my garden needs much more than a plan I think!

Hi folks,
As promised in my "re-introduction" post, here are some pictures of my manicured green sward (NOT!!!)
I know that they are shocking to the great, green and good gardeners among you, but all advice is welcome.
The garden is a city one and faces south/southeast. The decked area has the sun most of the day.
It's got good soil, which is acidic and neither too sandy or clay-ey.
When we moved in it was a mass of neglect, bushes and brambles.
At the moment, it is clearly a playground and drying area, but I'm going to reclaim the area where the trampoline is now (it's getting moved further back)
I'm thinking of putting up a 4ft fence part way across the garden to divide it into different areas. I'm thinking either trellis and posts or picket fence, with a pergola type structure as the "gate" I've got some nice honeysuckles and clematis to give some height .
What do you think?
Linda






Thanking you in advance

 

Hi Linda,
I think that's a good idea, to separate the garden with a screen, and put the trampoline etc behind it. The children might like their own hidden space. I have the same situation, not only with my own washing line and son's slide, but other not-very-beautiful such structures in all the neighbours' gardens. Please post some pictures of whatever you do, and I'll be thinking of ideas too!

 

Good luck Linda trying to keep the kids down their end just watch out for stray footballs etc. because things are bound to come into play on 'Mum's side' of the fence.:hehe:Hel.xxx.

 

Great aspect, it could be fab - I would deffo cover all the fencing with climbers and it looks like you are already having plenty of pots on the patio, the sunny aspect will be great for summer bedding plants and will really brighten it up this year.

 

Hello again.
Got a start made today.
Here are some pix.
I would like to keep going but youngest DD has earache with incipient perforation and it's also starting to snow a little.
I am utterly freezing!!




I'll keep you posted, I'll soon be planting.
I will post up list of what's going in!
Linda

 

Well done! look forward to the updates

 

Hi Linda

Two suggestions for you to consider.

1. Sell the children.

2. Build a cage and keep the children in there until they are old enough for national service.

I am only kidding, honest. One of my best mates has a young lad of three. He is so full of energy it is quite scarey. Smashing kid but on the go non stop soon as he wakes up.

What my mate has done is section off a part of his garden with a three foot high slatted fence. So the lad is not completely hidden from view when he is outside. Even at three years old, he has soon cottoned on to the fact that Dad says that part is his to play in.

Right at the back of the garden my mate has his Koi pond. That section has a gate with a childproof latch. (The pond is deep so safety is a priority). He also has a small veg plot in this section.

The section of garden nearest the house is lawn and flower beds. The decking area has a table and chairs with lots of pots and containers. The garden is very neat and has clearly defined sections. It works well without looking like seperate gardens.

Things like footballs going astray is just one of those things that you have to accept will happen. Good luck with it.

Regards

Chopper.

 

I managed to get some stuff started today whilst the gang were at their respective schools. Easter hols start tomorrow!!
What do you think 0)



And here is a couple of shots of one of my "helpers" As you can see it was lovely weather this afternoon.



Getting chilly now, I've just put the new babies to bed :-)
We are all going to Haggerston Castle tomorrow so next update will be next Tuesday.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Linda

 

Great stuff!

 

Pots are sprouting away.
What do I do next??
I've always bought or been given plug plants or cuttings, so getting a bit panicky here...
Apart from the giant sunflower seedlings, they all look so fragile and tiny.
I did go to the library but lots of the gardening books are out already!!

More planting next week (shrubs etc)
Linda

 

Hi Linda what you really need sweetie is a cold frame nothing flash something you could knock up in a couple of hours out of anything you may have or could get hold of quite cheaply. A wooden frame with a glass or plastic frame for the top or maybe just out of breeze blocks with an old window frame on top which you can just take down and remove when no longer need like PeterS does each year.

If you are able to get a cold frame it will allow your seedlings to grow on without becoming long, leggy or bending towards the light. Don't get me wrong you will still be able to get good plants doing things the way you are but you just might lose a few along the way and don't forget if your plants/pots are on the ground pop some slug pellets on them because the slugs sure do love young seedlings!

Good luck and happy growing you're doing fine.Hel.xxx.

 

Here's my latest update pix.
I will look at Lidls, they recently had an inexpensive cold frame, although I worry about the glass getting broken (I've trained my own children to be reasonably careful, but their friends are awful and don't seem to know thr meaning of the words no and stop that!

I hope this post goes through all right this time!! (see other "annoyed" post)
Linda

 

I've not been on for a while,...too busy digging :-)
Trellis and mini pergola are up, clematis and honeysuckle are in, rhodos, pieris and azaleas are pending.
My mini veg plot is planted and interspersed with marigolds, row of sunflowers are in but have been got at already.
I've been on a nocturnal mollusc massacre already (and there will be many more)
I'm going to shove bedding plants in the gaps and create a raised bed in front garden for the lavenders.
I've got the little fruit trees I bought either in pots or a sort of nursery bed, will they be okay there for more than a few weeks, they seem to be doing okay as they are flowering and I didn't expect that.
Here are some recent pix.

Linda