Retaining wall planning permission?

Hellofive years ago we moved into our house, the valuers report recommended we replace/repair existing retaining walls at the rear of our property. we did this a year or so later, however, to gain about 24 square meters of garden space we dug out a fair bit of earth/Clay to do this. we also sank a brick built,drain/sewer access to ground level, by about 60cm (we replaced the cover and theres still about the same depth to the sewer floor)The wall we had built its about 6 meters long 1.6m high, it is constructed using overturned trench blocks and brick faced, it also has 3 reinforcement pillars along the front with good founds. Our garden slopes upwards to a house which is roughly 10meters from the retaining wall. at the time the builders said we didn't need any planning approval etc.Just the other day a nosey so'n'so from across the road asked us if we had planning permission - yikes!!Q, did we need it ?Q, assuming the above is true, what will happen if someone reports it?Hel

Answer: 1.
I am in the building consultancy field. Based on your description on the construction of the retaining wall, a professional structural engineer is require to design and submit the design and calculations to the relevant government building agencies for approval.

The wall would require a reinforced concrete foundation and no sewer line shall be allowed to run below the foundation.

I would suggest that you consult a qualified structural engineer and he will review whether the 'As Constructed' works is structurally sound and in accordance with the relevant 'Code of Practice'.

If he finds that the works are unsafe, he will have to design the structures and submit structural plans and calculations to the government building agency for approval.

Assuming that if the engineer upon study the contractor who constructed the structures and wall are in compliance with the 'Code of Practice', he still have to submit the work to obtain approval.

Without his submission and approval obtained from the relevant building authority, the wall that you have constructed is deemed to be an unauthorised work.

If someone will to lodge a report to the relevant authority on your constructed wall without approval and Permit, they would require you to engage a qualified structural engineer to evaluate plans from your contractor and submit for approval.

Another major issue that you need to take note is whether the above wall has been constructed within your plot boundary line. The authority may require you to engage a qualified land surveyor to survey the wall and foundation to ensure that it does not encroach to your neighbour's land.

It's best to engage a structural engineer and land surveyor either through the contractor who constructed the wall or you engage them yourself.
Answer: 2.
I had something similar in our house when we knocked down a wall. We had a structural engineer in to check that we could do it and he came up with plans for the builders, telling them what size steel girder we needed. (think it's girder?!)

When it came to us selling the house we nearly had a heart attack when we heard we should have had planning permission, even though we were told at the time that we didn't!! Anyway, we showed the Solicitors the details we got from the structural engineer and in the end they were more than happy with that.

Hope that helps. Good luck
Answer: 3.
Here in southern Cali, you definately need to have the building department at your local municipality check the design and location of the wall. Sounds like the wall is retaining quite a bit of soil. The loading design for a wall with a slope above it is much higher than one with a level ground above it. You should have had a structural engineer look at sizing the wall and gotten permits for doing what you did. Also, you could have affected the drainage of the slope by changning the sewer elevations. Retaining walls without permits look ok in the beginning until something happens. I would do this as soon as possible.
Answer: 4.
It depends on restriction to other peoples view or concerns with structural integrety .If its not overlooked by anyone then there's no problem.Call your local planning dept for advice.Their not as bad as some people make out .If it did need some form of planning permission you were not to know and it can often be applied for retrospectively.No point in worrying until you have the facts.

What Flower is This?

Last year on Earth Day, Nintendo World gave out these special unlabled flowers in a Pokémon pouch. Now that they are all gone, I would like to buy some more. But, I do not know what they are.Here are the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jirachi127/tags/flowers/

Answer: 1.
yay, Starshadow....

http://www.pflanzenliebe.de/innen/innen_...

this is the only picture I could find with those leaves.... others tend to have a totally different leaf... like here...

http://images.google.com/images?q=Calceo...

if you just like the flower, here's seeds....

