An insight to the daily life of a garden design and landscaping build up on a rear garden located in Cullompton, Exeter, Devon.

Day 10

View previous day here

Coffee.

Electric ducting installed

Electric ducting installation

The trench depth for the 60mm diameter black ribbed duct is hand dug at 300mm, I still have an additional 100mm of consolidated sub base to install bringing the overall depth to the required 400mm.

This particular ducting product comes with a draw cord inserted within the duct, as a rule of thumb I would tie two pieces of timber at each end of the ducting so not to loose the cord, then cover with plastic to stop debris falling in the duct, then the appropriate colour code tape is wrapped around the end of the ducting.

However, on this occasion I insert all the electric cable for the project with a meter spare at each end.  The pre installed draw cord is left in the duct in-case additional cables or a later replacement may be required.

Sub base back fill

Sub base back fill

The ducting is backfilled with the 40mm to dust to a level of 150mm from finish floor level, FFL,  and consolidated.

Electrical warning tape installed 

Electrical warning tape installed

The trench is semi backfilled to the required level of 150mm below FFL and the ducting is marked with electrical warning tape.

Once the entire ducting has been taped the trench is filled and consolidated in 100mm layers, compacted until the required height of fill is reached.

Ducting trench compaction

Ducting trench compaction

No my team member isn't about to run the wacker plate over the mixer cable, the mixer is unplugged before three passes on each layer is consolidated, all our trenches or any back fill is built up in 75-100mm layers and compacted, the seven perimeter raised black limestone planters with up lighters have been left open for the later looping of the electrical cable.

Recess's wall brickwork

Recess wall brick work

The brick work is installed to the rear of the two recess walls, six courses are required for each wall. I run five courses at present and will finish the last course of brickwork once the mortar has gone off, making the final course so much easier to lay.

Friday clean down

Friday clean down

I rarely see any of my clients past or present whilst I'm building their dream garden, so I try to put myself in their position.

Each Friday evening the team will carry out what's known as our "Friday clean down", I know that all my clients will walk onto the project together over the weekend and view what's been created throughout the week and visualise together the finished landscaped garden, so the site is left as tidy and safe as possible, windows, sills are washed of dust and all components to the garden build up are stowed away.

Landscaping feature walling

Landscaping feature walling

I'm unable to complete the walling as I await my final lintel, I'm assured this will be with me by Monday, shame really as I would have liked the walling to be going off over the weekend.

Tomorrows blog:

Garden water reflection pond preparation

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Open forum activity

Will Roberts replied to Tim Bucknall's discussion Stihl blowers failing
"I bought a no name petrol blower on eBay for £30 as temporary fix. I expected it to last 6 months but 2 years later it's still going strong. It's a copy of the Stihl Bg 56. You don't always get what you pay for. "
4 hours ago
Billybop replied to Tim Bucknall's discussion Stihl blowers failing
"Hat's off to you for persevering with them Graham. Surely one of the best aspects of British life is blokes patiently and skillfully fixing things in the shed. Sounds a nightmare product to me, whether it was a blower or something else, I wouldn't…"
6 hours ago
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Agrovista Amenity has strengthened its team with the appointment of Ben Simpson, who joins as Amenity Specialist supporting the Landscape and IVM division.Ben brings a varied career background and a refreshed enthusiasm for the amenity…
Thursday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
2025’s prolonged heat put turf surfaces under extraordinary pressure, leaving many venues facing compaction, thinning coverage, and stressed rootzones.As spring approaches, turf professionals are looking to revitalise their surfaces with reliable,…
Wednesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Visitors to Mansfield Sand’s stand (242) at BTME 2026, taking place from 20–22 January at the Harrogate Convention Centre, will have the opportunity to explore a standout selection of sand-based products designed to elevate the performance,…
Wednesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Visitors to Stand 550 at BTME 2026 will be welcomed by KAR UK, joined by the expert team from Hunter Irrigation. The showcase will be built around innovation, efficiency, and practical support for today’s greenkeepers and course managers.With an…
Wednesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
GroundsFest and the GroundsFest Academy will be exhibiting at BTME 2026 for the very first time, marking an important milestone for the fast-growing event and its year-round education programme.Visitors can find the GroundsFest team on stand 233,…
Wednesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
MM Seed will be returning to BTME from 20-22 January, welcoming visitors to Stand 124 to explore some of the industry’s most trusted grass seed mixtures for golf courses.Throughout the event, their knowledgeable team will be available to offer…
Wednesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Agrovista Amenity will return to BTME 2026 with a line-up that reflects its continued commitment to practical, science-led turf solutions.Visitors to Stand 126 will be able to explore two of the industry’s most talked-about technologies – Attraxor®…
Wednesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Laser Sharp Results with Redexim: When James Camfield, Managing Director of Golf Course Management Services Limited, saw a gap in the market for specialist tee levelling, he turned to Redexim.The result? Flawlessly levelled playing surfaces that are…
Wednesday
Graham Taylor replied to Tim Bucknall's discussion Stihl blowers failing
"I've had a couple of BG86's for years.   Excellent.   Have replaced the carbs once for £35 each from China......... they looked like the genuine ones  marked Stihl with the part code on.   The only major fault I found was the Ergostart system.  The…"
Tuesday
Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd replied to Mitchel ingham's discussion Winter and spring ideas for work
"See our website - www.heathrowsnow.com if you'd like to join the Winter Resillience team!"
Monday
Paul Errington replied to Mitchel ingham's discussion Winter and spring ideas for work
"One of our landscape machinery customers used to organize labour for snow clearance operations at Heathrow Airport. Those who signed up were paid to do training days, and received a very generous hourly rate if they attended a snow event. Problem…"
Monday
Billybop replied to Tim Bucknall's discussion Stihl blowers failing
"Hi yes I still have my 6500 Ego too, kept in case the newer one ever failed, but it hasn't. Had the 5 hundred-something cfm one before that, now flogged to a mate who loves it. The LB8800 is hovering around the £300 mark on amazon including import…"
Dec 13
Sam Bainbridge replied to Tim Bucknall's discussion Stihl blowers failing
"Just change to a backpack, br800 7yrs and not even a sparkplug yet"
Dec 13
Clive replied to Tim Bucknall's discussion Stihl blowers failing
"Stop using BG86s absolutely years ago first ego blower I had which is now my spare is the 6500 now have the 7650 which is brilliant. 
for large areas I have a back pack Stihl BR800 this combo does me "
Dec 13
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Making tax digital

Thought there might be some unaware of this. So briefly and I am not an accountant . As from 6th April 26 anyone who has income from self employment, rent from property etc or a combination that equates to a turnover of 50k or more (not profit) will…

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26 Replies · Reply by Sam Bainbridge Dec 10
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