Yeah butt; no butt...

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Growster...

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Yeah butt; no butt...
« on: May 22, 2019, 06:48 »
As part of the Turrets Regeneration Instigation Pretext Examination, (T.R.I.P.E), your amiable and occasionally confused Growster has undertaken a survey and repair of all the down pipes which have rainwater-saving devices.

Having started all this a week or so ago, I re-routed the two main 25gal tanks on one important pipe, and successfully made a new platform for them, so they can work in tandem. All was fine until it rained the other day, and neither filled up, as the 'saver' bit didn't save anything because the small pipe was blocked with the grape-nuts flying off the huge yew tree behind us in the churchyard...

That took a total redesign of the down pipe, as it is a dog's breakfast to undo and clean out, but at least I can now do it without bad language!

So, with all that, I thought that I should really look at the other two.

Same problem with the second one, which had the same muck clogging the top by the swan-neck, so that got cleared. Moving shakily down the ladder to inspect the actual saver, it only took a few seconds to undo, and leap back as a whole pipe-ful of water deluged all over the place. Small pipe blocked as well? Yup..:0[ Sorted now.

But here's a pic of the last one! There's been a huge Easter Rose growing here for ages, and it attacks us every time we pass it, especially when it's wet, so we decided to hook it out while I rearranged the last water butt and saver.

The butt was nearly empty for the same reason as the other two, and a second drenching occurred, similar to the others but with less patience and a big 'OH'! (liar). On removing the whole lot, here's the reason why! The Easter Rose had decided to go pipe-exploring, and the roots here were in the section of pipe alongside, so there's no wonder that the whole lot was a total shambles! You can see what all this has done to the wall, but luckily nothing structural has happened, and it'll all weather away in no time, but what a palaver!

T.R.I.P.E. continues later today while we decide what to do with the new piece of ground to plant up. I think a few sunflowers will help for this year, and then I can give some TLC to Mrs Growster's gorgeous 'Casino' yellow rose, which can now really get going to!
DSCN8808.JPG

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mumofstig

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2019, 09:47 »
Its amazing where roots will go in search of water, isn't it?
I'm glad you survived the process, if the bed there is permanently dry perhaps choose something to suit the conditions?

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8doubles

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2019, 10:32 »
One needs to be so careful what one plants by soakaways and drains !
A winter Jasmine cost me half a days digging , rodding and flushing before the rainwater could go anywhere !

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mrs bouquet

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2019, 11:22 »
Go on Growster, I bet the air was "blue" all around your gardens and house, and you living next to the Church  :ohmy:
Birds in cages do not sing  -  They are crying.

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Growster...

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2019, 18:47 »
Thanks All!

Today had to be used up with other issues, but the plans are forming as we speak...

Mrs Growster has opened negotiations with a bid for a 'President' clematis, and she's absolutely right - it would fit beautifully here! I can rearrange the 'Casino' and give it some new life, as well as rejuvenate the soil around which hasn't really had a seeing-to for forty years, apart from a few dribbles of fertiliser, and not much else!

We may well keep that long tangle of roots elsewhere, and grow something up it, as it really is the sort of thing that Chelsea Flower Show inhabitants wouldn't even have dreamed about (especially as it's not ugly grey concrete blocks and idiot water 'features'), and what could be more appropriate to warn off the squillions of new Easter Rose roots just rubbing their hands, and saying 'we'll be back'...

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grinling

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2019, 21:27 »
It might not be a good idea to plant where a soakaway is/was. Your previous plant may have distrupted the soakaway and hence you might need to put a new one in.

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Growster...

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2019, 21:55 »
It might not be a good idea to plant where a soakaway is/was. Your previous plant may have distrupted the soakaway and hence you might need to put a new one in.

Good point!

Soakaways were the big thing when 'The Turrets' was built. They're now certainly full of tree roots etc., so I'll rearrange as a normal builder might do, make it easier for the place to survive a recalictrant plant trying to tell me what to do! I'm in charge here!

When my dad built his house in the fifties, he popped in a soakaway a few yards from the house. When it really rained (remember those days), the turf used to bulge up like some swelling obelisk, and then break into a fountain of splurging rainwater!

(I had a really old bike then - it's probably still there, buried in the bricks, concrete lumps etc)!

'The Turrets' survives on old ways - never fear!


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grinling

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2019, 20:06 »
we have soakaways here for the septic tank and some of the drainpipes, which looking at the huge puddles form on the boundary, that is where they drain to.

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Goosegirl

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2019, 14:12 »
Roots are like hosepipes. They're there for a purpose but they will trip you up as soon as you look at them and then mutter something I can't possibly say on this forum. Get it all out and start again. GG is saying this from a recent experience when she went to water some pots one recent evening. She's not a daft whotsit so the hose was duly un-entangled from the other one that goes into the goose pen's bath. All was fine until the hose as per usual decided to be just that little bit short for me to water the next pot in line. Having given it a good talking to and extricated it from trying to make some sort of love with my lavender pots I continued on my merry way. At that time of night I just wanted to go to bed so whatever unseen thing that was stopping it from doing its job I started to lose the will to live so I gave it a big tug. Obviously this particular and strangely enamoured hose resented my intrusion into its nocturnal devotions because it suddenly let go with a gurgling laugh. I ended up falling on my right rib cage onto our little garden wall. Next day I spent over seven hours in A&E and have learnt my lesson. Forget hoses and just fill your water butts up because they are far more forgiving.
I work very hard so don't expect me to think as well.

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Growster...

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #9 on: May 27, 2019, 19:16 »
Grinling, it's a good thing they're on the boundary, that way it's a problem halved..;0)

Goosey, hoses have a mind of their own (unless they are extremely expensive, which I suppose is another view on life in general...)

I'm sorry to read about your ribcage; I can sympathise as bad language at any kink I get when I water 'The Turrets', can wither the nearest church-goer in a trice!

Goose-pen? I learned years ago that a 'roffey', was a deer pen, so you may have an alternative for your honking chums!

Glad you're better though, life's too short to let a hose muck it all up!

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jezza

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2019, 19:14 »
Hello just a slight deviation have you informed your local water authority that you have soak always and water butts they can reduce your sewage bill our water authority knock £60.00 a year off our bill because we proved that the surface water and sewage went different ways   jezza

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Growster...

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2019, 20:41 »
Good point Jezza!

Luckily, as we have our own mechanical poo-pit on our own land, built to current specs, we don't pay them a penny for sewage.

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Goosegirl

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2019, 17:33 »
Baa baa Growster.
You are never dull!
Are the pipes now working?
Three butts full?

I've got one for the garden, one for the mutt,
And one to adulterate my brews in the hut.



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Growster...

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #13 on: July 16, 2019, 05:24 »
Goosey: -

Your poetry leaves me askance,
(Bereft of the chance of a dance),
I'll make do with a tincture from France,
While I ponder the state of the plants.

The butts are well full to the top,
The sunflowers, toms never stop,
Requiring a regular drop,
Know the feeling, so there I must stop...

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ches

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Re: Yeah butt; no butt...
« Reply #14 on: July 16, 2019, 09:43 »
This has probably been my favourite thread to read on the forum so far! Growster you have a way with words!
Ches


 

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