New look grow beds and benches

[alpineart]

Hi Carlos , thanks mate it been a big project with a long way to go

Hi Neli , the top retaining wall will be in sections only as it runs into solid rock

Hi Strawbs , thanks fella , were have you been hiding

Hi Jan , a good set of gloves and an "easy does it" "But do it" attitude helps in these over ambitious situations .Every time i walk out the back door this hit me square between the eyes so it will be a source of inspiration and motivation for many days to come .

Cheers All . Alpine

[Pezz95]

Wow, it's amazing what hard work and effort can achieve. Looks awesome very well done

[alpineart]

Hi Pezz95 , thanks mate , its come up a treat , well beyond my expectations.

Cheers Alpine

[alpineart]

Well its finished for now , stage 2 will have to wait a little while longer including the steps .

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I got a bit ahead of myself and began to load up the benches

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so i can tiol away digging out the grow bed stock to transplant into the new beds behind the walls, after i back fill them of course . Looks like tomorrow is going to be a digging good day .

Cheers Alpineart

[Meagi]

The grass don't grow to high under your feet mate

You never bloody stop what an amazing improvement.


Really like what you have done a darn jack of all trades

How's the leg holding up much be getting sore

Mine are sore just reading this thread

Marvalous mate !!!!!!!!!

[Guy]

Is there a before photo?

[alpineart]

Hi Meagi , I haven't had a chance to mow the lawns as the grass hasn't grown this Winter . I have to keep moving or i will be in serious trouble , the leg is holding me up but thats it , not much feeling as the nerve damaged has been done . I cant run and probably never will so i had better stay out of the bull padocks .

Hi Guy , I will try to find an original but might be out of luck . The terrace had a single height sleeper at the base and a 50 degree terraced face , bloody useless for growing anything as the face was rock, clay and shale . There is a couple of pics earlier in the topic showing the sleeper edge .

Cheers Guys .Alpine

[alpineart]

This has been a good project and now its full of plants . A few barrow loads of American Hornbeams were dug up

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including root over rocks , some have been potted up ready for sale , the rest where trimmed and placed back into their new bed

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. The stone walls are loaded up

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and it gives me easy access to each pot rather than contorting myself around the other racks .

Cheers . Alpineart

[SpongeMann]

alpineart I think I broke a sweat just reading this thread! Man O man. What a undertaking! Hats off brother!

[alpineart]

alpineart I think I broke a sweat just reading this thread! Man O man. What a undertaking! Hats off brother!

Hi SpongeMann , Mate I take my hat off to anyone who does this for a living . It's taken its toll on the body , however I havesome of the foundations in place for stage two, just don't have the time or ability to carry out another huge task like this .Time to undertake some serious light duties working on the growing material around here now , you never know tomorrow's another day .

Cheers . Alpineart

[Bush bunny]

Very nice, Alpine I see I am not alone with the toll on one's body parts. I am thinking of doing something myself with an old stone BBQ. The think is - or but - it is not as close for me to water the bonsai by hand. And a 9 litre watering can well that's two gallons and heavy .

I will post some pics later on another thread, when the camera reboots.

Cheers,

[alpineart]

Hi Bush bunny , I punish me everyday but "you cant keep a good man down" Any chance of running a 16mm clip on black poly water pipe line to make it easier . The 16mm rolls are about $6-8 for 20m a coupl of fittings and your home and hosed , that could save your body some repetative lifting and carrying .

Grab that Son of your and slap him into line or ask nicely if he would run the pipe for you .The only time i use a watering can is to fertilize and that take 60-70 cans , the watering is done here with my finger on the end of the hose . With these new beds and benches it takes 30 - 40 minutes to cover the lot before it was 2 hours and in summer twice or 3 times a day , heck of a waste of time .

Good luck coaxing your boy into doing a good deed .

Cheers . Alpine

[Bush bunny]

Alpine I water bonsai from the rain water tank. I have a hose that would reach but I don't wish to waste it unnecessarily. Yeah I suppose I could use the open and close on the hose head all the time. I have tap water but it is alkaline, and cholorinated. My son does a lot for me, when he is off work. Shifts at a hotel.

One night, after we had rain, and I had re-potted my Ginkgo, water it, he used the tap water hose on the bonsai. Luckily no azaleas there. I don't water the leaves of trees, and the next day, some had greyish blotches on them. So he was told never to water my trees unless I asked him too. But he does digging, up rooting, pruning the big trees, and carrying the heavy pots around for me. He uses the wheel barrow to transport soils and compost. He offered to completely uproot the wisteria, but I was started and just finishing what he had done two days earlier. I didn't think at the time, as he was going off to work, how stubborn she would be.

But at least I have help when needed. But you have given me an idea. It is 5,000 liter rain tank. But used for the laundry washing machine and toilet too. It was paid for by both State and Fed governments. Cost nothing to me.

[SpongeMann]

Hi Alpine Definitely a tough job. Someone`s got to do it. Lol Your growing material is going to do and look amazing in those grow beds .wish you the best brother.

[SpongeMann]

Hi Bush Bunny