hello from NW Leics

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by MrsK, Apr 19, 2014.

  1. MrsK

    MrsK Gardener

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2014
    Messages:
    177
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Mercia
    Ratings:
    +123
    I'm not native born and know little about gardening here. Where I came from, soil is mostly sand, rain is torrential, and temperatures are either hot or sweltering for most of the year. OH wants a garden but he doesn't have time so it's mostly down to me. For a while we had someone come in and get things into better shape, and I watched him surreptitiously through a chink in the curtains and learned a few useful things before he went on indefinite leave for back surgery. It's down to me again and I'm keen to do what's needed.

    Front garden is a crude gravel bed that needs redesigning and relining. I weed it and that's fine for now.

    Back garden is no longer a mess but has needed a total rethink since we bought the house. The amount of concrete both above and below ground is something I find burdensome. After success with herbs on kitchen windowsill, I have grown some veg outdoors but still sit near bottom of the learning curve. Choice of landscape plants is also a work in progress, as we saw different plants come up every year for a while -- things are more settled now.

    There is so much gardening lore available online, but specific questions are hard to get answered that way. I need to ask real people. Nice to meet you all. I see photos must be 800x600 so I'll resize some and upload them.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Ellen

      Ellen Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jun 20, 2013
      Messages:
      2,562
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      Volunteer at Cats Protection
      Location:
      Bakewell
      Ratings:
      +1,984
      Welcome to the forum! :)
      Where are you originally from
      MrsK?
       
    • MrsK

      MrsK Gardener

      Joined:
      Apr 19, 2014
      Messages:
      177
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      Mercia
      Ratings:
      +123
      GC1.jpg GC2.jpg GC3.jpg GC4.jpg GC1.jpg GC2.jpg GC3.jpg GC4.jpg GC1.jpg GC2.jpg GC3.jpg GC4.jpg
      Modest veg patch and two water butts visible behind crumbling garage. Back of garden is approximately south. Veg patch is on east side. Found a really cool soil map at British Geological Survey and don't know how to interpret it. Encounter many stones, some natural and others obviously from a garden centre, in the soil -- along with discouraging amounts of what I was taught to call 'Quikrete.' Was so stoked to find a YouTube video demonstrating how to break up big chunks of buried concrete with a jackhammer. It lets me know it's not only my garden where this occurs. Recently found out that incorporating stones in soil helps drainage, so maybe some of it was both deliberate and well-intended.

      According to google, I am originally from 28.4158° N, 81.2989° W, but I'm sure that's not exactly correct. Anyway, Orlando.
       
      • Like Like x 4
      • Fern4

        Fern4 Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jan 30, 2013
        Messages:
        16,335
        Gender:
        Female
        Occupation:
        The gardener of the house!
        Location:
        Liverpool
        Ratings:
        +7,491
        Hi MrsK.....welcome to GC :sign0016:
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • **Yvonne**

          **Yvonne** Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jun 24, 2012
          Messages:
          1,024
          Gender:
          Female
          Ratings:
          +2,347
          Hello! I hope you find all the help you need here! :)
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • clueless1

            clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

            Joined:
            Jan 8, 2008
            Messages:
            17,778
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Here
            Ratings:
            +19,598
            Hello and welcome @MrsK:)

            Your garden is impressive. As for soil, I wouldn't get too hung up on type, as long as stuff grows and the whole thing drains freely enough etc. The soil at the huge tree is likely to be quite depleted, with little structure and few nutrients, as the tree will have had it all away. A few sacks of mushroom compost or well rotted manure forked into the surface will sort that out though.

            If it was my garden, probably the first thing I'd change, and I hope you don't mind me saying, is I'd get rid of the straight line path across the lawn. The easiest way to make a big garden look small is to run a straight line path down the middle, as it draws the eye immediately to the end of the garden, given the illusion that its small. The converse is also true. If you have a small garden, and you route the path all over the place, it gives the illusion of being a large garden:)

            Of course it all depends on the look you're going for. If formal is your cup of tea, then straight lines and perfect circles/crescents etc is the way to go.
             
