My Garden Build thread

Not sure if this is something done on this forum or not, but thought I would start a thread documenting my Garden build. It should be noted I've never had a garden before in my life and this is the first gardening I've done in 3 decades since I was 9 helping my mum!

Its a new build, so this is what I started out with - its about 18m x 12m in size:



But the wildlife is good ....

Xmas morning, this fella was the other side of our fence - I think Santa left him:



Front garden gets some wildlife too...



First thing I did was put down a little test turf to see if it would take. Now, I'm an impulsive sort so what had started out as a plan do just put in a couple of strips turned into 100m2 ....



Oh - and a Clematis at the top with the intention of covering the wall over the years....

Next up - tried my hand at a bit of a flower bed down the left hand side.




Started to get obsessed with it all so laid turf at the top half of the garden --- unfortunately the turf was pretty poor quality (I've another thread on this in the Lawns section) but is being sorted if my patience will hold!



Then started to put in some edging to tidy up the corner and top. You will notice that the right hand side is untouched --- still awaiting getting some fencing up before I can do anything there :(

 

Absolutely that is what is *done* on this forum (we do love pictures and an ongoing development saga )

You have worked hard and it is really beginning to take shape; well done!

Just a note regarding your clematis against the rear fence: it is expecting an awful lot of just one plant to provide cover over such a large area. Plus, while the clematis will make a good show during Spring/Summer, it is still going to leave your fence looking bare during the winter. Perhaps consider an evergreen to go with it (and possibly a few more climbers to go with it )

Great progress so far - I'll be watching this with interest as it develops

 

I think the biggest part of the saga so far is the arguments from the missus about why I'm spending all weekends in the garden

I've now got a couple more things against that wall too - as well as a bench going in the middle - as this is what gets the sun by the time I get home from work... it will be my post work beer bench Thinking of getting an arch and trying to grow over the top of the bench .....

 

Oh an arch over the bench and covered with fragrant climbers is just the ticket for a post work beer bench

As for your dear lady - perhaps you can convince her your time in the garden is very worthwhile because you are creating a haven where you can both relax (might have to share your beer though )

 

Christmas dinner

Sunday lunch

Next time she pops just tell her you've got to find something to do whilst she's cooking, cleaning and ironing


It's a good size for a new build. Lots of potential. What direction does it face?

 

I'm doing the cooking & cleaning etc --- as we have an 8 week old It was actually whilst on my paternity leave that I decided to get stuck into the garden

Its south facing and catches the sun through the whole day. It seems to be a bit of an oven actually - the other day the forecast said it was 16 degree's but it was easily hot enough to sunbathe Of course, being in Scotland, so long as its not actually raining we tend to consider that tropical and get our shirts off....

 

So she was sat on her ass all day whilst you worked your butt off during your holiday

How much sun does the bank get? It looks like an opportunity to do something very different depending on sunlight.

 

And yet when I said that to her she punched me in the face!

It gets full sun from around 11am through to sunset. I've started what I term my tropical corner with a few palms (with some solar spot lights in the mix - and a water feature going in this weekend)

 

I was wondering if a succulent and/or wall might interest you? @kindredspirit might have a few ideas on that.

 

Quick update on the weekends work. Back left corner now fully barked (???) and added a terrecotta water feature in amongst the palms. Spot lights as well as "path" lights all in place too. Up the back its been deweeded and a base put down with my beer bench. Again, "path" lights and spots installed.

 

Next update!

Finally got the fence up on the right hand side so I can start "playing" with that area too now.

Dug up the ferns and added in a few inches of gravel to help drainage - the gravel was left over from the fence post holes (we have a drainage ditch filled with gravel running right across all our gardens).



Then started on the right hand side. Finished off the bordering, added bark, added a couple of planters of flowers and a barrel solar water feature.



The general idea is that the left is going to be palms/Mediterranean style, moving round the back into bamboo's->clamatis->beer bench->clamatis->sunflowers (coming along nicely)->"English" style garden.

Well - that's the plan anyway......