The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

Improvements :)

hywel

By hywel

33 comments


At the sides of my garage there are two long thin shelters with perspex roofs, where I grow lots of plants, cuttings, and seeds –
one is on the north side and the other on the south side.

In the south facing one I put my cacti and succulents for the summer,
and in the north facing one I grow some Fuchsias and also cuttings and more succulents.

Both shelters were very open and very drafty :(
so I decided to have doors put on them, and have the open spaces closed in …

The south shelter already had one end closed,
like this :-

But the other end was open – no door, and bubble wrap covering some open spaces …

And here it is now, with a nice new door :-

It looks a bit rough at the moment, but I will make it look tidier in the spring.

New panes instead of bubble wrap :-

The end pane slides open to allow ventilation, and also so that Bella can inspect what’s growing in there :)

My Fuchsias are in there now, overwintering …

.

The north shelter is in between my garage and next door’s garage.
It already has a door on one end, that leads to the back of my property …

… but the other end was all ragged and open :-

And here it is now :-

But there’s a problem ! …
How is Bella going to get out when she wants to inspect the hedgerow ? ! …

That was soon fixed :) :-

A cat hole, made by drawing around the rim of a flower pot, and then cutting it out :D

Open space now ‘glazed’ in :)

.

I must stress I did not do the work myself. I am no good at things like that,
so I got someone to do it for me :)

It all needs painting now, and that will have to wait for the spring,
but I’ll still be able to do my potting and sowing in there, even when it rains or the wind blows :)))

More blog posts by hywel

Previous post: Wrong Names :(

Next post: Passing seasons ...



Comments

 

Wel,l that looks great, Hywel. I've noticed that gardeners always seem to find that little (!) extra space for more plants.

Bella looks as if she approves also!

27 Nov, 2016

 

Good ideas, Hywel.. I've added to GoYpedia.

27 Nov, 2016

 

Looks very smart Hywel, I really like the new door.

Our arrangement here looks very like how yours used to be! In fact this morning the bubble wrap has gone up yet again to see the plants through the winter in the greenhouse which will remain unheated.
Will my pots of fuschias be alright out there and should I keep them very dry?

27 Nov, 2016

 

Wow Hywel, that is a great object lesson in how to make the most of every little bit of space! The new work will make such a difference, and Bella will surely enjoy using her own special door. You remind me of a man I once read about who loved his cat so much that when she went to sleep on his jacket he cut the sleeve off to avoid disturbing her... It will be grand having all that draught free space to work in when the weather is cold. (And now you have room for lots more fuchsias, lol...)

27 Nov, 2016

 

nice and cosy Hywel , just need a kettle next ....

Gg

27 Nov, 2016

 

What a great use of the space.
I'm pleased to see tha Bella is living a life of luxury with her own front door.
The cat hole is brilliant.

We have been renewing our fence before we get our new neighbours and putting an access gate at the rear of garage so we can maintain our garage on the neighbours side. The painting of the fence etc. has been difficult because of the cold and rainy conditions. What hasn't been completed will now have to wait till Spring ??

27 Nov, 2016

 

I am very impressed with all your improvements Hywel, everything will be up and running should we/you have a cold snap.....do you ever put any heat in these shelters, or just hope for the best!!

27 Nov, 2016

 

That looks great, Hywel. We had an almighty frost yesterday - very unusual for this area. I'm wondering if that is an omen...

27 Nov, 2016

 

Thank you all for reading my blog.

I don't believe in empty spaces Eirlys ... lol I fill the whole place with plants :o)

Thank you TT :o) x

Wildrose your Fuchsias will probably be all right as long as the winter isn't too severe. You seem to have given them lots of protection. They are tougher than we think.
I would not keep them bone dry, just damp. It's difficult really, because you don't want the compost to be so wet that they rot, but you don't want them to shrivel up either. I tend to water mine if they have become very dry, but in mild weather only, ... and I give them just enough water to dampen the compost.
I doubt they'll dry out too much if they are in a cool place though.

