I am so disorganised and rubbish gardener

Save the pond project for later, I think you need to get in there with a strimmer, it looks a lovely size, you can make it fantastic. once you get the grass down, bit at a time , take @"M"s advice. Work away from the house is my suggestion so you are clearing away from you and you can see progress.

 

We live on Anglesey. I didn't actually remove the turf. The builders dumped a load of infill and rubble from the old patio, so I decided to add another 4 tons of soil Why I decided to do that is a complete mystery to me - especially as the builders were going to come back and remove what they had dumped. I think I have an overactive imagination and allowed it full rein .

I have already planted 2 Hydrangeas, a Lavender and several Hebes, but didn't think through the planting, so they need to come out and then when I have gotten rid of all the weeds maybe I can look at it and get an idea of where stuff should go. I want to get more Lavender ( just because I like it ) and maybe put the Hebes somewhere else. Should I put in more Hydrangeas at the back where the other 2 are and then put the Lavender in front? What else can I use? One thing I need to bear in mind is the strong winds and salt laden air we have here. I'm wondering if the Hydrangeas might be such a good idea now as they are exposed on that bank??

If anyone has any pics they can share that would be fab

 

I think I am going to try and concentrate on that bank plus the mess I've made in the back garden ( the dry stone wall ) before I attempt the front garden. I wouldn't want to strim it now anyway because of all the wildlife, plus there is quite a lot of stuff in the grass that needs picking up first, building rubble, logs, etc.

I have some rockery stones and gravel that I was going to use on the bank - simply because I don't want to be weeding all the time not because I have a particular liking for gravel. Having said that I do think gravel can look quite good when enhanced by the right kind of plants.

 

Don't want to be a spoilsport but weeds will be more than thrilled to grow in your rockery stones and gravel. You just need to pull them out before they get a firm hold,
Jenny

 

I've now managed to clear the bank of most of the weeds - what fun that was I have been given a large, cast iron, roll top bath and a small belfast sink. So, I'm considering using the bath and sink as features, sort of a garden within a garden. I looked at pics online of old baths used as flower planters and was surprised at how good they can be made to look. I need some inspiration for plants as not really sure what to use, for the bath and directly into the bank. Anyone got any suggestions please?

 

You can pick more or less what you like, don't forget to include some trailers and some tall ones for height.

Lavender, Hydrangeas and Hebes are a good start. Remember that the hydrangea will eventually get pretty big, if suited, also the hebe, depending on the variety, so space them out and tend to put taller things at the back.

I would be keen on putting a collection of mints in the bath with maybe a trailing mint over the edge. If you are planning to do it this week, I would sow plenty of nasturtiums in between everything, nice and cheap with the hope of a late summer/autumn display from them and will fill in any gaps you need to leave between the plants.

There about a thousand plants that would be suitable but I would give precedence to stuff like geraniums, heleniums, rudbeckias, echinacea, sedums, salvias, monarda, phlox, poppies and many more.

If in doubt, see what grows well in your neighbours' gardens, you might be able to get a few freebies if you smile nicely!

 

Thanks for the advice

I keep staring at the bank, the more I stare the more confused I get - maybe I'm easily confused! I've never attempted planting a large space such as this before. I really did want Hydrangeas but was told on here that they would not survive on the bank. It catches the prevailing winds, has no shade and no protection from the awful Anglesey winters - they are GRIM! I had already bought 3 Hydrangeas and don't have anywhere to put them now Was thinking now of dwarf Buddleia at the back of the bank. Would they work? Been told on here that they are quite hardy and the one I have in a pot on the patio is doing ok, but is sheltered a little there.

I doubt I will be planting anything this week, I need to paint the base of the bath first and purchase all the plants. Only have one neighbour and he just has grass, no plants or shrubs at all. We have a couple of garden centres on the island, reasonably good choices in both but the prices are a bit salty. Debating whether to order stuff online. Tried it once before and was rather disappointed, although the prices were very competitive.

 

South West Wales is awash with hydrangeas - is the climate so very different in Anglesey? In fact they seem to thrive anywhere in the UK and are pretty hardy. It is dryness that they hate and there is usually not much of that in Wales. If you really think wind will be a problem could you provide a screen until they get established? It is very windy in Pembs also but hydrangeas thrive, Scotland as well.

Go to your nearest village. Do you see hydrangeas growing there? I will be amazed if you do not!

You've got them now anyway, so plant them. Buddleia is also fine.

 

Anglesey seems to have a weather sysyem all of its own We get extremes of weather but when its nice ( like now ) its the most wonderful place to live There are several Hydrangeas planted into the garden, large mature specimens. They had been neglected,so I cut out all the dead wood and fed them liquid seaweed and they are looking really good now. They are all planted in sheltered places though. I will go ahead and plant them out and see what happens.

Truthfully I have not noticed how many gardens have Hydrangeas in as I drive around the island - but that is a very good suggestion and I will make a point to look. None of the gardens along my lane seem to have them, but from what I can observe it doesn't look as if the owners of said gardens are really in to gardening. Most just have a few shrubby things and grass or gravel.

 

I'm a little more upbeat about it now, although my mood fluctuates from day to day, depending on how many other things I have to do as well as gardening. There's just so much of it and only me to do it. Sometimes I think I might just disappear into the jungle out front and never reappear

I'm trying to concentrate on the bank of earth and get that finished before Summer is over. Although by concentrating on just one thing means that other stuff is getting left. I have started painting the sides of the old bath, it will be completed today, but I will have to wait until weekend to lift it into place as hubby is working away. Haven't bought any flowers yet or compost. I'm assuming that I will be needing a lot of compost - lol!

T+M were the people I was disappointed with.

 

Lucky you! would love an old bath..do have a belfast sink, which is attached to my back fence and planted up with Hostas and grows beautifully every year, thriving on neglect..also have a toilet which is new this year and planted with a hardy (I hope) fuschia.

Sink:

(Fence has now been painted in Lavender Cuprinol Garden Shades).

Toilet:

We are just starting out too, made a lot of mistakes, not getting very far at times, but trying to stay positive and think long term, so don't give up!

 

Your toilet will look cool once the Fuschia flowers I'm sure. I'm looking on for one myself. I really like the idea of using something other than flower pots to plant flowers in. I have been given a bathroom sink and intend to plant that as well. I looked online and found some very interesting pics of bathroom sinks as flower pots.

I bought some plants for the bath today. Wasn't sure what to buy so ended buying more than I probably need It simply did not occur to me ( until after I had purchased the plants ) to take some of the plants from my conventional pots and use them

 

We had a sink too, but not a bath..they actually came from our own bathroom being redone..we wanted to keep the sink, but could not figure out how to attach it to the fence, so it went..the whole street is being refurbished eventually so I've been promised a lot of toilets..I like it (and it is flowering now)..it makes me happy when I look at it! We also have an old fashioned water spout - you know the things you used to drink out of at school? need to get that put up somewhere too, it's just finding the right place. I love the idea of repurposing stuff..it'll never be show garden neat, but it makes my heart skip a beat, which surely is what it's all about (I hope!).