Garden Beet installed a 1 zillionth of a cubic sqm of gardens at Chelsea - a tiny little design moment whose surrounding stage show continued to morph until the last second.My Brief.There will be two walls. Install a living wall on a 5 x 2 wall. A caravan will be in one corner and several orb shaped metal hanging chairs will be suspended from something or rather.My Before ProcessLike many designers I think and think and dutifully prepare a draft living wall in my own garden 6 weeks before Chelsea. I am so prissy.

My During ProcessFive days before Chelsea I turn up with my 10 sqm of plants. All boxed. All neat. Ready to go.

My wall ain't there. Oh.He aint ready. OhOh oh - thats right he gave me a little warning but I was not 'listening' - he designs as he goes.The feel of Steve's stand is raw. Its due to the process. He is Mr Bricolage man.Thursday: I work backwards without knowledge of the overarching plan. The layers of green wall are built. Best plants first. They become a backdrop to the ever so fantasy hanging chairs. Woolly Pockets successfully create a fake 'planting mass' using less than 20mm space on the ground plane.

yeah, great............mmmm....will anyone question how those plants fot there.........NO.........Steve !!!Sunday: last minute scramble to try and pull the vertical gardens to public view. The left over plants that have been uprooted - stepped on and paint dripped upon are reshuffled into pockets. A Wally one pocket is secured to the metal underside and another pocket is tied below using packing ties.Voila. The gypsy wagon sprouts plants.

The nible skill of him and his metal workers impressed me no end. You want a metal thing to hang your Woolly Pockets ...yeah sure Felicity..we will just whip up a blah blah...And then the lovely unassuming Susie who orchestrates the overall design with Steven. A garden designer/artist from Sommerset with a fabulous working plant knowledge. She also designs on her feet and works with what is at hand.I loved the whole design process.
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robert pryor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I have a 6ft pair of Niwakis, wish i’d had them years before I did. I initially got the 8fts and immediately realised they would be a pain for the majority of hedges I used to cut. I think they are brilliant just make sure they are seated properly.…"
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Adam Woods replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I wouldn't cut a hedge without one. Anything over 6' you should get with 3 adjustable legs, otherwise they can be unstable if you lean - but positioned correctly they are the only way. 
Befrore retirement I had an 8' and a 4; . The 4' went in the…"
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John F replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Yes had that scenario where you can't reach a fiddly bit no matter what ladder and have to balance on the apex of a shed roof or do best job painstakingly with a long reach pole pruner . "
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PGM replied to PGM's discussion Grass Cutting 2026 Season
"We've just finished our second week, so that's a full round of all customers now, and didn't have a single one we couldn't do. It's been a really good start here in the north west and now with nice sunny weather coming up this week it's a great time…"
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Duncan Neville replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I'm very wary of these tripod ladders, I took a life changing fall from the top of a 12ft tripod. Now I only use them myself with great care. The issue is that they are very unstable at the top if you lean to either side, and they go with no…"
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Billybop replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"the tripods are good but in some scenarios the wide base and the fact the 3rd leg has to be placed some distance away from the step part for stability makes this large foot print impractical eg when cutting hedge behind a shed or greenhouse with…"
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Graham Taylor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Never tried these but always thought they look a bit of a pain to cart about. Looking at the picture, seems you're quite away from the hedge so you have to reach out more?   I just use ordinary aluminium extension ladders that you can easily adjust…"
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Sam Bainbridge replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Tripods are better than any other ladder that's a fact. You can cut hedges that are lower than the ladder but it is more awkward, I have a 6ft amd a 12 foot been using both for the last 15yrs and haven't come stuck yet. Believe me once you've had…"
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Intelligent Landscapes replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I agree with HB. 12 foot Henchman with 3 adjustable legs are fantastic and we use them all the time."
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Honey Badger replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"You won't regret it, they are most comfortable ladders to use. Worth every penny."
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matt replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"i have two sizes and couldnt be without them, as use the smaller set for lower hedges so ladders never in the way and ive never bothered with the platform ladders"
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