Ollie's garden progress ...........

for your comments, merleworld. I'm learning from everybody all the time and welcome guidance from those who know far more than I do .

I had a feeling that it should be something like that - that one at the front/side of the building was enormously wide when I first started to 'work on it'. It just looks so 'hacked' at the moment, but I KNOW it will eventually recover and look all the better for it's recent 'short back and sides' . I intend to work on 'narrowing the top' next season - I read that you should only attempt sides OR top, not both at the same time - hence the tops have only had a 'trim' this year.

In fact, with all of the hedges, they were ridiculously wide that they took up huge amounts of space. Where the washing line is placed, I was unable to use it at all - as any clothes would have just snagged on the privets one side and the beech on the other.

 

That's an amazing lot of progress you've made, well done. Good luck with the bindweed, I know what a pain that is!

 

The needle-like plant looks like yew. A bit dark and ponderous but handsome, and responds well to hard pruning and grows slowly unlike privet!

Congrats on all your hard work.

 

for your encouraging comments, RjBrambling and Madahhlia - I DID think it looked like 'Yew', but after my recent 'mis-identifications' , decided not to trust my own judgement .

I'm currently 'mother-sitting' at my sister's house, so haven't had any chance to get into the garden for the past couple of weeks - will get myself back 'into gear' next week when I return home.

 

Back home again and managed a couple of hours in the garden this morning.

We'd had a bit of heavy rain and some very warm days, so the garden had been enjoying a burst of energy - apart from that 'blasted Bindweed', which was showing the effects of my 'slaughter efforts' .

Spent most this morning giving the hedges a bit of a trim to neaten them up .

Just having a lunch-break before going back out for another couple of hours to clear up the remaining debris from the hedges and to see if the Bindweed is ready for 'pulling up'.

 

Keep at it Ollie...you have the makings of a lovely garden there. Hope the bindweed comes up easily!

 

well done Ollie your doing a great job

 

Can't believe how long it is since I posted an update on here :(. I have been busy, honest .

All the hedges are now under control, at long last . May need one final trim before the Garden Waste Collection ends in October.

The Bindweed had the nerve to try to re-invade - so it all got another drenching with the 'Resolva'. It needs to have some more root-systems 'dragged up' and disposed of, but it IS dying back g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y . I realise that it will 'go dormant' over the Winter and that I may find it's still a problem in the Spring - but this time I WILL be ready and waiting for it ...............

I've committed 'murder' on the Berberis - well, I've tried to. I didn't realise what a stubborn demon it can be . Why, oh why, do so many of the things that I'm trying to get rid of have invasive root systems . I'm not sure how many Berberis were planted originally - but I've found that they're all linked with a 'common system' - looks like the remains of four shrubs in total, though one of them appears to be the main culprit. I read up about it on one site and found a suggestion that you should try flooding the main root with water, so that it's sitting in sloppy mud instead of compacted soil - apparently this can make getting the roots out of the ground easier.
There WAS another suggestion of attaching a strong rope/chain around the root and dragging it out using a vehicle with a strong tow-bar ; however this is completely out of the question as I don't even have a car and that particular bit of the garden is about 50yds from the road anyway .

I've also bought myself a 'Draper Garden Fork' from HomeBargains £4.99 which sounded very reasonable to me.

I'm intending to plant a Forsythia in the space that will hopefully be vacated by the Berberis - it's quite close to the rear of our building and I think it will make a beautiful splash of 'sunshiney yellow' in the very late Winter/early Spring.

for all the advice and encouragement, folks .

 

It sounds like you're winning Ollie! A lot of patience is needed with gardening as you're finding out.

Regarding the Berberis.......giving the roots a thorough soaking is a good idea and I'd be inclined to do it two or three times with a couple of days space in between, it will give the water a chance to penetrate right the way through.

 

I have a 'sewer manhole cover' smack in the middle of the Front/Side strip of grass. Obviously it's just one of those things that you're stuck with and can't do a darn thing about .

Up to now, I've had a small potted Hebe sitting on top of it - and that's about it. I've spent some time removing the turf and digging a small trench around the concrete surrounds - this is going to be planted with some crocus bulbs as a token attempt to 'disguise the manhole cover'.

It may be time now for the Hebe to be transplanted out into the garden properly. I'm also going to get a larger pot and put the remaining crocus bulbs into it - set it somewhere dark for a while, then bring it out in the Spring and place in the centre of the planted crocuses.

Hopefully, come the Spring, there will be a 'shot of colour' out there.


I'm heading down to the local Garden Centre to meet up with Mr Ollie for lunch - so will be coming back with new larger pot, 'saucer', compost and possibly 'something else' for the garden.


*** Had another idea - can I put a Forsythia out there in the pot on top of that manhole cover - just in case I can't get that Berberis 'evicted'.

 

Had a 'good foray' around the Garden Centre last Tuesday - came back with a Forsythia, a very 'sorry-looking Buddleia' reduced to £1.50, 2x20litre bags of General-Purpose Potting Compost, two largish pots and 2 saucers. Didn't want to hang around any longer as I could seriously get carried away in there buying 'stuff' I don't actually need at the moment - though I am now sorry that I didn't get a couple more pots/saucers. Should have also picked up some of their 'freebie broken crocks' - I'll remember next time.

All week I've been promising that I would 'get on with' potting up the crocus bulbs and those two plants, I've finally done that this morning . I've also put the ones into the ground around the manhole cover.

I've had a go with the spade at the Berberis Root - and made 'slight head-way' with it, managed to chop through a couple of roots in an attempt to isolate the stumps of the individual shrubs. On Mr Ollie's instructions, I've walked away from it - he's promised to throw his muscle () behind the job when he gets back home later. What I DID discover around the side of the roots was a crop of peanuts - honest! Looks as though somebody in the past has thrown them out for the birds and they've rooted instead of being eaten .

