Does anyone know anything about gardening?

I have been taken suddenly drunk, will calculate what you need tomorrow....

I’m drinking to make up for the ache from another day of digging and mattocking.
I’m amazed how a year away from tree work has left me a soft palmed melt that struggles to mattock out roots for more than a couple of hours at a time now. Sorely disappointed in myself.

I'm drinking because I like it, plus on Tuesday I have 20 odd sleepers to get up 23 steps before I even start.

I answered my own question - this site has good details on specimens (pot size, height supplied etc) with pics of the actual items for sale: https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/

What are you planning in your garden? Always find these things interesting.

Given the fact it almost dies for half the summer without a huge amount of water I might just get rid of a large portion of it

Looking at non-postmix options for my decking posts. As it’s a small deck would post repair spikes be potentially a goer? Don’t see the point of driving 750mm long spikes into the ground for a small deck..

I’m sure I’ll cave and concrete them in under cover of darkness in the end tho.

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That's what I've done.

Certain people are lamenting the desecration of the lawn, but I'm quite happy about it.

here's the design I've worked up and here's the (incomplete) plant list so far:

• Paperbark Maple | 45L | 3.0-3.5m | £300 x1
  
• Acer Palmatum Bloodgood | 10L | 1m | £70 x1
  
• Acer Palmatum Dissectum Garnet | 65L | 1.5-2m | £330 x1
  
• Betula Pendula / Silver Birch | 10L | 1.5-2m | £70 x3 (£210)
  
• Fargesia Rufa | 12L | 1.2-1.5m | £60 x5 (£300)
  

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It's virtually impossible to drive Metpost spikes in upright and square. You won't enjoy building a framework around posts that are neither. Everything you do subsequently needs posts that are both of these things.

Before you commit to those prices I'll have a look at what a professional trade only nursery can offer.

Noted. Postmix it is then.
I know from experience I won’t get them exactly where I want them but at least they’ll be vertical.
Glad I’ll be able to cut/stain everything off site at least and just need to assemble in situ.

So I want to put the posts in first then build the frame around them? I was presuming to build the whole frame, lay it on the floor then mark the post positions in place. Seeing as it’s only little me and Liz can move it around easily enough.

thanks - yeah those are only the prices I've lifted off that ornamental trees website to give me a benchmark/budget. we're using a landscaper who will source what we're after at trade pricing

It's worth bearing in mind that larger container grown trees take longer to establish. Smaller, younger trees sometimes work out better. Eg for the silver birch.

What's that blue thing in the top right btw?

it's supposed to be a shed (showing our neighbour's shed next to it) but the software doesn't have sheds (wtf) so I had to use a playhouse (!) instead

It’s a constant battle to keep alive 3/4 of the garden alive because my other half likes to lie on it a few times in the summer. Would be less inclined to get rid of I hadn’t agreed to go onto a water meter

Ah, I see; thanks. Of course garden design software doesn't draw sheds?!

Looks like a great space. Do post some pics when it's done. And just check that you really do want bamboo...

We are on a water meter now. I'm preaching that it's really comfortable to recline on block paving but the jury's still out on that.

I’d keep a bit, just want some more interest that bed/lawn/bed. Hard to see where’s it’s going as most stuff only panted in the last year.

Yeah, I've not got rid of it altogether. Just added the kind of utilitarian building at the back which has its own little patio, and the functional path leading to this:

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Not postmix, it's shite, 1 bag ballast, 1 shovel cement, mix, ram around post dry with broom handle or similar. For a tiddly decking like yours, concrete in one post, build the frame, level it up with bricks and old crap or whatever, fix to first post, dig other holes and repeat.

Lovely. Easy peasy can do.
Cheers boss man.
One shovel cement per 20kg bag ballast yeh?

We dug up the old lawn and laid new during first lockdown to keep ourselves sane as neither could work. Ideas change only been a year of any planting of anything so hopefully have a better idea end of the summer

Yep, 25kg if you go to Travis Perkins or Jewson, which is a better mix.