�We offer a reliable, quality garden service for both domestic and commercial clients.�

 
We are happy to provide a free estimate and undertake large or small jobs. If you're looking for a reliable garden contractor, contact us now.

Regular grass and hedge cutting, large and small jobs undertaken

Patio work - Paving work

Turfing

Decking

Fencing - Fences treated and repaired

General garden maintenance

Planting - trees, shrubs, plants

Rough garden clearance

Gravel and bark supplied and laid

Old paths removed, new ones laid

Borders created and maintained

Garden makeovers and advice

Regular or one off visits

All work considered

Fencing Help

When erecting a new fence, you can do more than endless coats of preservative or creosote can ever do to prolong its life.

Bracing and securing the fence so that it can't rock adds more than anything to its longevity. All fences usually go at the posts eventually. If they're wooden, they rot, and if they're metal they rust. Painting a fence has an aesthetic effect, but I doubt it has ever added a day to the life of the fence.

Fence posts should be dug about 2 feet into the ground - I know it's a pain, many times I�ve been digging in posts for fence panels, pergola, or arch and been tempted to cut off the last 6 inches or so to save more digging into hard ground. But as you go downwards, console yourself that the next 6 inches are more effective than any of the other 6 inches above it - and what's another 10-15 minutes in the whole life of the fence? As the soil gets harder break it up with the prongs of a fork, or even a crowbar before digging it out.

You may have no choice but to dig with an ordinary garden spade, bear in mind that the size of the hole you make is a little too large to be ideal for a fence post surrounded by concrete. I usually make the concrete go further by hunting around the garden for old half-bricks, large stones, broken tiles or any other similar "hardcore" that can be thrown into the posthole before pouring the concrete. If you have them a posthole digger or trench shovel are better

Before I start any kind of job where posts are dug into the ground I soak the ends in creosote. An old seaside bucket suffices, but a 3-litre drinks bottle with the top cut off would probably do the same job. Put the post in propped up out of the way somewhere, then fill it up with creosote. Modern water based alternatives just don't do the same job. I cover the top with loosely placed cling film to stop evaporation and smells and put it at the back of the garage or somewhere out of the way. Soak each one for at least 24 hours into the end grain, as you take one out place the post upside down so that the excess preservative soaks in rather than drips on the floor.

You could use "postfix" - rapid drying cement to fix the posts in place or ordinary concrete that you mix up in a ratio of:

4 parts builders sand: 4 parts pea gravel:1 part cement

Whichever you use though, brace the posts and panels with scrap timber nailed partially into the posts and then hammered in the soil for support. Place the first two posts and then the panel that fits between them (use brackets or obliquely inserted 2" (50mm) galvanized nails). I don't concrete in until all of the posts and panels that I am going to position that day are in place. If you're still working as the cement is setting, you could end up loosening the joint between cement and the post ending up with a cone of non-attachment.

If you do leave the job over a number of days, try to leave more than one day before you start again to allow the cement from the last posts to set properly before you start putting stresses on it, 24 hours isn't enough really.

The fence should erected "dry" with panels nailed in place and posts supported by bracing. The concrete then sets it all in place, remove bracing at least two days after leaving to dry, longer in cold weather.

Fence-spikes? - Well if you must, but they're no match for a properly concreted in post and I think they look ugly too - so don't use for pergolas, arbours etc.

Gardening Quotes

Sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.
William Shakespeare

I have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I work in the garden.
John Erskine

A vision without a task is but a dream,
a task without a vision is drudgery,
a vision and a task
is the hope of the world.
Found on a wall in a Church is Sussex, England, circa 1730

Well done is better than well said.
Benjamin Franklin

The best insurance policy for tomorrow is to make
the most productive use of today.

It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.
Confucius

 Let no one be deluded that a knowledge of the path can
substitute for putting one foot in front of the other.
M. C. Richards

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