Edible ideas for side ' garden' and pretty ones for front garden and beds.....

shegirl

Two lots to plan well,3 I guess!

First off,the side ' garden':

Approx. 30 foot plus in length strip that's 3-4 foot wide,next to the path that goes round to the back garden.

Partial shade at most.

Already thinking of having my strawberries there and some herbs,maybe some mint but what else? Want to make the most of it and don't need THAT many strawberries or herbs (herbs may even go elsewhere)

Ideally something that will do well in custom made beds,containers or be ok in the ground with clippings or pretty pebbles on top.


Front garden:

Good size for front garden,full Sun,bit of a slope at the bottom.

Ds has a lovely Acer that myself and him would like to put centrally. But I'd like a bit more going on in the front garden..maybe a nice low border or something nice around the Acer? Open to non plant ideas to make it pretty too!Grass goes right to the front of my house..would a pebble/gravel border look ok there? Ground is slightly higher up than my path to the house as well,so nee something to make that look better.

Front ' beds':

I have two ' beds' to the front of the house. One is approx. 2x2 foot,next to the doorstep and the other is much larger and spans from front of the house back to the soon- to- be utility room (coal shed and outside toilet currently!!!)

Would like something to brighten up the outside and give a nice welcome,lots of green,something that won't be dead by winter:D

All on the smallest budget that could be made to make it all pretty and functional.Usually use my clipboard vouchers with T&M deals for plants,although open to other suggestions and even upcycling other items for a nice look.


While I'm withering on (:o sorry:o) does anyone have any ideas for making a feature out of two beautiful,large tree stumps at the bottom of my back garden? Discovered them while chopping down the brambles and they're in a bit of a dip (only dip in the garden- looks a little odd at the mo) and only about 2,maybe 3 meters apart. I love trees and think they deserve a little feature there

lostinrates

Would you put some of your edibles at the front? Interspersed with 'pretty flowers' they can look striking, get the full sun benefit and bring you closer to any scent in your pretty garden. Some of the more ornamental lettuces for example, make wonderful florets, and artichokes look glorious.

For the side bit I would certainly consider shade tolerant herbs (there are a surprising number if you google) and berries. Not just strawberrys but rasberries, maybe blue berries. But I would plant the tall berries (also remember currants and gooseberries) along the back and your strawberries in front...lots of the big ones are prickly, and you want them back from a path ideally, and remember to leave room for propagating strawberry runners for future years.

shegirl

lostinrates wrote: »

Would you put some of your edibles at the front? Interspersed with 'pretty flowers' they can look striking, get the full sun benefit and bring you closer to any scent in your pretty garden. Some of the more ornamental lettuces for example, make wonderful florets, and artichokes look glorious.

For the side bit I would certainly consider shade tolerant herbs (there are a surprising number if you google) and berries. Not just strawberrys but rasberries, maybe blue berries. But I would plant the tall berries (also remember currants and gooseberries) along the back and your strawberries in front...lots of the big ones are prickly, and you want them back from a path ideally, and remember to leave room for propagating strawberry runners for future years.

I'd never thought of putting edibles among ' pretty flowers',sounds interesting

I do like the idea of lots of berries hmmm

lostinrates

It's a huge question you asked originally you see.....What can I grow....

I would start by keeping an eye on freecycle for gifted plants, and keep an eye out for seeds of plants you like, and, cheekily, ask if you can take cuttings where appropriate.

E.g. Last autumn I took cuttings from a rose, I took about eight cuttings, though I don't really need any of them. They all took and I would have been pleased to offer them. (as it happens my puppy pulled them out of their pots and killed them two weeks ago) but lots of people will do it just to have a go.....like I did, to see if they can. . And if they can, they don't always want the result ( I might have sold mine at the gate as its an old rose and can be legally propagated).

But even if you did mainly edibles at the front this year, replacing with shrubs or perennials or self seeding anuals as you harvest veg and accrue plants, remember gardens can change, so what you used as almost a straight forward veg plot this year could be a flower border next year, or in five years. (I have soft fruit I planted in a temporary spot when we moved two and a half years ago, now right in the middle of an otherwise pretty much purely decorative border. Hopefully next wonter I might be closer to relocating them, as I am ready to take over their patch. If not...the year after will do.

shegirl

Googling for some ideas now I love that I now have more than one garden but it means more options lol

First thing to do though is get a waterbutt!

Del_Astra

shegirl wrote: »

While I'm withering on (:o sorry:o) does anyone have any ideas for making a feature out of two beautiful,large tree stumps at the bottom of my back garden? Discovered them while chopping down the brambles and they're in a bit of a dip (only dip in the garden- looks a little odd at the mo) and only about 2,maybe 3 meters apart. I love trees and think they deserve a little feature there

I've seen various things being made out of stumps. Bird baths / feeding stations, seats being made out of tree stumps, even a bench although they sound a bit far apart for that, exerise steps incorporated into assult courses.

I should add the seats seem to be for children more than adults, and it depends how big they are.

lostinrates

Been thinking about your garden some more. Cheap things to buy might include nasturtiums....Bright flowers (some varities are available but the cheapest mixes will be fruit pastel bright oranges, scarletts and yellows, mixed together I think). The other thing is to consider edible flowers. I eat a LOT of flowers, more than the average flower eater even. Lots of traditionally ornamental things can be eaten....but for good ness sake, check and double check, and (not sure of the nature of your son's disability) but you might want to consider not growing ANYTHING Not edible, or safe to eat if not delicious, especially if he is going to watch you garden or help garden and harvest your food!

shegirl

Del_Astra wrote: »

I've seen various things being made out of stumps. Bird baths / feeding stations, seats being made out of tree stumps, even a bench although they sound a bit far apart for that, exerise steps incorporated into assult courses.

I should add the seats seem to be for children more than adults, and it depends how big they are.

Couple feet high and quite large- look like oaks to me and I thoroughly intend to count their rings later

shegirl

lostinrates wrote: »

Been thinking about your garden some more. Cheap things to buy might include nasturtiums....Bright flowers (some varities are available but the cheapest mixes will be fruit pastel bright oranges, scarletts and yellows, mixed together I think). The other thing is to consider edible flowers. I eat a LOT of flowers, more than the average flower eater even. Lots of traditionally ornamental things can be eaten....but for good ness sake, check and double check, and (not sure of the nature of your son's disability) but you might want to consider not growing ANYTHING Not edible, or safe to eat if not delicious, especially if he is going to watch you garden or help garden and harvest your food!

He'll definitely be helping,he loves it

Nasturtiums are good,I've had them before and they grow like crazy,very pretty too!

I've never been sure on the idea of edible flowers,just seems weird to me:o

Mojisola

It's worth keeping mint in a pot otherwise it can take over the garden.

ALIBOBSY

shegirl wrote: »

He'll definitely be helping,he loves it

Nasturtiums are good,I've had them before and they grow like crazy,very pretty too!

I've never been sure on the idea of edible flowers,just seems weird to me:o

Nasturtiums ARE edible. The leaves are great in salads-younger leaves are best. They are quite peppery like rocket. I always grow them as the flowers, leaves and seed pods are great to eat as well as being so easy to grow and look great. Can also be used as a sacrificial plant next to beans as the blackfly prefer them and you can just pick off the bits with them on and get rid.

Great GYO flowers.

Ali x