Hello from sunny Berkshire

Hello all. I've just recently discovered this form and am in 7th heaven. My alias says it all. Love gardening and am very enthusiastic. However, can never seem to get it right. End up spending more money than I should and lose most of my plants every year.

I've got very heavy clay alkaline soil. A relatively large back garden and a smaller front. Will post pics as soon also figure out how to do so.

Main problem is that I have no sense of perspective and can't gauge what will look good where.

Can you please, please help me!!!!!!!!!

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Clueless Enthusiast. We all have varying degrees of experience here so fire away with the questions and we'll see what we can do for you.

 

Hi there Clueless Enthusiast,
we are all always learning from our gardens. Some things bring joy but some will fail. The great and the good and ordinary gardeners like you and me are all welcome,
enjoy,

 

Hello and welcome CE.

 

Is this the start of the Clueless1 Fanclub?

Anyway Clueless Enthusiast, enjoy your visits here. Hopefully you will become inspired.

 

Hi all. Thank you guys so much for the warm welcome.

Just thought I'd upload a few pics of my garden so you can visualise the task ahead.

All these pics are of my back garden from different angles.




Those are the good bits. Now come the areas I need help in.

 

Areas I need help in the back garden are.

The dead tree was a beautiful ceanothus which I loved but died last year.

Due to a gas line dig I also lost most of the plants under the tree. Not that it was anything to write home about in the first place.

All that's left is a few hardy souls. But would live to completely revamp this area with a new shade giving tree and colourful plants.

Would like a laburnum but have kids and dogs so may not be a good idea.

Any thoughts gratefully received.

My borders also are a hodge podge. No planning involved and as a result I'm sure I'm not planting the right plants in the right place.

Prefer the country garden look with bees and butterflies catered for

 

These are pics of my front garden



Dug out the underlay and heavy clay soil to widen the border. Edging is a bit wonky. Incredibly hard work.

At the moment it is a mush mash of plants. Again trying for cottage garden effect. But as the front of the house overlooks fields, the wind flattens the delphiniums and they start looking woebegone soon.

Would like to do something to these bits as well in the front. Fountain in the corner and widen the front border.




Don't know whether to get rid of these two firs. Love them and they make a good windbreak but don't seem to fit in.

 

Couple more pics of front for perspective.

Just took these photos at 8:00 in the morning do you can tell which direction the sun is coming from.

 

On a completely different note. Bought these pots at Squires garden centre yesterday. Mainly have branches around South London and Windsor area.

Big ones are labelled £16.99 and smaller ones are £12.99 but they are all at 50% off at the moment if anyone is interested.

 

I'm liking the Pergola. When's Pimms-o-clock?
I had a Labernum hanging over a corner of my garden from a neighbour when the kids were small. We were terrified of the bad publicity it gets.
Were were pleased when it eventually disappeared.
The Lupins are looking good, ahead of mine. They must be happy.
Thanks for sharing