http://www.tmseeds.com/product/2437.html
Answer: 2.
Those are illegal, do NOT look at those.
Answer: 3.
sorry they just look like weeds to me.
Answer: 4.
Get a seed catalog and find it in there. The picture you show is far too small to tell.
Answer: 5.
bell flowers...? I don't know. The pictures aren't big enough to tell, unless you're a professional flower gardener or something:)
Answer: 6.
sorry but i have no clue... I will say they are very pretty and would like to know the answer to this one myself
Answer: 7.
I think they are "Sigmatostalix graminea" discribed as tiny plants with bright yellow round flowers.
Answer: 8.
It looks like a perennial, but the pic does not show true bloom, just a yellow blot.
Answer: 9.
Could it be a pocket book plant?
http://www.sunnygardens.com/garden_plant...
Answer: 10.
If I had to guess, I would agree with starshadow and say Calceolaria (pocket book flower, slipper flower...). But it would be a guess and which one? There are over 452 of them!

I'm stumped! I'm puzzled by the glossy foliage, I don't remember seeing a Calceolaria with such glossy leaves, but seeing as there are so many, I haven't seen them all. If you don't get an answer here, I would try posting your picture on GardenWeb. http://www.gardenweb.com/ Click on forums and find "Name That Plant!" to make your posting.

Good luck! Wish I could have helped, I hate being stumped. ;)

EDIT: I've looked more closely at some of my books and internet images....seems closest to Calceolaria mexicana. http://www.backyardgardener.com/seeds/pr...

If you look at the links "meanolmaw" gave you, click on the "images" one and in the bottom row is another picture of it...pretty certain that is the one.
Answer: 11.
Try contacting Nintendo World. I'm sure they can give you the source.

PS..if you go to the first pic the poster has the leaves are not glossy. Maybe they were just wet in the one she/he posted

Anyone have advice/instructions on growing a tree, from seed, indoors, for later transplantation outside?

I am shift manager in a call center. I was trying to come up with a fun Earth Day project for my employees. I would like for all of them to start a tree seedling in their desk that they could later plant outside when it was large enough. There are several obstacles/considerations I need help with since I don’t have much of a green thumb. First thing that is an issue would be size. We don’t have large desks so whatever trees we plant would have to do well in a small planter and be hardy at a smaller size since we couldn’t let them get too large before planting them outside. The second problem is sunlight. We are not near the windows so florescent lighting is all there is. We will also need seeds that would sprout quickly and would survive/thrive once planted outside (FYI, we are in Kansas). I don’t know how long the employees will hold interest in a pot of dirt. I need to know what type(s) of tree seeds would be good for this project and what steps/preparations would be needed

Answer: 1.
Depending on where you are, Oak and/or Maple are the easiest to start from "Seed"

Oak with fresh acorns will seed and sprout on it's own, I pull them all the time from property here in FL.

Maple, in season will have the little helicopter things that fall, and found fresh thay can be planted to root and sprout as well. Here in FL, many seed pod palms will often drop seeds, root and sprout.

A great idea, and certainly one place you can research would be National Arbor agencies, as well as local AG centers.

It might be that a deeper involvement is needed by the folks though. An acorn will root and sprout rapidly in decent conditions, even grow leaves, but would take more than a season to grow large enough to climb, LOL. Forgive that.

Perhaps in doing the research, others can get involved, even intially with other rapid root/sprout projects that would relate to Greening the Planet. It may not be a great example but even flowers from seed or bulbs would contribute, Any vegetables from sed could be fill ins and serve the intent. Corn from seed, pumkin, even beans, etc., as well as even a small baking pan of soil and grass seed, as examples of plant species and growth potential. Certainly some wee index card with info on it could add to whatever is planted, even a picture witha silly caption,,, "This is what I wanna be, when I grow Up."

Certainly a decent potting soil, appropriate watering, drainage, will help. Initially, warmth will also help germinate the seeds, but at some point light, most especially UV light is what the plants use to aid in growth.

