new garden - deciding how to start!

A little progress this weekend....

My "muscle" (aka hubby) helped dig the remaining 3 cuts through the old compost heap to set in the dividers - I now have a 4-bay compost heap made out of old internal wooden doors. When I started on the digging yesterday, I realised that the side of the old heap had collapsed onto the boundary chain-link fence. Which runs along the top of a 5 foot retaining wall! We'll get as much of the weight off the fence over the next few weeks, as we can, before the fence gives way.

I also finally got the twisted willow in - hopefully it's not as dead as it looks!

This week I aim to clear a weed-ridden bed, and get the herbs in the ground for the winter. Weather permitting, of course! I'll probably top up the compost in the veg raised bed, at the non-sown end, as it's settled down after the torrential rain of last week.

 

You've certainly been putting your back into the new garden Sian, it must look a whole lot different already, are you taking pictures of the updates to look back on in the future?

Being so late in the year your willow has probably gone into dormancy now until next spring, which isn't a bad thing as it will give it a chance to put it's energy into root spread.

 

I wish it was easier to see the work that's been done. There are a few corners that look better, but at this rate, it's going to take years before I feel that I'm making a difference...

I've cleared some of the weeds off the "herb-bed", but then got distracted by the hedge behind the fruit trees. It's too tall for me to cut the top, as I'd like to, so I will need to get help in. However, when do you cut a mixed conifer/cherry laurel hedge? There are also large patches of dead in it (I've asked for advice in the "trees" forum).

Here's a couple of pictures, first of the compost bins, and 2nd of the willow and budlea above it.
Really pleased with these, especially as they are full of the compost that was made 2 sets of owners ago!!


At the moment, it just looks like a strange planting of lychnis coronaria, with a couple of twigs attached!

 

Seems like everything I start here becomes a little more complicated!

I thought I'd cut back the ivy, pull out the weeds, fork through some compost, and plant some herbs today. But when I loosened the soil ready to add the compost, I found a little (no - a lot!) of rubble.

I think it will be easier to dig over the whole bed before starting to plant, rather than to do it in patches, as I hoped....

 

Sian, don't try to take on to much at once, yes it is going to take years to get the garden as you would like it, but pace yourself. Make yourself a mental or written list of the priorities and work through them, or work on one area at a time. My over all plot size is only 120ft by 60ft and I've been working on that and refurbishing my bungalow over the last eight years I've lived here, outside was as bad as inside and I've had to dig up the whole of my back garden and start anew as it was so neglected. My back garden is almost 'there' but needs a retaining wall against a bank replaced and I've just started on my front garden. Taking your time over it will give you the chance to develop it in your minds eye and then you can work to goals. Don't wear yourself out and get yourself to the point where you dread going out there to start on something. Enjoy your gardening, there's no rush!

Regarding the hedge. The fact that it is mixed, doesn't help with the pruning, but as it is part conifer I would trim/prune in spring only, it will allow for protection from extra growth against the elements during the winter months. Conifers suffer from wind burn and tend not to produce new growth if they have died back.

I had a lot of rubble in my garden and removed it when I dug it up, including a 3 x 3ft cube of solid concrete that had been buried. I think it would be wiser to dig and clear the bed first.

With what you have achieved already, you will see the difference next year at the start of a new season.

 

Just a quick update... We have cleared the scrub that was near the base of the drive....

Underneath the brambles were some ancient rose bushes. An interesting shape, a seven-sided bed! Hopefully Wise Owl will be able to help identify!

 

It'll be interesting to see what comes up later in the year Sian. I dug my first rose bed last autumn and now have nine roses that I'm waiting on to bloom, can't wait! The last time I had roses was twenty years ago, much to long without.

 

lol Sheal, I'm not holding my breath! As you maybe can see, they are old crabby looking plants, that have been severly pruned in the past. But I can't condemn a plant without giving it a chance. That, and I've heard that Wise Owl might send the Boys round...

 

They might be old and crabby looking, but there might be life in them yet! Although roses need a lot of attention, on the whole they are fairly tough and can live for years. Even if you get one single flower this year it'll be a bonus and if it's something you like you can always take cuttings and start new plants from them. Wise Owl will be thrilled you've given them a chance.

 

I'd love to have a garden like this, you must be really chuffed!

I'll be keeping an eye on this for sure.

 

Well, months later, and the saga of my herb bed continues!

I've been working on getting out the rubble, and it is taking a long, long time!
I had this idea of planting a Kilmarnock willow at the back of the bed. Now, I wasn't too worried about the rubble for the herbs, as I know they like good drainage. But I wanted to ensure a good root run for the willow. As ever with this place, it all got a little more complicated!
We have found piles of house bricks, rubble and asbestos. Yesterday evening, we found what could be a cellar! I think we have located the 2nd building on the plot my neighbours were telling me about!

 

Oh dear Sian! When you take on a new house and garden you never know what you're going to find! I've found a few horrors in mine since I moved in eight years ago but not as bad as you've unearthed. Good luck with sorting it out and let us know how it goes.

 

a few months later, and I'm hiding from the heat and humidity. I thought I'd take the opportunity to update you with some photos...

the angle bed, as we now refer to it. A lot of the roses had reverted, but some have come through the neglect. Seem to be some small pink patio rose (see a lot of this in the neighbourhood)


the herb plants still waiting to go into the new bed, once we've finished clearing it....

 

Sorry, the heat is affecting our server and router, as well as the end-user! Yesterday it was 36 degrees, with 60% humidity, which makes doing anything a little difficult.

The last photo attached is the latest progress on the herb bed. As we worked at it, we have uncovered hundreds of handmade bricks, as well as slab concrete, roof tiles, and even a small leather shoe!
We are finally coming to the end of what we now call the "eye bed" (because of its shape). Then all we have to do is level the soil, refill from the white sack next to the bed, and top up with some of our compost.

 

Hi Sian,
You can keep the heat thank you, it would be to much for me! It seems that every area you dig has a mini building site under it, I sympathise, I've had similar issues in my garden. Stick with it though, it will pay off and hopefully you'll have those plants in soon. It's bad enough having to deal with a sandy soil let alone rubble as well to make it drain even more so! Keep up the good work.