Snapbucket/?action=view&current=F288A021-orig.jpgRait well it's done, just about. Need to sort out the edging but thats it. Gonna pop back to the garden shop every few months to try and get more plants for year round colour but as far as rocks go thats the lot! :)

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd319/tactcom7/Snapbucket/F288A021-orig.jpg

[Owenski]

That looks mega mate, bit o'grass seed on the lawn and you're laughing.

:) nice one.

[tactcom7]

Cheers Matt and thanks for the design help.

Don't think the lawn took too kindly to having a wheelie bin full of topsoil dragged over it twenty times or so but as you said, bit o grass seed n it'll be rait :)

3 things i learnt doing it rocks are heavy, soil is suprisingly heavy and bugger me sleepers are fecking heavy...

[Spank86]

The more plants the better, it keeps the weeds down and hopefully stops any one plant from spreading accross the whole lot.