Does anyone know anything about gardening?

I got rid of my lawnmower because I only have about max 5sqm of lawn and I'm trying to cultivate a perennial meadow so hardly need to mow it. It's also quite a funny shape, so I don't have heaps of room to maneuver something big.

I do want to cut it back this winter. What's the best approach? A strimmer makes sense, but I don't know how much you have to spend to get a good one. A scythe seems cool but a bit overkill in 5sqm.

Rent a strimmer twice a year? A sickle?

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I like this idea. Not sure Mrs Bear would be 100% on board

Yes a strimmer.

Ours cost £8 from a boot sale and is small.

It's also a good idea to cut a different height / twice around the edges to get a bit of variation and give it some shape.

Harder work but more analog would be either a hand scythe and a stick or a decent length machete. Both require a bit of technique. A machete is prob more versatile, but a scythe will be more efficient. Either way if it's x2-3 a year it doesn't matter that much.

£5 says you'll spend less on a 2nd hand strimmer than you will on a new machete or hand scythe.

Window box done.. @tinakino :)

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that's a smart looking box that

Nice.

I actually did spend some time pondering hardy canditates for my own boxes at the local plant shops during my luchbreak today.. not really set on anything yet though.

@fizzy.bleach @tinakino thanks guys, I just wanted something simple, green, low maintenance year round interest.

have you considered a snooker table?

Simple? I think you underestimate the subtle complexities of the game.

Not sure a snooker table would fit on my window cill, but I could have filled each pocket with an interesting plant..

Simple? I think you underestimate the subtle complexities of the game.

Quite right. Ask Rory McLeod.

fig tree

We impulsively bought a fig tree the other week and I’m still scratching my head as to where to plant it, the reading I've subsequently done points to a sheltered sun facing wall to stand any chance of fruit in the UK but we’re running low on them... anyone got a healthy tree care to comment?

'Ours' (actually our neighbours) is sheltered but not sun facing, on the north side of an E/W wall. Probably get 40 fruit off it just from the bits that overhang our garden, but that might be in spite of its position.

that sounds ok, but i think the key to fruiting is to restrict the roots otherwise you will have a mahoosive tree with very few fruits. Plus you probably don't want a really big tree anyway

Find your self a washing machine tub.
They are (/were?), stainless steel so last 'forever'
the myriad of perforations allow soil moisture in
and prevent large roots escaping.
Plant the fig with a gravel filled 2 or 3l soft drink bottle
with holes punched through the PET, off to one side of the drum,
with just the spout showing. This allows you to water
down into the roots in times of low rainfall.

washing machine tub (...)
the myriad of perforations allow soil moisture in
and prevent large roots escaping

This sounds interesting, but will it not lead to one big entangled root-ball inside the washing machine tub?

Eventually I presume,
but,
if the roots are left to grow unrestricted the Fig tree will put most of its effort
into expanding the root system and comparatively little into fruit production.

If you've seen wild/untended fig tress around the Mediterranean,
you'll have seen Figs apparently growing on sheer rock faces with impressive root systems, like giant Bonsai, reaching into clefts in the rocks.
The average UK garden has much more and better soil and year round rain,
while the Fig has developped to survive in poor soils with extended arid periods.

A Fig planted in the UK is in survival mode despite being in a broadly benign to supportive
environment.
Old school gardeners used to use paving slabs dug into the ground to create a root-restricting 'box'. I'm guessing there are still some of these in Stately Homes or National Trust properties.

I see.
Thanks for elaborating!

Great advice, especially @mespilus. A quick scan of eBay shows drums generally get repurposed as fire pits but I’ll drop down the tip and see if I can slip them some cash. Thanks.

We planted a Fremontodendron at the weekend which will hopefully train up the front of the house. Dark green leaves and bright yellow flowers from spring through autumn apparently, looking forward to next year.

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expanding the root system

Their roots are fucking militant, so not great if your garden happens to be near a building or someone else's garden.

This is good to know. Ours is only a tiddler but will be a monster I’m sure. Will definitely look into the drum patio slab scenario

So quick question. How do you create depth in a garden and also how do you layer plants so they look natural

Your garden is crying out for an arch separating the lawn from the far patio.
Central will look 'right' so you might have to amend your snaking path.
Grow a grape vine up the arch so maybe a shade giving pergola over the patio.

If you don't go for raised beds, to form the low barrier between lawn and patio,
consider espaliered fruit trees as the divider.
See if you can find a heritage variety that was local to your area.

Clear some of the Ivy from the rear wall and install an eye-catching piece of weather tolerant art, or a couple of pots growing seasonal flowers secured to the wall.

Just to add to mespilus' points:

• May sound obvious, but different heights of plants for depth.
  
• Warm and light colours at the front / darker and cooler at the back.
  
• mirror at the back somewhere - maybe two mirrors on adjacent walls in the corner(?)
  
• when you find a plant you like google image for common / suggested combos
  
• consider plant full size height and take into account when planting
  
• don't plant pots immediately, try them out in different spots for a few days to see what works.
  

And maybe

• do all this in spring, not right before winter starts