Making use of Oustide space - an Outdoor Studio

The area of garden behind our garage has always really been wasted space however on really hot days , yes I am anticipating some, it is the nicest coolest place in the garden. It is rectangular in shape, laid to lawn and looking from the back of the garage is bordered to the left by the house wall and conservatory and to the right our garden fence over which is Geoffs front door and the side of his house.

The area along this fence has always been pretty dire and nothing really ever grows not even the grass mostly because underneath are drain covers,pipes and lots of rubble.

So this is the area for my outdoor studio.

Phase 1 - sorry no photos but here is a quick sketch

We cleared an area along the fence a metre wide and built a frame from gravel boards. Killed the remaining grass off and put down landscaping fabric then topped this off with some bales of bark, The end nearest the garden gate will store the bin and recycle bin and will have a trellis panel across for my Trachelospermum Jasminoides to grow.

Phase 2 - extend the border

Today i used the lawn edger to re cut the border so that it ended in line with the barked area it had been narrower before. I lifted all the plants that had been here so that I could bring them forward.
I moved a circular slab which had been on the lawn and moved it to the back of the border to stand my vine on. Bill has gone sailing so I helped myself to the spirit level and tape measure from the garage so that I could line everything up and get the slab level.

 Here I have positioned the Grapevine and already I think its looking better. Grabbed some pots and trays and put the plants in them as a temporary way of positioning them prior to planting.

Phase 3 the finished area.

Well all my plants are back in and as I have said on the video below the only plant amongst these that I have purchased is Heuchera Lime Marmalade all the others were grown from cuttings or self seeded in the garden. At the start you can see my studio and please forgive the state of that poor clematis growing up the conservatory it needs a little bit of tlc potbound I'm afraid.

Veggie June

I am ashamed to see how long it is since I updated my Gardening Blog it must be because ....I have been Gardening

So here are my potatoes. I anticipate the earlies will be ready soon they are to the left and are Charlotte.

My tomatoes have fruit on them I moved a couple outside the greenhouse. I am feeding them but they are suddenly looking less lush and green than they did before my holiday not sure of the answer to this they are being fed 

My Peppers too are growing but not looking wonderful just have to see how they go its only my second attempt at Peppers

The Cucumbers and one of the tomatoes in the greenhouse. More of the yellowing that appeared in just a week when I went on holiday. Again I am pumping feed into them. I have so far had 5 mini-cucumbers off these plants

This is my lovely raised vegetable bed packed full of beetroot,carrots,lettuce and cucumbers. Also peas which are another story.