I want to make a garden bed

savingmummy

I have just moved into a new build house and the garden is a blank canvas and dont look like a garden right now!
I bought 2 standard patio roses yesterday and now i have the gardening bug :rotfl:
I love colour and flowers and want to do a flower bed down one side running along the fence which has shade and sun alternating throughout the day.
It will mean taking a strip of turfed lawn up which is an easy job for me as the seam is quite visible and also it is not doing well round the edges so slightly lifting already (my excuse to DH to have it up) then i`m struggling as to what to do...

Now the underneath appears to be VERY stony and builders yard, dried pieces of concrete and wood chip etc
What do i need to do to prepare the area correctly ready to start a garden?

BargainGalore

Firstly get some good compost so when you put plants in its good a good start

Some councils provide soil conditioner free at certain times of year which can be mixed with compost as its quite bitty (wood in it)

Take out big stone in soil when you plant with a good quality trowel of shovel, it pays to get good tools

This time of year bedding plants are on offer so good time to get plants like marigolds, pansies etc

savingmummy

Thank you.
I have bags of compost clear of bitty bits and it seems good so will clear the area and then use that.

I think i will go plant shopping Thursday and have a look at the offers

savemoney

Check out Aldi and Wilkos they sell plants of cheap as do B&Q at mo

To get a good garden the best ingredient is good soil so I always dig a bigger hole for plants and then back fill with new compost and feed with a liquid feed like miracle grow or phostogen. Wilkso do a cheap version too or use growmore

To have a good garden takes patience and time and a little skill

If you have the space get a composter and make your own it can be them mixed with peat or direct in grown. You throw most organic waste in there, like old leaves from veg, some fruit, weeds, grass cuttings. Paper and some cardboard too. You get get them for around £20-£30 and you can get a good load from it once possible twice a year of free compost

savingmummy

I am really struggling!!
The lawn came up easy and i am left with dry solid clay mixed with stones and half house bricks

I done a small part which i dug down and emptied completely, this took almost a day and was literally a metre long LOL! I was left with a HUGE pile of soil/clay and rubble which was a task to get rid of especially as i had to put small amounts into bags which kept splitting Grr!!
I then filled with compost and now have some plants there doing well.

In the next part i want to grow 4 rose bushes, do i need to get rid of the current soil completely or just remove as much of the rubble as i can and mix some compost into it?
Lovely having a new buil BUT the garden is a total nightmare

Kay_Peel

You are doing exactly the right thing in removing the rubble and bricks, but you don't have to remove the clay at all. You'll break your back and get dejected if you do that. You may be surprised to learn that you can make this bed without having to get in a load of topsoil.

In fact, DON'T get in a load of topsoil to cover over the bed. It may look like a quick solution but you'll be wasting your money. Your soil needs to be dealt with not disguised.

The area will be compacted so you need to open it up to let in some air and water. You can do this by sinking a fork into the clay (about 6 inches deep) and waggling it around. The more you puncture the clay the better the chance of a decent soil.

Give yourselves plenty of time to do this work little and often - removing rubble and forking the clay. (In the meantime, grow some bedding plants and salad leaves, herbs etc in pots).

Put down a big layer of farmyard manure and leave it between October and February. Worms and insects will inhabit the organic layer and take it down into the soil for you. Cold weather will work on breaking down the soil.

In Spring, you can fork over the bed lightly. You'll find that it's much easier to work the soil and that you'll still be removing rubble!

When you plant your flower bed, put in some runner beans and sweet peas amongst them. Their roots will feed the soil and the surrounding plants.

Take your time and good luck!

savingmummy

Thank you very much for such a detailed post, just what i need
Being new i really have no idea as you can tell lol! Great to know i wont have to do what i did before - that was a killer!!
Fingers crossed this time next year i will have a garden x