Steragram I intend to buy more Fuchsias next year. Actually I was looking at a Fuchsia website today and I have many on my wishlist :D
That man must have loved his cat. I don't think I would have done that lol

God idea Gg ... I may buy one :)

Marjorie I hope you can finish painting your fence soon. The weather seems to have calmed down recently :)

Dottydaisy, I have been thinking of putting a heater in one of the shelters now that they are closed in. I haven't done it in the past because they were all open and there would have been no point.

I hope you don't get any more frost Ohmelchisedec. We don't get too much here either (although one night is too much for me !)
Some winters we get none (like last year) but sometimes we get a cold spell.

27 Nov, 2016

 

The forecast is minus 7 deg.C. for Tuesday a.m.
I have cancelled my MOT appointment, want it later in the day !

28 Nov, 2016

 

That's very wise. You shouldn't go out in those temperatures. It's unhealthy.

28 Nov, 2016

 

Nice job. I like how you built the door. I like the natural wood look.

28 Nov, 2016

 

Thank you. I like the look of natural wood too :)
I didn't do it myself though :)

28 Nov, 2016

 

Many thanks Hywel for your advice, it is much appreciated.

28 Nov, 2016

 

you'll be nice and cosy in there when the weather really gets cold and you had your in put to know what was needed. A job well done.

28 Nov, 2016

 

Good work Hywel, nothing will stop you now to "garden" year round.

29 Nov, 2016

 

Thank you all :)

29 Nov, 2016

 

Great space there Hywel. My greenhouse is too cold for my Fuchsias. I bring them in to my outer hall with my Pelargoniums. I keep mine pretty dry too Hywel. Just enough water to keep them alive.

29 Nov, 2016

 

That's right Linda :) Thank you ...

29 Nov, 2016

 

Hi Hywel

minus 4 here this morning and the garden still frozen !!!

Gg

30 Nov, 2016

 

Very cold here too Gg. I hate it. I prefer rain - it's milder when it rains. That's more important to me than sunshine.

30 Nov, 2016

 

A real improvement Hywel and a much warmer space for you to work in, I can smell the scent of all that new wood - don`t you just love it - no doubt that any spare space will be filled come the spring.

1 Dec, 2016

 

Thank you. I think you are right - somehow I don't think there will be enough room there in the spring ! :)

1 Dec, 2016

 

Hi Hywel, I'm running late as usual, you've made good use of both those spaces, so much better than open passages where the wind can get in, you can while away the winter in there with all your precious plants, being completely closed in will possibly encourage them into new growth a bit earlier as well, although some of them haven't stopped yet have they, hard to believe its Dec already, I really do not like these dark nights at all, I tend to lose my mojo a bit, get to the stage where I can't be bothered on some days and thats not good is it....We have a little leanto built onto the side of our house, catflap holes each end so we don't have to leave the door to the garden open, have to consider these fluffy beings don't we, lol....

2 Dec, 2016

 

Hi Sue, Thanks for your comment :)
It's a job to keep up with it sometimes isn't it but I think it's best to 'go with the flow' and if you don't feel like doing something, just don't do it ... the world won't end :D

I don't like the dark days either. I have to rush home early wherever I go because my sight isn't very good in the dark.
Old age :(
Anyway I hope you're all right. I am holding on to the thought that the days will start getting lighter soon, in a few weeks. We'll feel better then :)

2 Dec, 2016

 

A great job there, Hywel! Your closed in shelters will benefit your plants no end! You will be able to do more gardening in there now as well!

6 Dec, 2016

 

Thank you. I am looking forward to it :)

6 Dec, 2016

 

That's a great improvement Hywel...

10 Dec, 2016

 

Thank you :)

10 Dec, 2016

 

I hate empty spaces Sheila lol ... :)

13 Dec, 2016

 

great idea , Hywel :-) X

29 Dec, 2016

 

Thank you :) x

29 Dec, 2016

Add a comment

Featured on

Recent posts by hywel

Members who like this blog

  • Gardening with friends since
    9 Aug, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    14 Aug, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    2 Dec, 2011

  • Gardening with friends since
    30 May, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    27 Sep, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    16 Mar, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    29 Oct, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    3 Jul, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    21 Nov, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    1 Oct, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    17 Nov, 2014

  • Gardening with friends since
    12 Feb, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    22 Oct, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    29 May, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    26 Feb, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    4 Apr, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    9 Apr, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    30 Dec, 2011

Garden centre