Clearing an neglected garden

Gers

Thanks DD - they're working like Trojans, now strimming the front of the wall and chucking the pile of vegetation over the fence into the field where I put my grass cuttings sometimes.


The top right hand corner is looking so much better with the brambles and nettles all gone (for now).

The rain is coming I think, dark clouds are appearing so I don't know how much more they can do.

Just to add an earlier view (and the rain has arrived)

chesky

Do you own the land or are renting?

Gers

Rain-soaked but strimmed! A sudden and prolonged hailstorm / torrential rain immediately brought standing water to my cleared site.

Davesnave

That is very tightly brushcut!

So what is your next move?

Looking at the pics, one wall seems to be south-ish facing. Good to go with deep beds?

Gers

Davesnave wrote: »

That is very tightly brushcut!

So what is your next move?

Looking at the pics, one wall seems to be south-ish facing. Good to go with deep beds?

Yes! Definitely a number 1 cut there.

The plan is that the growth will be sprayed with weed killer to get rid of as much as possible. Once it's bare I think (no expert so advice happily received) it needs levelled.

The whole plot is south facing, it's glorious in sunshine and should be really productive by next year. Raised beds etc. We have access to tons of seaweed and comfrey for feeding.

Plans...I just need to be patient now I think.

Davesnave

Gers wrote: »

Plans...I just need to be patient now I think.

Yes, don't spray until you have substantial re-growth to accept the glyphosate.

You can then level and re-sow with less coarse grasses, if required. The wild stuff will still infiltrate, but it will help keep mowing to a minimum for a good many years.

Gers

I was thinking of putting a deep layer of wood bark chippings down inbetween the raised beds. The theory (for me) is that it will discourage weed growth and give me a better walking surface than grass.

Is that viable?

Davesnave

Gers wrote: »

I was thinking of putting a deep layer of wood bark chippings down inbetween the raised beds. The theory (for me) is that it will discourage weed growth and give me a better walking surface than grass.

Is that viable?

Don't see why not, especially if you can find a sawmill and get a deal on a bulk load.

I might leave some space for a shaded area to sit nd admire the view too!

Gers

The 'garden' today after weeks and weeks of rain and a storm which lasted from Sunday until this morning.

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SO much standing water! Still, it's looking so much better. Nothing much will happen now until early spring.

DaftyDuck

Lovely. Agree with Dave - a bench for the view!

Note where the water pools. You could do worse than improve the drainage there while there's little to grow, either by putting in some drains or, and it would probably be enough, just loosening the soil to a good depth.

If there is standing water, bark chippings will tend to hold it rather....