My tiered garden log.

Plant ideas for you. We run these threads every month in 'Gardening Discussion' and these are pictures of plants in GC members gardens.

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/whats-looking-good-june-2014.66059/
http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/whats-looking-good-july-2014.67795/
http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/whats-looking-good-in-august-2014.69480/
http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/whats-looking-good-in-september-2014.72589/

 

I'm Back!!!
Well... The gardening took a little, well, a huge detour!
I did do some planting and gardening... My chilly plants are planted and growing well, as too are the strawberries, roses, lavender and tulips.

The plans...



Mega! Ms paint skills. This is the top of the garden, I decided to move a wall say, nearly 5m back, by hand because we can't get any machinery up there!

So currently it was like this...




During!



And Now..



But Our tulips looked nice, dying off a bit now.
Also the roses and lavender, and the extra soil from digging came in handy levelling off this area!



Busy times indeed!
The block wall will be doubled up with a stone wall to match the rest of the garden, but we felt we'd need the extra strength back there!

 

That looks a bit good, well done!

 

Wow! It looks like you've shifted a mountain to take that back. I'll look forward to seeing the end result.

 

A mountain is an understatement!
I think thats two weeks work at 2 hours a night, and about 3 weekend full days, mainly just for me on my own, but with a few helpers on weekends.
The block wall is going to be the backing to a stone wall to match the garden, i'm not putting up the block wall (that's the important bit!) but i'm doing the stone wall from 2 courses up, so wish me luck!



That's the plan, the blue should be purple as my other half wants purple slate, some yellowy paving slabs, and a bench attached to the wall around the perimeter.
The yellow bit on the bottom will be my planting area for a small border.
Oh and the fire pit in the middle!
Shattered!
What hedging type plants can i put on the top of the wall?, probably in planter boxes?
I don't want to see that ugly concrete below the neighbours fence at the top.

 

Oh, wow, wow, wow.
Just catching up on this thread, I am very jealous of your layered garden, and all the potential (as well as the progress you've already made - what a great job!).
You'll probably find it a lot of work, and an ongoing job that won't be finished for a while, but it will be SO satisfying when you have achieved something wonderful!
I reinstated my front garden last year (which was a tiny job compared to the size of your garden). It required a lot of physical work in all weathers, but I can honestly say it was one of the most satisfying tasks I've ever undertaken. I never used to consider myself an outdoorsy person, but it turns out that spending time outside with the sun (or rain) on your neck is such a gratifying job.
If you're seeking inspiration for the rest of your garden, I'd love an opportunity like your different layers, and would be tempted to go for a different style on each level (something contrasting, like tidy, geometric Japanese style on one level, and 'messy' cottage garden on another, and water-garden on another... oh, the possibilities are endless!). If you're on Pinterest, it's great for collecting ideas and inspiration, and pinning them into one place for future reference. And for something that size, I'd be tempted to look for recycled material, so keep an eye on local facebook sites for anything people are giving away, you can find some useful free finds if you keep an eye out.
Sorry I can't help with specific plant advice, but will look forward to your updates.

 

Thanks, well the area behind the tulips (I'm going to get scorned at!) Is going to have another layer of soil, say an extra inch or two, then compacted again (i need to get rid of so much soil its un-true!) Then a layer of sand on top, then astro turf! Maintenance free!

My brother is taking a few ton for his planters, but the rest has to be well.. scattered around the garden until it's gone, I'm trying not to have to order a skip, as there's so many steps to the bottom of the garden it's going to be a pig to fill!
I also think my highest layer is going to be raised another "step" higher because the view is wonderful from up there, and the extra few inches will make the view perfect.
I might also make a couple of planters up there (to get rid of yet more soil!) and so i can have a veg patch up on the top which gets sun all day long!

Having a tiered garden is nice, apart from the steps, and it is a pretty "huge" garden space as there's no grass to take up area, so generally i struggle for ideas, but, hitting it layer by layer it'll be finished eventually!

 

Well, i've been arranging the stone we have for the wall... definitely not enough! Any ideas where i can get this stuff cheap? Bar gumtree and freecycle which i'm currently keeping my eye on.



At least that's a step in the right direction!

As is the digging progress, we now have enough room to get down the full length of the wall to finish it! I'm guessing that's a job for tonight!


I'm really excited, as i think all the soil left on this level (when moved around to create a level) will be used up, just by making the level... well... level!
The paving slabs are just down so it's easier to wheel the barrow down to the lower level.
The finished level should be about the height of the 2nd paving slab from the top (the first is higher)

Oh and seeing as though this is a gardening forum. Here's my chillies all potted up in their final pots! my greenhouse is a bit too small, but i'm sure a couple of the cooler verities will survive outdoors when they all get a bit crampt in there!


I'd list all the fancy names, theres a few B&Q specials on at half price.
Hungarian hot wax (x2) jalapeno (x2) Chayanne (yes with a H... x2)
Dorset naga, paper lantern, chocolate habanero, white buhch jocola something or other, and two 7 pot chillies... I think that's the lot
I'm planning on drying the chillies at the end of the season and making some chilli flakes, which we use a LOT in cooking, and it's the first year i've owned an oven which will run cool enough to dry them to a crisp without burning them!

 

It's always worth searching ebay for reclaimed stone walling, you might get lucky with some in your area. You can set up a search to notify you if some becomes available, but it's hit-and-miss. No better suggestions than just keeping an eye out, I'm afraid. I got lucky last year with free reclaimed bricks that were exactly the right era, but it was pure chance.

 

Hedging is hungry and restricting it to planters will see it suffer. Have you thought about climbers? They'll be prettier too.

 

Oooh how do you set up a search notify? Is that on ebay?
I don't really know, we have the party wall, followed by about 3inch of soil, and then the neighbours fence, so I have the room to put a trellis up the party wall... and still have access behind to trim etc.
I know this sounds daft, it's pretty shady up there, because of the tall fence and surrounding trees, would i be able to have climbers that cover all year round? In large planters?
The deepest and darkest parts of winter i'll obviously not be too bothered, but i think we had our first bbq in march so it'd be nice to have cover from march-November.

I realise this won't look like progress, but i now have nearly half of it level!
I'll need to grade it at a later date so the water doesn't pool in any low spots, but it's extra exciting!

Also, suprising to me, the next level is going to be two steps higher than before! Thats a lot of soil!


The garden originally stopped at the level of the last step
Oh and my fondly named little people tree is growing again (family joke) i think it's an elderberry elderflower as someone pointed out last year, but it's doing surprisingly well!



Oh and the strawberries, i forgot about them, the two red pots are "rescued" plants, one is a rose, the other i haven't got a clue, but we'll see later in the year!

 

Just caught up with this thread, fantastic work! You must use one layer for a herb garden, somewhere not too far from the barbecue!

 

There is this climbing Hydrangea below. There are various Clematis that don't mind shade and also evergreen Honeysuckle.

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/hydrangea-anomala-subsp-petiolaris/classid.1665/

 

That climbing hydrangea looks nice! If I fitted a couple of fence posts to the boundary wall and attached a square holed metal trellis between the posts do you think it'd grow freestanding in planters up the trellis? That means I can get behind it so it doesn't interfere with the neighbours fence?
Also I have made progress... lots of progress, but I'll wait until the wall is up to show pictures!

 

I don't see why that shouldn't work VC but being a large plant you'll need large planters, probably similar to the size of half barrels.