Gardening Aspirations For 2018

This year:

Create new border in the back garden - thinking about planting some fruit trees;

Sort out the front garden - make it bigger by getting rid of some driveway - install a low picket fence (home made not bought) - install a pathway to the front door (thinking stepping stones to match the rear patio) and then planting up. I'll post up some piccies as work progresses.

We've decided on a low fence - so that people walking past can enjoy the display and to prevent tea leaves from sheltering behind a high fence/hedge .

 

What a good idea - these might be useful for my front garden project

 

While I was reading about solar powered stones I also read about creating your own. All you need to do is to paint over a stencil using glow in the dark paint.

Home made stones and hand painted designs could be quite effective.



G.

I wanted to link to Sandy’s thread but I didn’t know how to.

 

@ARMANDII thanks for the information . I was going to make the Bog garden in front of the pond and at the foot end. However, when I started digging the first 3 shovels full contained worms, several in each shovel and lots of baby worms. I very carefully picked them out and relocated them. Then I realised there was just too many. So, I decided it would be prudent to leave the wormies in peace. I have just added some top soil and compost to that area now so I can still plant there. Not sure where I can put the Bog garden now. Maybe off to the side a bit, but will still have the same problem with disturbing worms. Later on, I made a start on digging out weeds and grass next to the boundary wall ready for planting hedging and again the earth was full of worms, so I think I will have to adopt the no dig approach here too.

 

Today I saw agapanthus roots (or However they come) in a packet in the bulb section of my local garden centre. I was wondering whether they would grow in front of my hedge. In the summer they would be in the sun virtually all day. I currently have the bed marked out for the lamium plants. I could replace a couple of the nettles with a couple of agapanthus.

Fully grown agapanthus plants are quite expensive. It would be nice if I could start my own.

G.

 

Clematis 'Taiga (PBR)' - clematis (group 3)

Does anyone have any experience of this?I was looking at passiflora but this seems hardier and easier to control. Any thoughts?

G.

 

Buy Rose Climbng Waltz-Time | J Parker Dutch Bulbs

This looks intetesting

G.

 

Passion flower is suckering. This means it will throw up suckers where you least expect them and may not even want them! A glorious piece of work, for sure! But, those suckers can pop up metres away from the parent plant and can, just "might", be a booger to get rid of: just saying!

 

Today I had a look around a small local nursery I hadn’t visited before. They had a couple of flamingo trees in stock. They look in good condition and stand approx 6ft high. That’s roughly the size I would prefer it to stay. The tree costs £24.99. From the same place I can also get a large plastic tub (approx 18” across) for £10. I was told that those trees wouldn’t be replaced once sold. I don’t know why that should be the case. I’m not sure but I think I might have to take the plunge.

G.

 

How hardy is abutilon megapotamicum? Would it survive average winters in an outdoor container against a wall?

G.

 

Solanum album ...the white form....is an excellent vigorous climber that flowers for months. Easy to control and semi evergreen....evergreen down here. Poisonous? I think it may be but prob no more than most everything we grow in our gardens. Children need to be educated about this. If we grew everything potentially toxic we would grow very little. (If a child sees us pick and cook rhubarb how does it know we should not eat the leaves???)
(I am more concerned about yuccas and other needle sharp plants that will take an eye out in a "blink of an eye".....none of these in my garden )
No need to be nervous of planting climbers. They cover fences and walls, provide privacy and cover for birds and animate the garden. I am currently planting climbers in a new build ....the first things to plant there I think.
The classiest climber in my opinion is trachelospermum......not too vigorous, evergreen and scented white flowers. A lovely thing
Climbers like scented honeysuckle....there are some evergreen varieties......are easy and indispensable I think. Not all honeysuckles are scented so do some research

The varieties of black elder are so very similar.....they do NOT NEED to be cut down every year. I do this because it provides better quality foliage. For flowers and foliage, pruning every 2 years to the base or pruning selected branches is the way to go.
On its own, sambucus Black Lace and similar can look boring I think; planting a yellow perennial,shrub, a grass with it makes a fine impact. Or a blue eucalyptus with it for a stunning contrast.
Far better foliage is Cotinus Royal Purple, the very best purple shrub.

 

Gary, we crossed there.
"Flamingo" trees? Acer or salix?
Abutilon meg? Here it is hardy, evergreen and with some flowers still. However, it is regarded as half hardy in most places. Grow it in sun with good drainage....although it will still need some moisture in summer. If you like this plant consider a fleece cover in winter.
In a container it will not be as impressive or as vigorous and more exposed to frost

 

Salix.

The abolition I just happened to com across online. I am looking for something to add a bit of colour to the front of the house. I once tried a pyracantha. It didn’t take very well. It might do better now I have an understanding of what I’m doing. Whatever I go for, it will have to live in a container and be exposed to the weather.

G.

 

Pyracantha has a lot going for it but not child friendly.....or adult friendly come to that. It has long vicious barbs and for that reason I removed mine.
Not great for a container....it needs a good depth of soil

Salix Flamingo is really nice....I have a couple here. Pink, cream, white and silver green leaves make for an eye catching plant. Who needs flowers when you have this. One is grown here with a purple perennial.....persicaria Red Baron....and contrasts well I think. Easy to grow.
One thing...is this a half standard or a bush? Much better as a standard with a bare leg. grown on a leg enables planting below it