Tropical Border Project

Not sure if this should be under the tropical section or if theres a better place for it to live …

Thought I'd start a thread on the latest project to turn a border from a mix of styles into more of a tropical border, following on from my seeds question.

A couple of before photos that really just show the size of the border from both ends. Its south facing so not a deal of shade to be had. Yes - the grass is a mess. No water and 2 weeks holiday saw to that.






Theres a lot of cutting down to be done which starts tomorrow with the sloe tree (first big tree on the first pic) - makes picking the sloes easier !

I'll post close up photos as I go along.

And then these can be planted to start the new structure. Really pleased with these plants that arrived today.

 

This will be an interesting thread I think andrews. You seem to have a good idea what you want there.
Good size plants too
keep the photos coming as you make progress

 

Lovely plants @andrews ! Would you mind telling us the supplier?

 

Likewise Verdun. Must admit I tend to become very envious when I see friends with large gardens, plus the two German Shepherds.

 

@CarolineL We bought the plants from Nigel at Hardy Palms. What started off as an order for a £30 plant turned into something a bit bigger .

We've bought a lot of palms from him in the past and all are strong plants.

As it is the end of the season he is doing good deals on plants. Shipping was £50 for a pallet so buying more meant the shipping per plant was less too.

@JWK there are 3 daisylirions. The plants are :

Yuccas
Filifera
Faxoniana
Rostrata
Thompsoniana

Daisylirions
Wheeleri
Seratifolia
Longissium

Buttia Chilensis

@Mike Allen the garden is a blessing and a curse. It takes a lot of looking after. Pretty much like the dogs really !

@Verdun Pics will start today. I'm about to take the chainsaw to the first victim as soon as Ive finished my coffee

 

To be honest I quite like the look of a few of those trees/bushes in the border.
I hope you are going to be selective in the ones you get rid of.

 

@pete We are being selective. The sloe went as it wasn't a good looking tree and I was forever digging out self sets.

The holly was just too big and didn't fit with the tropical feel.

A flowering currant bush has been removed too but someone is picking it up today rather than it going in the skip

Ive also dug up a few of my most hated weed - elder trees. They get everywhere !

The skip is now full so I'm getting someone in with a shredder to give me skip space and mulch.

The Yew is being thinned out but staying as it gives shelter

The bay is having a heavy prune as it has got out of hand

 

Only reason I mention is that although I like spikeys I think if your doing a planting out on that scale you need a few more leafy plants to add a bit of contrast, and maybe winter shelter from frost.

 

Totally agree. The delivery was from a place that does 99% spikey stuff. The Butia has deeper roots than other palms so will tolerate dry but does like shelter so we will be planting it with that in mind, sheltered by the bay tree which is a good 20ft tall and bushy.

Ignoring how it would look, I don't think that the bank manager would be too happy if we filled the border with plants such as these.

I am sowing seeds which will be leafy. Our tropical area has lots of different textures and we will plant similar stuff in this border. Will add pictures of progress tomorrow. Time to go out to the dogs and plant some brug. seeds.

 

First pics. These are all 'egg breaking' - didn't get to even consider the omelette stage yesterday.

Tools for the day, not forgetting the safety equipment



The sloe before - it really wasn't a looker



And reduced to a trunk



The holly before



The area more or less cleared gives a bit of space for the new plants



Space where there once was a holly



And flowering currant removed - it was in the wrong place and didn't fit in




More to come - hopefully showing positive progress

 

Exciting at that stage andrews
The physicality of it all....clearing , digging, cutting, removing always with an awareness and an eye to design and replanting.
Smaller scale by far, but I removed a huge juniper ...by hand......and enjoyed every second of the challenge and hard work. Plus it is now an attractive area I am proud of. Well worth it

 

Let’s see if this works from my phone. Space made for the butia this evening

 

Got a bit more done tonight. The Dasylirion Serratifolium went into the biggest space that Ive made as it has the biggest spread. Replaces the holly.

Found a bit of builders rubble and a wheel nut wrench in the hole that I dug.



Love the contrast of colour. I think that it will spread a bit flatter over the coming days



It looks quite small in the pic below but it is about 4 feet tall