What to do with my beds???

I have a problem which I don't know how to solve.

I have reduced the size of a HUGE flower bed which we inherited with the house last year. I now have two beds and a lot more grass ( thanks to wilkos cheap grass seed - better than the expensive stuff I used at first).

My problem is that the soil is heaped up higher than the grass level. It was the same last year, I have no idea why, but I just let things grow to see what was there.

I have attached a photo for you to see the problem. I have a lot of new growth on some of the perennials in the beds, and I don't know if I could dig them out with as much soil as possible, dig over bed and remove some soil, then replant.

I just don't know what to do as the soil is like a heap!

 

the plan you came up with sounded fine, for the style of garden the heaped look is fine but if your after something neater looking then yes dig out the perennially dig ove the bed, barrrow out soil to the levelo you want and replant, it would be a good chance to split some of those perennials if they need it. Some things will move anytime of year others like those with very delicate fiberouse roots like grasses move better early in the growing season, so maybe wait till late march early april to be on the safe side. On the other hand sometimes with gardening youve just got to get on with jobs, I bet even some of things that ideally dont like to be moved now will be fine if you prepare the ground well.

 

Thanks plantman. That sounds like something to give me a bit more confidence in doing it. The problem is that the lady who lived here before was in her 90's and she loved her garden until she sadly left us, but was obviously not able to do much at the end.

It sounds so silly, as I never even knew her, but I have wanted to keep some of her plants out of respect really. I know gardening is done with love, and I would not want to come in and bulldoze the lot.

Last year I was waiting to see what was going to come up so I have never had the chance to dig the beds over fully. There is even moss growing around the base of some things, I desperately want to get in there and clear it all out - you can imagine what it is like when the weeds are in full sway!!! With it all heaped up and hard it is difficult to clear as it all just spills out, and you end up with plants standing proud of the soil and the top of their roots poking out!

 

Yes, that sounds like a good plan! It isn't that I don't like the raised soil, I just find it impossible to work with. The soild behind, near the fence is wider than it looks in the photo - about 3 metres wide. That is our veg patch for this year. We are waiting for the shrubs and climbers to cover that awful fence and in the mean time we thought runner bean canes will hide it pretty convincingly!!

In the front corner, just off the photo, there is a lot of irish saxifrage. It is very pretty, but will it take being dug up and replanted? Or should I work round it? It is very low ground cover -

 

:thumb: JWK

 

You could use one bed as a nursery, dig a nice hollow ,take a plant with plenty soil around the roots and transfer to the nursery bed.when you have out all the things you want to save you can clean that one.divide the old perenials ,discard the old middle bits.now you have a lovely space to plan a new bed.

 

above, is a good plan if your worried about moving anything ( you probably needn't be). It also gives the option not to rush it, really dig over the bed while the plants are out, get all those weed roots out and some prganoic matter in, youll be ammazed how good it lloks when your done and at how well things grow after.

I think its excellent you want to keep some of the previous owners touches....a garden isnt just a collection of plants it has heart and soul, IMHO with that attitude yours will certanly have that.

 

Thank you. I'm glad you don't think I'm daft! I just get the feeling the house and garden was loved, before old age took over, and I want to be respectful to the person who created that feeling.

 

i agree - its brilliant you are keeping her plants - also dont forge its only a few decades ago that it was fashionable to have the soil raised up to show off the bed and get height. perhaps this was the fashion when she made the garden? just an off the wall thought

Loopy

 

That is really interesting - I hadn't considered that. I wonder if I will miss the height?!

 

Shove in a few tall perennials and you won't notice it.

 

:thmb:I actually like raised beds, most of mine are. I would get rid of all the weeds and moss and just dig it over gently with a hand held fork, then you will be able to see more clearly if you think the plants should be dug up and separated.

If you haven't seen the flowers in full bloom yet then wait untill you do and then make a decision in Autumn.

Hope that helps?

 

You never know what will pop up in an old garden.mine has hundreds of plants collected over the years,I get lovely surprises when suddenly there is something in flower that I had forgotten was in there.