Early Work

In all truth we did very little in 2008 in terms of landscaping. We found a gardener who could regularly come and keep the wild grass down especially in the rainy season when it would grow at a rate of about 6 inches a week!

The first task was to secure the perimeter. That all sounds very military but we have wasteland on both sides of the property and the only barrier was 5 strands of rusty barbed wire strung out between concrete posts. As with most of Thailand dogs roam the streets with impunity and our garden had become a favoured communal toilet area. We also had to keep them put in order to protect our five cats. We were advised to put in a wall but the cost was enormously prohibitive so in the end we took the cheap option and installed some cheap bamboo fencing about 4 foot high. We had the barbed wire replaced and put the panels on the inside. The bamboo won’t last forever but for the moment it provides the protection we need.

We also tidied up and planted in the little area in front of the house (pictured.) At some stage a previous occupant had obviously seen the potential of this area and put in a plastic pond but it all looked pretty crap so we ripped it out started again and planted some bushes and a really nice traditional looking palm tree. (tree 17).