Steven Wolf
Just my 2 "sense"
Answer: 2.
What a great idea! Wished I worked for you.I think the fastest growing would be a Nut. I don't know if you have them in Kansas,but in California,I find them growing in my yard. Brought in by birds,or the wind. I always save little trees I find in the yard,that shouldn't be there. (not the right place for them I mean) I have growing, from an acorn a Oak.Coastal Oak. It is really slow growing. I also have a Pecan,and a Black Walnut, a Gum Tree( very fast growing) I also have some palm trees (very fast also) .Two Maple Trees,an Avocado,and one California Redwood that blew into my sisters yard. That really grew fast at first,but has since slowed down. Every thing is in flower pots. I think maybe the Nut Tree might be the best for you. You can buy nuts from the market,and start them. I would use some grow bulbs along with your fluorescent,and make sure you have a small fan. Plants need circulation with the air.Do you have Pine Trees there? They might do good also. What ever you get,soak the seeds overnight in warm water before planting.You can also buy some Rooting Compound and put your seeds in that to help them along. These are some names of lighting sources , General Electric Company, Shoplight Company, Sylvania Electric Products, Westinghouse Electric Corporation. You can look for different kinds of growing light bulbs and tubes. Byee,good luck!

how can i catch lots of earthworms?

well not a LOT.. i need about 30. i used to turn over rocks and bricks around my house. I get like 5 a day. Or if it rains they come up... i heard that some dude used like a car battery, attatched positive side to one pole and stuck it in the ground. Then he got another pole and stuck it in the ground. He used alligator clips and touched the poles. + on one pole and - on the other pole. THe poles were few meters apart and he said thats supposed to make a 'sonic boom' and earth worms come out like crazy.. is that true? should i try that? will i die in an embarassing way? how else can i catch earth worms?

Answer: 1.
I think that is true but I wouldn't do that because it would be to dangerous.
Look for some ground high is organic mater and you will find the worms.
Maybe you should start a worm farm. Lot's of organic mater, you can even use news paper, Keep it moist and the worms will come to you with a little time.
Answer: 2.
Dig for them in a nice soft spot of soil, not dry soil mind, good fertile soil. Takes me about 15 min to get 30 to 40 worms for fishing
Answer: 3.
second the motin from mr 'crash' but do it in the early morning at the shaded moist humus soil
Answer: 4.
A couple of things you can try: Water. Flooding an area (where they are present) will make them rise to avoid drowning. Another trick is to pound rythymically on the ground itself. Hitting a stake with a hammer works, but this requires patience. But it will work.
I cannot speak of the battery idea but I can tell you that observing the soil type carefully will reveal much about where to look.
Peace out
Answer: 5.
No sonic boom involved, is actually an electrical field being generated which is obviously quite uncomfortable for the worms, if the speed at which they get out of Dodge is any indication. I used similar equipment in my younger days using probes attached directly to 110v house current. Worked like a hot damn...at least until my dad caught me!

The vibration scenario mentioned previously works too. Rather than hitting a stake or the ground with a hammer, you can try letting a small gas power saw or weed eater sit in place and idle away. The rhythmic firing of the little engine at low throttle works surprisingly well.
Answer: 6.
First of all, i want to tell you that a 12 volt battery will not kill you!!! 110 volt yes, but not 12v!! Hose an area of good soil at night with a good soaking and the worms will come up. Why not make a worm box and store them when it rains?? Then you can sell some and make some $$$What do you do with the worms, fish or eat them??Just wondered!! I hear there good dipped in chocolate!!And fried too!
Answer: 7.
what we do here in Mississippi is --go out in the woods --where hard wood trees are growing--rake back the leaves---and get all the night crawlers we want in a few minutes----p s we use em to fish with--hey the battery deal will work--if there s any worms there--and it s not dangerous--12 volts wont hurt you--it s not a sonic boom the electricity generated shock s the worms and they are trying to get away from it--we used to catch fish the same way except it was more power full-- we used an old crank type phone to shock the fish---if u can find one--it s work on worm s also--
Answer: 8.
Dig up an area then put down a thick layer of newspaper and soak it through. It simulates that "leaves in the woods" thing. They like to hang out in that area between dirt and paper.

What is a Cat Safe way to deal with ants?

We have an ant problem. Scrubbing the house top to bottom every other day. dusting with diatomacious earth all seem to lessen the problem, but not rid us of it. We cannot use traditional poisons or sprays as one of the cats eats ants.another issue is that my neighbor has turned her front yard into a makeshift landfill. Which is if not the cause of the issue, certainly exasperating it. We have called the city however she has a month to clean it up. We need some relief, from the ants, they are everywhere.

