Smufters Garden Progress

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Rob. We do like to see a project in progress and you're doing a grand job there.

 

Again, thank you for your kind words folks. And Perki, your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated. Will take on all you say/suggest and will take our time deciding which way we want to go...thanks especially for the warning on the roses!! Wife loves Clematis, so will definitely have a look at the different varieties available.
The timber should be here either today or tomorrow to tidy up the woodwork around the "tiers". I'm doing it mainly to stop the loose earth falling down on to the chippings, but when it's done it will also give the impression that tiers one and two are in fact raised beds. Hopefully it will have the desired effect.
I've ordered a couple of dwarf fruit trees to go on the patio in pots. One apple, one plum (I love plums!!)
Managed to pick up a couple of really nice, large pots yesterday from our local garden centre, beautiful shade of green and were a bit of a bargain 'cos they had a sale on!
The plum tree will definitely stay on the patio, but if it takes off well, the apple could find it's way into tier two or three. We'll just have to wait and see, as you say, these things take time!
I like the idea of an Acer, I love Acers. We had one a few years ago, but it didn't work out. Like most of the stuff in the garden it got neglected, but we are determined not to let that happen this time.
Am going to start work on the biggest section next week. I'm keen to get on with it, but Sam (my wife) put a lot of weedkiller on there the other day (which is working!) as it was covered in nettles, bindweed and brambles. I want to let that die back properly before digging it over.
Will update with more pics as we go along, but again... thank you for your comments and suggestions. They are much appreciated.
Sam has also registered as a member on here, so no doubt she'll be along soon to tell you what a lazy so and so I really am!!

 

I don't know if anyone can help or whether this is actually the right section of the forum to ask?
One of our neighbours has a beautiful shrub that sits higher than our fence. It is the most gorgeous shade of blue imaginable. I've asked her what it is, but she cannot remember. One of her Son's planted it for her when she first moved in, and she doesn't see him anymore to ask. My wife thinks it's a Californian Lilac but having read a little about them, it says they are a mainly ground covering plant. As I say this one must be about eight feet tall? Is there something else I should be looking for please? I have attached a picture for confirmation of what it is.
Many thanks
Rob (and Sam)

 

It's a Ceonothus, sometimes known as a Californian Lilac. There's a few to choose from too.

I recommend the site below. Their plants are very good and packaged well. Taylors also give you all the information you need about Clematis on the site.

Taylors Clematis

 

Thanks for the confirmation Sheal, much appreciated.
And I've bookmarked the linked website. Very informative and a great selection.
Lots to think about!
Have a good day

 

Thank you Shiney

 

Hi Rob



Welcome to Gardeners Corner

What a gorgeous site you have there.
Keep up the good work . Can't wait to see what you do to it.

It would be good if you kept this thread going with new photos to show the transformation.

 

Thanks for the welcome and I will post some more piccies up next week once we get on with sorting the top tier. Looking forward to getting that finally done as it will tidy up the look of the garden no end.
Just a bit of general tinkering planned this week-end, as long as my timber arrives. Sam is also going to make a start on trying to tidy up our excuse for a" lawn". Going to hit it first with some iron sulphate to try to sort out the moss problem.
Also been visiting various websites to get an idea of shrubs and plants etc. taking Perkie's suggestions into account.
Like the idea of a couple of Clematis for the back fence, and I also like the idea of a Judas tree, but they look like they grow quite big, maybe too big.
But we're going to be taking our time as it will be a while before the top tier is ready for planting........
Thanks again for the kind words.
Rob

Oh I forgot! These little fellas turned up yesterday too. Just deciding whether to put them into tier two or save them for the new border we are going to have down the left hand side.

 

Well, my timber arrived, so I have managed that little job okay. Also checked the Ph of the soil at various points around the garden and it's coming out around 6.5 - 7.00 which I understand is good?
Bearing in mind that at sometime in the future we plan on adding a couple of Azalea's in one area, is it worthwhile trying to get the soil in that spot a little more acidic, and if so what's the best way to go please??
Thanks
Rob

 

Taking advantage of the better weather this morning, up early starting to create a new border on the left hand side. Lots of digging to do as plenty of brambles and bindweed to get out but shouldn't be too difficult as the soil there is lovely and very easy to dig over.

Edit. Got a fair bit of the border done yesterday, but it was harder work than I thought! Some of those brambles were the devils own job to remove. My back and shoulders ache lol! Will hopefully get it finished today/tomorrow.

 

Just an update on how things are going. I have finally finished the border and bed down the left hand side. Just got to do a final tidy up tomorrow as it's just started raining here now, thank god!!
The bed itself was the devils own job with two quite decent sized tree stumps to remove, loads of bindweed and the whole area was littered with buried broken glass. I would guess the previous owners had either a windowed shed or a small greenhouse judging by the amount there. As I say, a general tidy and straighten up planned for the next day or two. I am taking it a bit easy because I am not used to hard work and am absolutely exhausted. Hope you like it, and it will look a lot better when our neighbours replace their fence. Can you spot the wifes new spinner???

 

A belated 'Hello' and....





......from me too @Smufter

 

It's looking good Rob.