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.

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Chris updated their profile
1 minute ago
Landscape Juice replied to Mark Yeo's discussion Etesia Bahia hydro mbhe 2001
" Just for others, there are a number of Etesia manuals that can be browsed on the Mower Spare Parts site:
https://www.mowerspareparts.co.uk/category_s/2113.htm"
9 hours ago
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Andy Richards, Grounds Manager at Haileybury School, has praised the Dennis ES-34R battery-powered rotary mower for its sustainability, quiet operation, and exceptional performance.At the prestigious independent school in Hertfordshire, which boasts…
yesterday
Tim Bucknall replied to Lee Pope's discussion Country path
"I don't think this is type 1, it looks finer.  It might be 20mm to dust limestone (like a fine type 1), but it could be something like Breedon self-binding path gravel (google it).  Either would need a free-draining sub-base."
yesterday
Ag replied to Ag's discussion How to make ends meet as a professional gardener
"Thanks so much everyone, great advice, will give it some thought and try some new pricing ideas with new customers....best to give it another chance and if all fails will try something else. Best wishes. "
Tuesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
GreenBest recently participated in the Made in the UK, Sold to the Indo-Pacific event at Birmingham University, hosted by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). Representing the company, Jeremy Johnson engaged in expert-led discussions and…
Tuesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Etesia UK is thrilled to announce substantial savings of over £8,000 on its renowned Hydro 124 range of ride-on mowers.This limited-time offer presents an exceptional opportunity for customer to purchase the best-in-class cut and collect machines at…
Tuesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
KAR UK is excited to announce the arrival of the Hunter Wireless Valve Link. Designed to simplify irrigation projects of all sizes, this innovative accessory eliminates the need for traditional wiring, offering landscape professionals and…
Monday
Ian Harvey replied to Mark Yeo's discussion Etesia Bahia hydro mbhe 2001
"Have you checked under the seat? I don't know this mower, but I think that is where the manual states the oil filler is."
Monday
Mark Yeo replied to Mark Yeo's discussion Etesia Bahia hydro mbhe 2001
"Thanks for taking the trouble to reply Ian - much appreciated. Unfortunately the manuals don't help in that my machine doesn't have a reservoir or dipstick so I'm scratching my head!!! "
Sunday
Peter sellers replied to Ag's discussion How to make ends meet as a professional gardener
"Yet more good advice, charging an hourly rate is an illness which seems to be prevalent in "our" trade all it does is to devalue our skills,experience and investment in our businesses along with pandering to customers expectations for a low cost…"
Sunday
James replied to Ag's discussion How to make ends meet as a professional gardener
"Try and price per visit instead of hourly rate. 2-3 hour slots say to custumer £90-£100 per visit.
This will be half your day if you add travel to and from the job. Or have a minimum fee of x amount per visit. If a customer wants an hour or 2 it…"
Sunday
Ian Harvey replied to Mark Yeo's discussion Etesia Bahia hydro mbhe 2001
"A copy of the manual can be found here:
https://www.mowerspareparts.co.uk/v/Etesia%20owners%20manual/Etesia...(early%20version)%20owners%20manual.pdf
 
or if any help, also the latter one:…"
Sunday
Peter sellers replied to Ag's discussion How to make ends meet as a professional gardener
"More good advice"
Apr 12
Paul Bishop replied to Ag's discussion How to make ends meet as a professional gardener
"As relative novices to gardening - 4th year of trading - we have experienced what you are going through and feel your anxiety and frustration and "is-it-all-worth-it-I-might-as-well-go-and-work-at-Tesco" thoughts .
At the end of the day it boils…"
Apr 12
Jason Taylor replied to Jason Taylor's discussion Lawn / soil problem
"I sold the Sthil and bought a good second hand BCS 730. It did a far better job, then my son raked it then dragged a pallet around. "
Apr 12
More…

Country path

 Hi everyone, I was looking for a little bit of advice if possible.This is an existing path through a country park near me. This was done 3 years ago now.  Can anyone tell me what type of stone/gravel was used for this top layer?Any help much…

Read more…
5 Replies · Reply by Tim Bucknall yesterday
Views: 156