An insight to the daily life of a garden design and landscaping build up on a rear garden located in Cullompton, Exeter, Devon.

Day 10

View previous day here

Coffee.

Electric ducting installed

Electric ducting installation

The trench depth for the 60mm diameter black ribbed duct is hand dug at 300mm, I still have an additional 100mm of consolidated sub base to install bringing the overall depth to the required 400mm.

This particular ducting product comes with a draw cord inserted within the duct, as a rule of thumb I would tie two pieces of timber at each end of the ducting so not to loose the cord, then cover with plastic to stop debris falling in the duct, then the appropriate colour code tape is wrapped around the end of the ducting.

However, on this occasion I insert all the electric cable for the project with a meter spare at each end.  The pre installed draw cord is left in the duct in-case additional cables or a later replacement may be required.

Sub base back fill

Sub base back fill

The ducting is backfilled with the 40mm to dust to a level of 150mm from finish floor level, FFL,  and consolidated.

Electrical warning tape installed 

Electrical warning tape installed

The trench is semi backfilled to the required level of 150mm below FFL and the ducting is marked with electrical warning tape.

Once the entire ducting has been taped the trench is filled and consolidated in 100mm layers, compacted until the required height of fill is reached.

Ducting trench compaction

Ducting trench compaction

No my team member isn't about to run the wacker plate over the mixer cable, the mixer is unplugged before three passes on each layer is consolidated, all our trenches or any back fill is built up in 75-100mm layers and compacted, the seven perimeter raised black limestone planters with up lighters have been left open for the later looping of the electrical cable.

Recess's wall brickwork

Recess wall brick work

The brick work is installed to the rear of the two recess walls, six courses are required for each wall. I run five courses at present and will finish the last course of brickwork once the mortar has gone off, making the final course so much easier to lay.

Friday clean down

Friday clean down

I rarely see any of my clients past or present whilst I'm building their dream garden, so I try to put myself in their position.

Each Friday evening the team will carry out what's known as our "Friday clean down", I know that all my clients will walk onto the project together over the weekend and view what's been created throughout the week and visualise together the finished landscaped garden, so the site is left as tidy and safe as possible, windows, sills are washed of dust and all components to the garden build up are stowed away.

Landscaping feature walling

Landscaping feature walling

I'm unable to complete the walling as I await my final lintel, I'm assured this will be with me by Monday, shame really as I would have liked the walling to be going off over the weekend.

Tomorrows blog:

Garden water reflection pond preparation

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Open forum activity

Jason Bibiloni replied to Dougie's discussion Looking for a new roller machine
"I use a mountfield roller now as the bigger mowers were killing my back .Last one I got was about £420 from bq ,I keep them for about 18 months to 2 years and then get another new one when on offer and then sell the old one for about £120 "
5 hours ago
Sam Bainbridge replied to Gerty's discussion Sloping kerb detail.
"You'll still.need planning for altering size of entrance to driveway also an approved contractor with correct paperwork is meant to be used but they charge 5k just for doing the public carriageway so I'd just do it and hope for the best, or you can…"
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Replay Maintenance has continued to expand its natural turf operations with the appointment of experienced turf professional Ben Hodson as Business Development Support.Ben joins the company with almost a decade of experience in the sports turf…
Thursday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
At Airdrie Golf Club, Course Manager Jordan Cameron has taken a clear, back-to-basics approach to turf management, and with the support of Agrovista Amenity and growth regulator Attraxor®, the results are speaking for themselves.Jordan joined the…
Thursday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
GroundsFest Academy welcomed grounds professionals from across the industry for its latest CPD-accredited event, Preparing Surfaces for Sports, held at Plymouth Football Club’s Home Park Stadium. Delivered in partnership with leading industry…
Wednesday
Ian Harvey replied to Gerty's discussion Sloping kerb detail.
"Looking at the photo, the area nearest the camera shows the kerb almost level with the driveway. Could you not make access to the new parking from that end, leaving the raised kerb as it is further along? Regarding planning, if the driveway is…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Echo DHCA 2600 HD
"Have ordered the Echo DHCAS 2600 HD this is the slightly shorter version than the DHCA but a similar length to the Stihl HL92 CE comes in at 5.3kg with 2.5ah battery, had to buy blind as could not find one to try . Will report back as to what I…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Graham Mitchell's discussion Selling your business/Customer base
"Graham, yes I have more or less completed the sale of my primarily commercial grounds maintenance business albeit with a few domestic customers. Established for over 40 years. Not something I plamned at this time but ill health has forced my hand.…"
Tuesday
Sam Bainbridge replied to Gerty's discussion Sloping kerb detail.
"Easiest way is remove current kerb then concrete yourselves so you can form the new kerb in whatever manner you want then your sloped drive could be laid at the same time as the kerb but remember to get a firm mix or it will just run away down the…"
Monday
Graham Mitchell posted a discussion
We are contemplating selling our business and or Customer base and just wondering if anyone has had experience in doing so, what can and can't I sell, how it can be done. And what sort of price we might be able to ask for it. We have over 150…
Monday
Billybop replied to Andrew Coates's discussion Hadn’t prepared for this
"Definitely Graham..... domestic gardens I have a couple of lawns that are fixed price and 1 hedge job where the client wanted a quote (so they got a fairly high price quoted). All the other work the customers already know and trust me that I will be…"
Jul 3
Graham Taylor replied to Andrew Coates's discussion Hadn’t prepared for this
"I'm not so sure you're right saying  "Most guys in the trade charge by the job"  All the gardeners I know including myself charge by the hour for domestic gardens. Commercial stuff.... definitely charge by the job. "
Jul 3
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Redexim has strengthened its dealer network with the appointment of Jenkins Garden Machinery, bringing the company's renowned range of turf maintenance equipment to customers across South West Wales.Based in Carmarthenshire, Jenkins Garden Machinery…
Jul 3
carl pannett is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
Jul 2
Billybop replied to Andrew Coates's discussion Hadn’t prepared for this
"Charging by the hour is fine (solicitors etc do it) but it has to be a realistic amount. ie quite a lot.  If you are experienced and with high end equipment that enables you to do the job quickly to a high standard"
Jul 1
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Echo DHCA 2600 HD
"Prob is sold all my kit with the business and hedges are desperate now"
Jul 1
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