new garden - deciding how to start!

Discussion in 'Garden Projects and DIY' started by Sian in Belgium, Sep 7, 2012.

  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    It's looking really good now and full of potential!! You've done a lot of work there, Sian!!:thumbsup::snork:
     
  2. Sian in Belgium

    Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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    Ashamed that I haven't been on the forum for so long!

    A combination of busyness, working in the garden (of course!), and the general battle / slog of being a non-integrated expat abroad.

    I will take some photos this afternoon, hopefully the sun will come out for the event, trying to do similar shots as before, so we can all (including me!) see if there has been any progress....
     
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    • ARMANDII

      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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      :nonofinger:.....:heehee:............you were missed!!!!:hate-shocked::cry3:
       
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      • Sian in Belgium

        Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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        Oh Freddy, you were so right!
        Things grew ok-ish for a year, and then everything just stopped. In the case of the runner beans, it was definitely an emergency, fatal, stop!
        so, last autumn, I took the plunge, and have dug out the veg bed. Three spade-depths of sand have been dug out of the bed, and are being re-filled with the last compost from the compost pile. Just 2/3 of a spade's depth to be wheelbarrowed up the length of the garden to the veg-bed, and then we are back up to the top the the boards again.
        It has been a slow old slog getting this done - I will just be in time for the first of the spring sowings, I think!
         
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        • Sian in Belgium

          Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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          lets see if I've resized these photos correctly...

          IMG_1082.JPG

          not much change on the first two shots, apart from the compost has managed to rot its way through the internal doors, and I think the grass has got even worse!! IMG_1081.JPG
           
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            Last edited: Mar 7, 2015
          • Sian in Belgium

            Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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            and a few more photos.... IMG_1085.JPG
            the eye bed, or herb bed, is looking good!
            IMG_1094.JPG

            IMG_1093.JPG

            the re-filled (nearly!) raised vegetable bed. Now filled with 2-3 foot of good compost! IMG_1096.JPG

            the strange bed next to the garage (in the summer I often refer to it as the pink bed, as it is full of hardy geraniums, but that name doesn't make sense this time of the year!)
            IMG_1099.JPG
             
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            • Jenny namaste

              Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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              All drying out nicely Sian. Good to see you back here BTW. Soon be time to think about plants to bring life and colour back. Any significant plans for design impact this Season?
              Jenny
               
            • Sian in Belgium

              Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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              There are quite a few herbaceous plants in, and also twiggy-looking roses, etc, that don't show up in these photos.
              I think the main plan is to find some good homes for the 20+ chilli seedlings that we have growing indoors (yup - we're definitely hooked!), and make good use of all the back-breaking work getting the veg bed sorted.
              I'm also hoping to develop this bed this summer - it has the Philadelphus in, along with a some roses, day-lillies, and various herbaceous plants... IMG_1087.JPG
              There will hopefully be lots of colourful bedding plants going in around the place as well.
              Then there are the fruit trees to prune, and keep an eye on, and the soft fruit bushes...

              ...eek - what am I doing indoors during daylight hours?!!
               
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              • Jenny namaste

                Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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                You are forming plans Sian. All good stuff....plenty of time ... months and months,
                enjoy,
                Jenny
                 
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                • Sheal

                  Sheal Total Gardener

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                  Sian, your eye bed has come on really well since you started to develop it. :dbgrtmb:
                   
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                  • Sian in Belgium

                    Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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                    Hopefully, here's a photo of the eye bed looking lush last May image.jpg

                    ...and again at the end of July image.jpg
                     
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                    • Sian in Belgium

                      Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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                      And finally, when the salvia was in full flower! image.jpg
                       
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                      • Sheal

                        Sheal Total Gardener

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                        Isn't it good to look back at the pics, it reminds us that the sun and flowers will be there again later in the year. Everything still looks sad and quite bare at the moment.
                         
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                        • Freddy

                          Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                          Hiya Sian :blue thumb:

                          I've been giving this a bit of thought. I'm a bit concerned that you say you're filling with compost? My gut feeling tells me that you will also need something 'solid'. For example topsoil or loam. Compost is great stuff, but I just feel you need a bit more 'body' for your veggies. Hopefully that makes sense?
                           
                          Last edited: Mar 10, 2015
                        • redstar

                          redstar Total Gardener

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                          reading though this. you certainly have been very busy. In your first entry you said you had 1/2 acre of land, seems like more to me. I have 3 acres of gardens BTW.
                           
                          Last edited: Mar 10, 2015
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