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Ideas for this area....especially a focal point

United Kingdom Gb

Had originally thought of a pebble pond with mill stone, but do not have a power supply, and I think the solar option is a bit pointless. So back to the drawing board.

I am going to plants shrubs, and put gravel down, but I want some sort of focal point.

The slope might make it a bit more awkward to.
Have been thinking bird baths, sphere on pebbles, ornament....

I find it hard to picture it finished.



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Answers

 

a stone sun dial . .. see the solar options back in.

13 Apr, 2009

 

Wait until you get the inspiration... if you do it now when you are not sure a year or so along the line you'll be saying 'I wish I'd...' Which way does the bed face?

13 Apr, 2009

 

large grass like pampas or something?

13 Apr, 2009

 

Not sure about directions! The lawn is in full sun most of the day, and the sun sets behind the corner of the fence, so casts a slight shadow in the evening time.
It has been sitting for about a year. I have had lots of inspiration, but it all involves running water, and digging up the tarmac is not an option, but would be the only way of getting power to it.

13 Apr, 2009

 

you can disc cut an inch wide track in the tarmac ,lay cable and then pour bitumen back in to seal it ,like they do at traffic light junctions sometimes, another way is to lay traffic calming rubber blocks across the tarmac and install cable under it.

13 Apr, 2009

 

If you are into alpine plants a scree/crevice bed could look fab.

13 Apr, 2009

 

I would like it to be quite a showy colourful area. I hope to put hydrangea and rhodendron at the back & forest flame. I have some hostas and heucheras for low foliage at the front, some spring and summer bulbs through it, and see where it goes from there. Tarmac is only down 1 year, so dont want to dig it up at all. In hindsight we should've left cables out, but its our first house so didnt think at the time!

13 Apr, 2009

 

if anyone has any pictures of ideas, I would be very grateful, as I find it very hard to picture it.

13 Apr, 2009

 

a company called Grundomat have a machine called a mole we use it in our industry , your local gas and water company guyswould use it (if you know any) basically you dig a hole one side of the tarmac and one the other and the mole tunnels under creating a 40mm hole that you canpush a cable through , for this you would need to know your existing utility runs through the tarmac so the mole wouldnt hit it.

13 Apr, 2009

 

Thanks maccimmon, I will look into that. We would need to drill into the house for the mains, or else take the cable around the corner of the house, to the garage at the back where the power unit is. Again, neither are ideal options!

13 Apr, 2009

 

I agree that a sundial would look lovely here, surrounded by your favourite plants. Especially as the houses in this area look very new - ? - it would add a bit of history and interest.
You could do that now, and still change yr mind if you decide to do the cable/water biz later. Whenever you get inspired and can picture it!
Not the pampas grass.

13 Apr, 2009

 

what height of sundial were you thinking, they are not something I am familiar with. Also, how would I level out the ground under it.

13 Apr, 2009

 

Sounds like you have acid soil there. I sometimes wish I did.

If your patch is in full sun most of the day..why is the solar option out? It should be fine and there's some truly gorgeous solar water features around now.

14 Apr, 2009

 

Hi Shell - if you'd like something unique, I came across a guy who sells driftwood scuptures. I have just had mine delivered. If you look at my blog you will see a few of his pieces - his website will also give you the idea of what sort of things he has - remember that mine was chosen for a specific area of my garden - and anyway, it's MINE now!

He had a lovely upright grained one which would look great as a focal point in your garden amongst plants.

All his details are in the blog. I just thought I'd l pass the idea on as I love my sculpture!

14 Apr, 2009

 

Thanks for the suggestions. The reason I am sort of ruling out the solar option is because although the lawn is in full sun all day, we dont get too many days with sun.

14 Apr, 2009

 

Spritzhenry the driftwood is really remarkable and unique. Only thing is I am in Northern ireland, and the selection online seems to be quite limited.

14 Apr, 2009

 

Just a thought - the site is quite near the pavement. Suggest, whatever you decide to do, keep it away from the fence so people on the way home from the pub can't take your focal point home with them! Or make it *very* heavy!!

14 Apr, 2009

 

Its an end house, so there is no "traffic" going by it. Its an ok area, so that wouldnt concern me at the minute.

14 Apr, 2009

How do I say thanks?

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