I've just had a coffee break, then it's back out to see about clearing around the 'other manhole cover' beneath the Yew Tree at the very rear of the garden. I'm still wondering what to do with this part of the garden that's the furthest from the building.

The fence between myself and the house to the rear is just a small 'metal grille' that's got bits of ivy growing over it from the other side - they've got a lovely garden apart from the bit up to the fence. I'm sure they don't really want their side to be 'overlooked', so it should be replaced - but that's a job for the Housing Association. As it's not a part of my garden that I could use for very much - due to the size of the tree - I was thinking about scattering some 'wildflower seed' in the Spring to attract bees and butterflies. At the moment, I'm still on Bindweed/Bramble patrol around there, so it's not something that needs to be decided imminently.

I'll take my camera out with me later, and get some photos - I'd love for some suggestions from you good folks on here .............

 

There's plenty there to keep you busy Ollie....I've got a few bulbs to plant too. I'm just looking at the weather outside and if the rain holds off may make a start this afternoon.

Some photos of the rear of your garden would be good. I'm thinking that there may be a fair bit of shade?

 

Thanks, Fern - just been back in for lunch and heading back out again with my camera this time.

I've managed to get the 'stump/main roots of something' out of the ground. It was either the base of a Bramble Bush or an Alba Rose - difficult to tell once I'd hacked the main stem off ages ago .

I've also tried to 'establish an edge' along one side close to some Privets - that's where I want to remove the remaining stumps/roots, as I'd already put some 'double daff bulbs' along that stretch of soil about 10-14days ago.

Ok then, once more unto the breach ......................

 

Got my young granddaughter tucked up in bed now, so I get the PC back again.

Managed to 'come a cropper' this afternoon .................... pulled really hard on a root with both hands / bent knees / bent hips - root snapped off and I landed with a whack on my backside/back and a loud shout of 'aaaargh S*i*!'. Lovely-downstairs-neighbour came out to see what the palaver was about - she's 80+ and certainly not able to assist a lump like ME - but she stood over me until I was back upright again. Decided it was best to continue at a gentler pace for the rest of the afternoon - didn't want to sit down and give up as I would have 'seized up altogether'.

Managed to clear around 'the other manhole cover' in the rear garden, though there are some Yew Tree roots going across it, that I've not yet cut through.

Also managed to dig out some newly-emerging Bramble shoots and some more Bindweed.

Took some photos - I'd be grateful for any thoughts on my idea for Wildflower Seeds in the area surrounding the Yew Tree. The other plan under consideration was for some Bluebells, Lily of the Valley and Cyclamen.


What I call the 'Access Area' showing new edging that I'd cut and the stubborn Berberis that I've had problems with - NOT the cause of my fall today.


Wire fence at the very rear of the garden between my garden and the one to the rear - beyond the Yew Tree.



The very back part of the garden - showing the size of the Yew Tree and also the 'No-man's Land' to the right of it - this stretches all the way along the rear of the garages, though my part of it stops approx. 5ft past the edge of the garages. This is the part where I'm considering Wildflower Seed. I'd be quite happy to lose the bit behind the garages as it's probably only suitable for a 'wildlife haven'.



This is looking back from the tree towards the flats - also the area where the Brambles and Bindweed keep coming back through. Just have to keep alert and get them the minute they reappear ................... That's the top of the 'access area' to the left of the privets.



Taken from the top of the 'access area' leading down towards the flats and front garden. To the left is the Privet/Beech Hedge that I've spent ages grooming into shape. Don't you just love my drunken Washing-line Post? It was totally covered with Ivy when I moved in and still has the roots of a Fern at its base - I've been doing my best to get that out, but it's a stubborn beggar. That's the remains of a Lilac Bush to the left - I also want that out as it just grows towards the washing line all the time. There's a much nicer one further to the left of it that I want to keep. The grass along here is mostly 'moss' which I'm forever scarifying - it'll end up completely baldy at this rate.



This is the remains of an Elder Stump that I want removing - going to drill into it and then put 'whatever is necessary' into the holes.


This is the Sewer Manhole Cover in the front garden showing my newly dug 'trench' that I've planted with some crocus bulbs. Sitting on top are 'Bruce', 'Ronnie' and 'Mr Abbott' - aka Forsythia, Hebe (Veronica-Ronnie - get it?) and my very sorry-looking Buddleia.



My side Privets that I've gradually trimmed into a fairly decent shape throughout the summer


Front Privets that again have had to be reshaped - looking very neat and tidy now.



All of the hedges had years and years of debris below them which I've removed - also there was no 'defining line' between the edges of the grass and the 'trench' where the hedges were planted - I've sorted that out as well.

Thanks for reading - I'd be grateful for any feedback/ideas regarding that bit around the Yew Tree. For the remainder of the Autumn and Winter, I'll be on Bramble and Bindweed duty IF either of them dare to rear their ugly heads - doubt it though, as they'll probably be dormant.

cheers - Ollie x

 

Wow! You have been busy!

The hedges have really responded well to your regular pruning, so well done

I love the drunken washing line pole! I would be tempted to leave the fern at the base, but then I have a bit of a passion for ferns... It won't get caught up in the same way as a lilac tree would.

Hmm, the manhole cover, with the concrete surround, will be a little challenging, won't it? You could either do ground cover around, with a comb-over affect, or a selection of pots grouped on top.

Around the yew tree, not much will thrive there, because you are talking dry shade. When I get back home, I'll have a look through my reference books for inspiration.