Clueless in Italy

Hi all
i'm new to the world of gardening. We have a little plot of land, here in Italy, which i would like to convert to something that resembles a garden. At the moment it pretty baron and overgrown with weeds. My Italian wife loves that traditional English cottage garden look, whatever that is, so that's what i'm aiming for.
I started my first attempts at gardening this year by planting hedges on the border of the garden to enclose it and give us some privacy. It was hard work as we are digging into very dense clay, i'm actually surprised anything can grow in it. I've been watching a lot of Youtube videos on soil preparation before planting. There seems to be a lot to learn. I've planted a few other things such as climbing roses and various plants that i've never heard of. Some have died but, touch wood, alot seem to be doing okay.
I hope that i can pick up some tips here and maybe share some of my experiences as my garden progresses. In Italy gardening is not as popular as in the UK, so it's pretty difficult trying to get advice from people.
Cheers
John

 

Welcome to GC John...sounds like you've made a good start with the Roses...Enjoy having a browse around you'll like it here

 

Welcome John

 

Where in Italy are you? I believe the climate can vary quite a lot from one end to the other.

 

Yes you're right, it varies a lot from north to south which can also affect which plants to grow and fruit and veg. We are on the outskirts of Bologna, which is half way between the north and middle. The climate is extreme heat in the summer with very little rain to cold in the winter reaching -10 C. I'm sure that a lot of the hedges that i planted will be affected by the frost, when it arrives

 

Sounds perfect - not
A couple of seasons growing annuals with spring and autumn spent digging the beds over adding sand, gravel and horse manure I reckon.
Digitalis? There are quite a few perennial species from the Adriatic, Med and Turkey that may fit in with what you're after.

 

welcome

 

Welcome John. You'll get lots of great advice here. I think you'd be more affected by the very little rain more than the colder temperatures so access to a good watering system is a must for the summer months. Are you sure plants have actually died or maybe they've just 'died back' after their growing season? Would be good if you could post some pics of your plot then we could see what you've done and make some suggestions of what else could be planted and where? (OK I'm nosy and love looking at other people's gardens but it would also help, too)

 

Good evening JohnD,
to GARDENERS CORNER. Lots of info, and good advice here. But we do love pictures and I hope you can show us the garden you are creating in Bologna. We are blessed here in the UK with an ample supply of Garden Centres and local Nurseries. Is it easy to buy garden plants in Bologna?
Jenny namaste

 

Hello JohnD, I've got many of the same problems here in SW France, including the temperature extremes and the clay! Try to find a local source of manure while you're making as much garden compost as you can. It's possible to create a sort of 'English garden' effect using drought-resistant plants. Cistus, Thymes, Pittosporum, Geranium sanguineum, Stachys, Artemisia etc.....as long as the drainage of the soil is improved, they all thrive. Don't make the same mistake that I made in planting shade-loving plants before you've got some shade trees established Looking forward to seeing some photos in due course.....

 

If you want to source cottage garden type plants and need any links to sites that deliver to EU countries let me know, I've managed to find a few now..

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner John.

 

Thanks all for the warm welcome and advice.

Hi Eve thanks for the advice, the dry summers are something we are particularly wary of. I have rigged up drip feed irrigation lines and source my water from a canal at the bottom of the garden via a submersible pump. I usually run it for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening every day. I found that if i mulch over exposed soil, it will retain moisture instead of evaporating.
Yes some of the plants and hedges died off. They withered and are now dried up little sticks in the ground. I have left them there and they receive watering like the other plants. I will replace them next spring. I will post pictures soon, don't expect much as it still looks very baron

Hi Jenny, there are a few good garden centers which are pretty local. They seemed to have a nice selection of trees and flowers which have a strong scent which is lovely in the summer time as they fill the air with various aromas.

Thanks Noisette for the plant suggestions

 

Welcome GC.