            • Agree Agree x 1
            • Marley Farley

              Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

              Joined:
              May 11, 2005
              Messages:
              30,588
              Occupation:
              Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
              Location:
              Under the Edge Zone 8b
              Ratings:
              +14,127
              [​IMG] Mrs K.. Looks like you are going to be busy, but you will get all the help you need here.. Look forward to seeing you around..
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • ARMANDII

                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

                Joined:
                Jan 12, 2019
                Messages:
                48,096
                Gender:
                Male
                Ratings:
                +100,845
                Welcome to Gardeners Corner, MrsK:thumbsup::snork:
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • MrsK

                  MrsK Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Apr 19, 2014
                  Messages:
                  177
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Location:
                  Mercia
                  Ratings:
                  +123
                  @clueless1, thanks for the very kind compliment and I agree 100% with your assessment of the garden plan. Have wanted to make the whole thing less rigid and fiddly, introduce some gentle curves, etc. but first had to replace fence (new fence is shown) and then consider whether (1) to expand veg plot - still might do, and (2) to keep chickens - postponed indefinitely.

                  Spent the last few beautiful sunny afternoons scouring moss off of all that hardstanding. <-- Is that the right word? Our temporary gardener mercifully relieved the big tree's roots of additional slabs and (genuinely) crazy paving, to add topsoil and some plants. Soil around trunk is very weak, as you say.

                  Pathway of rotated square slabs has redeeming functionality: it runs parallel to the washing line, or I would've had them out. In heavy rain, the ones nearest the back are under water.

                  I have so many questions.
                   
                  • Like Like x 3
                  • Sheal

                    Sheal Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Feb 2, 2011
                    Messages:
                    36,354
                    Gender:
                    Female
                    Location:
                    Dingwall, Ross-shire
                    Ratings:
                    +55,321
                    Welcome to GC MrsK. :) You're amongst friendly and helpful gardeners here and all willing to answer your questions.
                     
                    • Like Like x 1
                    • Adendoll

                      Adendoll Super Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Apr 17, 2014
                      Messages:
                      813
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Occupation:
                      Homemaker
                      Location:
                      Greater Manchester
                      Ratings:
                      +1,308
                      Welcome Mrs K!
                      I like curved patio spot by the house - It looks the perfect place to enjoy a cuppa in the mornings!
                       
                      • Like Like x 1
                      • Hairy Gardener

                        Hairy Gardener Official Ass. (as given by Shiney)

                        Joined:
                        Aug 14, 2013
                        Messages:
                        1,395
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Official Ass.
                        Location:
                        Northampton
                        Ratings:
                        +1,468
                        Hello and welcome. You will like it here.:spinning:
                         
                        • Like Like x 2
                        • MrsK

                          MrsK Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Apr 19, 2014
                          Messages:
                          177
                          Gender:
                          Female
                          Location:
                          Mercia
                          Ratings:
                          +123
                          :ThankYou:Cheers, all -- such a lovely welcome.

                          @Adendoll , it is indeed a fine spot for a cuppa, and for setting up the loungers in the sun -- sheltered from the wind. If I had my druthers I'd rebuild it to be all on ground level. Why the previous owner raised it up halfway between the levels of the house and lawn is a mystery to me. That nice curved wall spans only the top half. :noidea:
                           
                          • Like Like x 1
                          • Ian Taylor

                            Ian Taylor Total Gardener

                            Joined:
                            Nov 1, 2013
                            Messages:
                            2,228
                            Gender:
                            Male
                            Occupation:
                            Maintenance Manager, Oddfellows on the Park.
                            Location:
                            Cheadle Hulme
                            Ratings:
                            +2,751
                            Welcome MrsK, what a great size to your garden.
                            Mrs Taylor is from Orlando, Orange County.
                             
                            • Like Like x 1
                            • Madahhlia

                              Madahhlia Total Gardener

                              Joined:
                              Mar 19, 2007
                              Messages:
                              3,678
                              Gender:
                              Female
                              Location:
                              Suburban paradise
                              Ratings:
                              +3,090
                              Welcome to the forum Mrs K. Great garden - I reckon you can grow whatever you want in there, plenty of space. Where are you in NW Leics?
                               
                              • Like Like x 1
                              Loading...

                              Share This Page

                              1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                                By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                                Dismiss Notice