Overgrown lumpy garden no back access woes.

beastman · 15 May 2009

Hiya gardeners!!
Just a little question I wonder if you could help me with:

I recently bought a house that has a a nightmare back garden; all overgrown and lumpety bumpety (all 100 ft of it). The bumps and pits are very large and there is concrete toward the top. Also I have no back access so can't get a digger in.

I was told by a friend to kill the lot chemicaly, break out the concrete and hire a small rotavotor (that will come through the house) to start all over again.

I have two questions: Do you think this is the best way of doing things and has anyone else had a similar experience I could draw from?

Thanks for your time, Tony.

dextrous · 15 May 2009

Certainly getting a clean canvas is a good idea if you can, but not sure about chemicals. Think it's probably best to section it up and deal with one section a year for the next few years. That way you can learn and improve through you experience, doing each section properly, and stand some chance of enjoying part of the garden, whilst giving yourself opportunities to design and finance each section carefully.

ColJack · 15 May 2009

I take it there is no side access either then if you have to get the rotivator through the house?

terraced?

by law there should be an alleyway of some sorts for fire escape reasons if you can't go out the front door.. could you not get a minidigger through there?

through the neighbours gardens if it's not too far?

crane one over the roof? ok that last one was getting silly...

beastman · 16 May 2009

ColJack said:
I take it there is no side access either then if you have to get the rotivator through the house?

terraced?

by law there should be an alleyway of some sorts for fire escape reasons if you can't go out the front door.. could you not get a minidigger through there?

through the neighbours gardens if it's not too far?

crane one over the roof? ok that last one was getting silly...

It's an ex-council property with not access to the rear garden any other way than through the house. There are several million of these types of property in the country, not sure where we all stand legally if what you say it true!!

Thanks for the reply though.

Can i Rotivate withouth killing the area. For example use a brush cutter to chop it short and then turn it all over?

ColJack · 16 May 2009

how wide are your doors, and is the route to the back garden straight?

you can get minidiggers 750mm wide that fit through gates or doors...

http://central-plant-hire.co.uk/three-quarter-ton-kubota-K008-3-Mini-Digger.htm

contadino · 17 May 2009

ColJack said:
how wide are your doors, and is the route to the back garden straight?

you can get minidiggers 750mm wide that fit through gates or doors...

http://central-plant-hire.co.uk/three-quarter-ton-kubota-K008-3-Mini-Digger.htm

If there's significant rubble or patches of cement in the soil, this is by far the best solution.

If not, strim it all with a brushcutter, then rotavate.

beastman · 17 May 2009

Thanks for the advice guys. There is no way a digger will get through the house. My best hope is a rotivator. However I have heard through the grapevine that it is comparable in price to have a rotivator and a man for the day than just hiring a rotivator for the day.
This sounds a little far fetched to me! Anyone else heard this?

ColJack · 17 May 2009

if he's got his own rotivator then you don't have to pay to hire it, you pay the guy for his labour, so sounds about right..

go down the dole queue and coller a few of the less "long termer" looking ones and see if they wanna make a quick couple of bucks..?

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Overgrown lumpy garden no back access woes.

dextrous

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