Does anyone know anything about gardening?

Via this

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Concrete gravel board from Wickes

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Repainted panel replaced

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Does those metal brackets stop the panels from rattling in the wind?

They do yes, although the only reason I'm using them there is that I have an odd concrete fence post without grooves for the fence panels in there circa 1960 mixed in amongst the newer fence posts. It's also not straight but removing and replacing it is a job for another day/month/year...

Any thoughts on what to do with this

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1ft trellis going above the top of the wall or somewhere else? I do fancy something bird or insect friendly. This being the first garden I'll own is going to lead to a lot of questions.

I was going to put that in my parking spot. Thought I may as well make use of it even if I don't have a car.

Pyracantha?
We have a hedge with red yellow and orange (berries) which mature a few weeks apart. Blackbirds in particular go for the berries, bees are all over the small flowers, it can be trained almost flat, new shoots can be woven into a trellis and pruned without the need for armour while the older branches and thorns make a passable alternative to barbed wire. On top of that it's fairly easy to propagate cuttings - we usually have a few in pots to fill any gaps in the perimeter.

Also maybe consider Pyracantha aka Firethorn.

(Edit - it took me ages to write that... what MrE said 4 minutes ago)

Alternatively, I could build you decking turrets with the optional machine gun emplacements. I could even build them as double thickness block backed brickwork clad with ethically sourced stone.

Except that every one of my fucking suppliers shut down today....

YES.

So good to see someone else replacing their astro turf, I think that stuff should be against the law. We've removed so much of nature from our world, do we really need plastic gardens?
Looks like you're borders are in good shape, I have done a similar project as you are eyeing up, its still looking pretty bleak in my pics but I am happy with it.
For the grass - I had to dig down a foot and a halfish and turn the soil over, let it breathe for a bit but not so long weeds start to grow (I think I left it 2 weeks). Then I put down about 6 bags of fresh topsoil (so much more "alive") and then some fertiliser pellet things. Raked it al out. Stamped it in. Raked it again. Stamped it in. I bought a bunch of turf from my local and from it arriving to me finishing laying it can only have been a couple of hours, it was super quick and easy. Water it everyday, job done. Haven't killed it yet. If you increase the size of your borders in certain bits you could break the garden up a bit and make it less linear, not sure about climbers but we are looking into them too, we also bought small apple tree.

Atop the wall

Going to try and grow a few veg in a sort of dig for victory vibe.

Plan is

• Carrots
  
• Courgette
  
• Lettuce
  
• Tomatoes
  
• Onions maybe
  
  

Does anyone have any particular recommendations for where to buy seeds or varieties?

Usually I just buy from Thomson and Morgan, but they have mixed results. Soil is generally heavy clay, but the area I'm using has previously been a veg patch and isn't too bad.

Also first mow of the year CO my OH. Feels good to have it done.

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Thanks all for the suggestions (my girlfriend did veto machine gun turrets but that meant I could veto fairy lights so it seems a fair exchange). Definitely some good ideas there.

I always get seeds from this lot https://tamarorganics.co.uk/

Not sure what their stock is like as I imagine lots of people are having the same thought, but they only sell good stuff!

Begone bindweed!

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Big old beech grind the other day just before I downed tools due to covid. A solid 6-7hrs of grinding and carting our spoil by hand to get it ready for the mini digger to tear up the old lawn and any remaining roots.

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Big area of almost solid wood turned over.

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Wow, that is quite a job!

Was the Beech diseased further up,
or
did the householder just want a better view (of the Thames?)

Nice work. This tree on t'other bank looks lovely.

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It's here. Rejoice!
Just waiting on the paper shredder to arrive and I'll be in business tomorrow :)

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Thanks. I'll check them out.