Pyracantha espalier
Nothing is easier to train into an espalier form than the Fire Thorn (Pyracantha). If you want to get in some practise before launching into espalier apples and pears, then this is a good way to start. An espalier is …
HowTo
Cedar Singles #5 Treating and staining a cedar shingle roof
In this post I will show you how I gave my old cedar roof shingles a new lease of life using a preservative and water-repellant stain treatment.
Cedar Singles #4 How to remove and replace shingles
In this post I am going to show you how cedar shingles can be replaced using only basic DIY tools and a bit of understanding of how cedar shingles are fixed.
Cedar shingles #3
Identifying and preventing damage
As I learned the hard way, cedar shingle roofs can deteriorate prematurely. Here are the problems to watch out for and the maintenance needed to get the best out of them.
Cedar shingles #2 How to clean and restore them
After seventeen years of neglect my shingle roof needed a thorough clean. Here are the techniques that worked for me.
Cedar shingles #1
Weathering, maintenance & longevity
In the first post in this series I look at how cedar shingle roofs have weathered in my garden over 15+ years, and how maintenance could extend their useful life much further.
How to grow onions — for beginners
Onions are a great crop. Along with carrots and potatoes, they are one of the main crops that beginners should try. Why? Because they are relatively easy and can actually replace a significant amount of your annual supermarket onion purchase. …
Hard Pruning Lavender
How hard should you prune lavender after it has finished flowering? Lavenders benefit from annual pruning immediately after flowering to help them remain compact, dense and shapely. If you prefer to let them run riot, au naturel, they will become …
How to make trellis panels
Three examples of sturdy, long-lasting, DIY trellis panels TRADITIONALLY, trellis is any open framework used to partition areas of a garden or support climbing plants. In principle trellis — which comes from the latin for “arbor” or “summer house” — …
Using Trellis Panels in Fences
Trellis Panels in the top section of this 2m fence improve the look, adding texture and visual interest. I used trellis panels to reduce the visual impact of the 2m fence that runs along one side of my garden. The …