Phil Birss Gardens

27/05/2026

The lesser-spotted Wirral Newt. Apparently very rare now and found healthy and happy on a patio job we're doing in sunny Greasby.

22/05/2026

Garden Forget-Me-Not. Roaming on a quiet Oxton path.

20/05/2026

Australian Daisy spilling from sandstone walls. Oxton.

18/05/2026

Monsoon season for our house plants.

17/05/2026

Giant Viper's Bugloss. Stunning

15/05/2026

Decking job in Bidston. Work in progress.

19/05/2025

Pallet planters. A new addition to my garden this year. 🌷

Step 1 - Find a pallet. Mine where leftover from a delivery of stone, but you can sometime get them from builders yards (free if you ask nicely), or there is a pallet place in Birkenhead North (although not tried it yet).

Step 2 - Build your planting areas. I used some old fence panel which were left over from another job to build the planting boxes. Secure the pallet in position. I hung mine off my shed to to shield off the kids sand pit.

Step 3 - Tanalise the pallet. Coat the pallet in paint or treatment to protect it from the elements.

Step 4 - Fill the planting areas (base and walls) with hanging basket liner (any garden centre). Trim and fit, to suit shape/size.

Step 5 - Fill the panting areas with good quality compost and some plant food (pellets), ready for planting.

Step 6 - Plant a mixture of standing, semi-trailing and full-trailing plants, plus maybe some evergreen ivy to give interest during the winter months. Water well for the first few weeks until established.

Job done. 👍

19/05/2025

Rotten decking repair job in Bidston. 🧐

The existing deck was 15+ years ago and some parts were starting to show their age.

First, we removed the pieces that were rotten-through and replaced with all-new decking (to match).

Then we repaired some of the structural wood underneath, which were also rotting too.

Finally, we jetwashed, wire brushed and sanded, and finished the whole deck with x3 coats of Ronseal weather-proof paint.

Job done.👍

18/05/2025

A few people have asked me for a before and after picture of our garden... so here it is. 😃

The previous owners obviously enjoyed the garden, but it would be fair to say it had grown a little tired, so we decided to re-design it and bring it back to life. 🌳

More designs and pictures to follow. 👍

13/05/2025