Not so distant future - walled garden

I_have_spoken

am I better off having it all dug up and a new lawn laid after removing the plastic?

Yes! Expect to pay £10 sq/m laid by landscape gardeners.

Gers

DaftyDuck wrote: »

If you are intending to stay there for (say) five years plus, then I'd go gor removing it completely. Two good reasons. Firstly, it's early days in the garden, you haven't yet made it perfect and yours, so now is the time for making chaos. Second is, if it's troublesome now, what will it be like in an exceptionally wet autumn, or a very long, hot, drying summer.

There is a third... the satisfaction of a really good lawn. I know about that, 'cos mine is most definitely not top-notch. That's next year's challenge.

Thanks, that makes me feel better about doing it. This place is definitely the final home and so has to be more than just good.

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Yes! Expect to pay £10 sq/m laid by landscape gardeners.

Biting the bullet then! Has to be done though. Thanks.

sb44

Perhaps you will get some ideas from Pinterest.

http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=walled%20garden

Gers

Some of the promised views - in sunshine!

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I can see a huge difference now that the plants are growing and showing themselves off. Grass has been cut once.

Thanks for the pinterest thingy...

Gers

Just another update - one of the bushes (in the top pic) turns out to be a black elder and is now producing the most gorgeous pink flowers in bunches like cow parsley!

Hostas are getting devoured, probably slugs.

I have discovered a bank of 'wild' sweet peas outside the front of the house, along with a 'wild' honeysuckle and yards and yards of comfrey.

Every day a new delight!

Gers

Another update to the progress of my garden, it's a delight!

Had the wayward sycamore removed which was growing under the spruce but out of the wall. The ferns are absolutely enormous, as are the hiosta, both of which I'm having removed as they're invasive.

The sun is currently shining in the whole area apart from the extreme edges of two walls and it's a lovely place o sit out in. Still got major work to do, especially to the lawn which I suspect will need dug up, soil replaced and new lawn laid.

Have to say that from never ever having a garden to having this lovely place is a joy. Steep steep learning curve but still a pleasure.

Will post up photos later as even looking at my earlier ones compared to now shows a huge difference.

DaftyDuck

I do enjoy your progress reports and pictures. Do keep the fennel, consider giving the hostas a reprieve (as you tidy, the slugs will be far, far fewer), and enjoy the warm summer. Gardening is a never-ending learning experience, and you've worked wonders in a short time.

Gers

Thanks DD - fennel can be kept in check but I'm not really liking the hostas though they do give background greenery. Still mulling it all over.

Meanwhile...

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Much more light now the sycamore has been removed and no danger of it all falling down.

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The large fern (see earlier photo) which hides even the two large hostas from sight.

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The orangey-red roses on this very very thorny bush have a wonderful fragrance.

Gers

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The black elder - flowers all gone now.


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And this most beautiful hydrangea.

Gers

I'm happy to report that three huge ferns and three horrible slug eaten hostas have been relocated! They have huge enormous root 'balls' and I have no idea how my neighbour managed to lift them by herself. The space now is good and I can plan something more visually interesting for it.

There are some very small orangey/pinky flowers growing out the mass of plant over the left hand side wall - will take a pic this weekend and post it up. (see post #39 ) Every time I go there is something new or something dying back - can see why gardening is addictive!