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

Day 12

View previous day here

Coffee.

Video footage applying the scratch coat

It's not until you watch yourself at work you realise your little habits, it would seem I like to tap the plastering spot board each time I fill the hawk, this is to ensure my steel trowel is clean for the next lay on.

Concreting the reflection pond

Concreting the reflection pond

Whilst I'm applying the scratch coat to the garden feature walls in the Marshall's kitchen area and the raised seating area the team mix the concrete for the base and footings to the reflection pond, 200mm depth of concrete in all will allow four courses of 225mm wide block work with 10mm joints, bringing the top of finish block work to 72mm below finished paving level.

Plastering the scratch coat

Plastering the scratch coat

I have completed the render scratch coat, all but one small area, now where's my Jewson lintel, I can only assume the missing lintel is walking the 5.7 miles from the Tiverton branch to my Cullompton landscaping project, perhaps I seek to much by means of an explanatory  phone call ??

Whilst I await I'll feed the last perimeter up-lighter cable through the electric ducting to the seven raised Marshall's black limestone planters.

Ducting draw cord connection

Ducting draw cord connection

I bend 200mm of the cable and clamp tight, I fasten the internal draw cord from the duct to the clamped loop of the electrical cable and wrap tight with duct tape.

At the furthest point of ducting from the draw cord connection I pull the cord slowly through the ducting, once the cable is fed through the ducting I include 500mm at each end for the electrician. Plastic is wrapped at both ends of the duct and the cable is wound up and secured.

Cable pulling

Cable pulling

This simple device of two road pins at the same height and a small bar or broom handle assists me when pulling the cable.

Still waiting

WAITING !!

Where's my Jewson lintel. 

Where's my Jewson lintel

Where be my lintel to I know where he be ?, actually I don't.

This kind of poor service would never occur from Phil Skeats at the Newton Abbot branch, what do I have to do to climb ranks in the Tiverton packing order?

Garden reflection pond footing and base

Garden reflection pond footing and base

With guidance from the rotating laser level at dig level I set the laser to 200mm above dig, this level is used through out the concrete pour, once all concrete has been mixed the levelled concrete is tamped and left to cure.

The lintel arrives !!

The lintel arrives !!

YAY 3.45 pm ........ I bed down the lintel and clean down the site.

I detest being in the hands of a sales rep, I call it a day for today.

Tomorrow were not relying on others.

Tomorrows blog:

Garden reflection pond and overflow system build.

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Open forum activity

Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd replied to Nicholas Breakspeare's discussion Propane torch to burn moss
"Does your PL insurance cover hot works?
We use products containing DDAC to control moss and spray it on with a knapsack or dosatron unit  - very effective and long lasting on hard surfaces (except composite decking)."
1 hour ago
Nicholas Breakspeare posted a discussion
For those of you who use a propane torch to burn moss, what do you use to shield the heat from affecting nearby vegetation / other objects? We work in a historical, public gardens and due to the proximity of beds/borders to the paths, burning is our…
12 hours ago
Sam Bainbridge replied to Sam Bainbridge's discussion Moss brush advice
"Have looked at the westermann the biggest downside is they hardly have and dealers my nearest is 3hrs away so for any warranty work it would be major hassle.
The new weibang looks to be pretty much exactly the same as the westermann so I have big…"
15 hours ago
Gregory is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
16 hours ago
James replied to Sam Bainbridge's discussion Moss brush advice
"Keeps us updated Sam. I'm interested in getting a brush this coming year."
yesterday
Tim Bucknall replied to John F's discussion Olive Tree Winter protection
"The busy road will raise the temperature."
yesterday
Adam Woods replied to Sam Bainbridge's discussion Moss brush advice
"I have a Stiga with plastic brushes - its used mostly to clear dead moss off a tennis court - before its arrival I hired a Westermann a few times, with the steel brush - that was so much better, almost no need to kill the moss first"
yesterday
Sam Bainbridge replied to Sam Bainbridge's discussion Moss brush advice
"I discovered that after putting this on. It looks the same as the westermann but with a 5yr warranty rather than westermanns 2yr.
Going to have a demo see what it's like"
yesterday
James replied to Sam Bainbridge's discussion Moss brush advice
"I believe Weibang are about to bring one out. Might be worth considering "
Monday
John F replied to John F's discussion Olive Tree Winter protection
"Many Thanks . Not quite the frozen north but North Yorkshire .
Initially tied fleece on but they just looked depressed with leaves dropping off but since removing fleece and putting in a sheltered position they have perked up .
I did put plenty of…"
Monday
Sam Bainbridge posted a discussion
Hello looking to buy a petrol Moss brush looking at CUBB, Westermann and Powerbrush 1010Has anyone got any of these?Huge price difference on replacement brushes cubb £80, Westermann £200, powerbrush 1010 £400Any advice welcome 
Sunday
JANINE MCMAHON replied to John F's discussion Olive Tree Winter protection
"Hi - here in Southern France they are out all year once they are hardened off.  Cold and snow doesn't seem to bother them once established.  However, grafted olive trees might be different - no idea :-(
Basically, as far as I know, if an olive tree…"
Sunday
Paul Errington replied to Adam Woods's discussion Lawn advice
"she could probably buy her own scarifier for £1200 !!"
Sunday
Sean @ Eclipse posted a discussion
HiMy Etesia Pro51 after 12 years, has I think decided to retire.I would like another but they are so expensive and I'm not sure I can justify the cost.What other mowers are recommended?  I've looked at Stihl RM756YC and Weibang Virtue 53 ASD BBC…
Sunday
Adam Woods replied to John F's discussion Olive Tree Winter protection
"They need a massive amount of grit in the compost, so that it is really free draining  - Given they are growing in the Alps and high up on the Dolomites I would have thought they should survive - though I would agree with Tim, that the roots should…"
Sunday
Will Roberts replied to Adam Woods's discussion Lawn advice
"It has the look of a lawn that's had a granular 4 in 1 treatment applied during a hot dry period. I speak from bitter experience. I'd suggest it needs stripping and reseeding or turfing in the spring. "
Saturday
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Best mower for wet weather

HiMy Etesia Pro51 after 12 years, has I think decided to retire.I would like another but they are so expensive and I'm not sure I can justify the cost.What other mowers are recommended?  I've looked at Stihl RM756YC and Weibang Virtue 53 ASD BBC…

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Seasonal work

Hi would a garden maintenance business in north London/herts be interested in hiring myself for the upcoming Season April to September! I have 40 years of experience in the industry used to run a small garden maintenance business in north London one…

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