Answer: 1.
Is there a way you and your cats can stay at somebody's house for a day or two? I'd suggest bug bombing.. of course you can't be there when they bug bomb it, and your animals can't either. So that's the only issue.

If that isn't an option, here are a few non-toxic and natural ways to attempt to get rid of them:

1) Baby Powder. Sprinkle it ON the ants and around where they are coming from. Also try sprinkling it around your cats dish, as they might be coming in for your cat's food.

2) Vinegar. Fill a squirt bottle with any white vinegar and squirt it anywhere you've seen ants..

3) Cinnamon. Same as the other two.. sprinkle on the ants and where they travel.

4) Black pepper.

5) Spray bottle with equal parts Windex and Ivory Soap.

6) Pepperint.. place cottonballs soaked in peppermint extracts or just some kind of mint smell all around your house. This works with mice/rats, too.. Good for basements.

7) Finally.. the silliest one.. I have never tried this myself but I've heard it a couple times.. I've heart that ants won't cross chalk lines. Find where they are coming from and draw a line. I guess it's worth a shot.

Hopefully one of these will work.
Answer: 2.
I suggest burrying the neighbours under their makeshift landfill.

A few I've heard of are garlic, vinegar and citronella.

You can actually buy garlic juice pest control but why not try crushing numerous bulbs of garlic, adding to water in a spray bottle and off ya go!

Or...put vinegar in a spray bottle and spray....

Or...buy some citronella essential oil, add to spray bottle, top with water...spray.

All are pet friendly and known to be hated smells of all wee beasties!
Answer: 3.
Diatomaceous earth, available at home improvement and garden centers, is a non-toxic, safe substance made up from crushed fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life. Crushed to a fine powder and observed through a microscope, the particles resemble bits of broken glass. Deadly to any insect and completely harmless to animals, fish, fowl or food. Most insects have a waxy outer shell covering their bodies. Diatomaceous earth products scratch through this shell causing the insect to dehydrate leading to eventual death.
Answer: 4.
corn starch - they eat it by cannot digest it so will die - this will take 2-3 weeks to kill all the ants

borax mixed with sugar.. they eat the sugar - the borax kills them

MINT - plant to deter ants

or take it in stride that the ants value their life as much as you..
Answer: 5.
Spray camphor powder to every corner.Please don't forget to inform me about the result you get.
Answer: 6.
Use diluted vinegar mix every where you see ants. The vinegar destroys the chemical trail left by the ants to find there way around.

I have also found that ants do not like flea spray either...the kind that is safe to put directly on cats...not an instant kill but hey, what ever works....I used the flea spray then wiped up the excess and then wiped down area with vinegar mix.
Answer: 7.
kennels...pet stores..veterinary clinics are treated every day with "traditional poisons or sprays"...follow the label or hire a pro ...your pets will be fine.

Cleaning the house and even spreading around toxins be it diatamaceous earth or "traditional poisons or sprays" will be only attacking the foragers which may be 3% of the colony. You need to know what type of ant you are dealing with...are they sugar feeders or protein feeders...are they ground nesting, arboreal nesting or structure nesting. If you can locate the nest getting rid of that first would be step one.

For the homeowner using a bait may help most and you can easily apply it out of the way of your pets if desired. If you hire a pro he has liquids that will attack the nest as baits rather than just killing the foragers.
Answer: 8.
I know that for a limited problem ant houses work for me pretty well. I have a small problem around my kitchen sink each spring. The ants are attracted to the bait which is inside the house. Sounds like your problem is much larger. Luck with neighbor.
Answer: 9.
If you are looking for safe then you may want to discontinue your use of Diatomaceous earth. It may be Organic, but that does not make it safe. Inhaling the dust causes chronic lung problems. Most wise pest control companies have discontinued its use. See Safety Considerations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceou...

You are better off going with EcoSmart if you are going to go organic. http://www.pestprojoe.com/product.php?pr...

But the best solution, and most likely less toxic because the comparative amount needed to control the problem will be found by identifying your ant first: http://www.pestprojoe.com/home.php?catid...

If you are unable to identify the ant then just go with the generic MaxForce Ant Gel or Bait.