Dealing with Rocky soil?

Hi there,

I've not long bought my first house, and its the first property I've lived at in around 14 years that has had a garden (Since I moved out of the parents place!).

I've not really touched the garden since moving, other than to clean up debris left when a neighbours tree fell in it last December.. now the weather is turning a bit, I've been looking at starting doing some work out there. The garden is south facing up in the North west of England and has trees (From Google I'd guess are Cypress trees) all around 15 feet on the southern edge, but despite this the middle and house gets a fair
bit of light.

I have a little patch at the side of the house, which long term plans would be for a Catio space, however currently its very rocky soil and has 3 smaller trees (can see 2 of the trunks in the picture - Hopefully the attachment worked), there is a much larger tree in the neighbours garden which has grown out above the 3 trees in question which does limit light in the afternoon to this area. I've raked around the ground and did a little digging to see if its just surface rock, or rocky throughout and after about a foot I hit some quite large and solid rocks..

What would the best method be to get some grass / cat grass growing in this area?
I've debated removing the trees on this side as they seem fairly "pointless" due to the much larger tree behind them. Then with the rocky soil, is it best to dig down and remove as much rock as possible, then use some topsoil mixed throughout or is there a better way?

Another partially related (grass) question, overall the garden is fairly bumpy, and when it rains it just pools up in these sections rather than running off towards the south of the garden (where it slopes down to), is there a simple way to get these leveled out? would it just be dig out a bit, fill with top soil then get some grass seed in?

Sorry to waffle a bit but thought more information may be better than less?

 

Could a catio be a playspace for the cat?, not met this before.
Grass may be problematic as the area appears shaded; the removal of the treetops would allow light in and possibly allow the cat natural scratching posts or a platform.
If natural grass is attempted, then only worry about shingle/stones on the surface(dangerous if mown !). Maybe you could buy turf as it is a small area, this would give you topsoil and grass and a layer above any stones in an instant easylaid cover. Then perhaps plant in tubs/pots/planters, cat friendly herbs and flowers.

www.cats.org.uk/cats-blog/11-tips-for-creating-a-cat-friendly-garden

 

Thank you and sorry! I managed to miss the upload a file button and just saw the attach image one.

@infradig - Yes that's the one! A secured outdoor space for the cat, I've been looking at some cat safe plants to go down, before Is start with it all I just want to get rid of the rocks and mud as when it rains it turns a bit boggy. If I was to go with turf in that section, I'm guessing it'd be a remove surface rocks, rake the ground up a bit to help the turf bed in to the soil below?

@JWK - I have debated removing the three trees from my side of the property line, as mentioned on the neighbours side of the fence is a much taller conifer tree that has grown out over the top of these which I'd guesstimate "my" trees at around 12 - 15 feet in height). Which I feel makes the cover they give as a bit redundant if I'm honest. The fence panels I'm looking to replace as some are damaged (as seen in the image) as per the deed are my responsibility. Where I'd then look to do a "Venetian" style on my side maybe with a bit of trellis above to take it up to 6 feet.

However with trees close behind the other side of the fence, I'm sure that would still making growing anything in this area (and alongside the fence line) tricky? As long term plans would be in the far corner (not seen in the image) to build a raised bed to grow some herbs / vegetables etc in. Or would the fact its a raised bed not impact it too much as long as I get the right soil / nutrient mix?

 

I think that with the trees there you will always have a bit of a problem growing grass in that spot, but some topsoil and turves should help. So should your suggestions for the bumpy bits.

So long as there is enough sun then a raised bed filled with topsoil and compost should be fine for growing vegetables and herbs. Just keep it moist for the veg.

 

I don't think grass will survive there, have you thought about a clover lawn?

 

And if you want to give some greenery for the cat to much on, I'd recommend some wheat that is sold by seed companies for sprouting uses for humans, usually organic and if sown in a shallow tray they can be ready to be eaten in 15 days...my cat loves it.

 

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind.

I have thought about clover lawns, however the downside to that location is that clover and cats doesn't mix. While it doesn't have to explicitly be grass there I'd just want something better for her than mud & rocks sort of thing.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for something like that