Blank Canvass Garden - Design Inspiration Needed

Working_Mum

My hostas have done ok thank you Slinky - I surrounded them with grit when I dug them into the bed and the any ones I felt were a bit vulnerable I made them a sheep's wool collar and popped that around their base. My dog has been worse for a couple of my hostas as he's been skidding into them when he's been barking at the pigeons and squirrels - he takes his security detail very seriously  

FreeBear

There is one of those corkscrew (twisted) willows just the other side of the fence at the bottom of the garden. Darned thing is absolutely huge in the 20 or so years that it has been there. It drops dead branches everywhere and shades a good portion of the garden down there. Even the weeds struggle to grow. Neighbour had the crown reduced a couple of years back - Needed to get a cherry picker in to do it, and cost a small fortune.

Once your tree gets to around 150mm diameter at the base, prune at ground level and grind out the roots. Just don't let it get big.

Working_Mum

FreeBear said:

 Neighbour had the crown reduced a couple of years back - Needed to get a cherry picker in to do it, and cost a small fortune.

Once your tree gets to around 150mm diameter at the base, prune at ground level and grind out the roots. Just don't let it get big.

@FreeBear it is down the bottom of my garden which is inaccessible to anything (including a wheelbarrow!) - I'd fully intended to keep it at a very manageable size - I review it each Autumn and consider whether this is the year!!

Working_Mum

My thoughts are now turning to a middle bit of my garden - it is a super sunny spot  but yet ANOTHER gravelly area - the previous owners had installed a monolith type water feature (which didn't really work properly). I've only really used it as a thoroughfare between my patio and garden. I have pots there - sweet peas and raspberries along with my six pots of tomatoes!

I used up the last of the Freecycl3d York stone and filled a gabion frame I'd bought online for £26. I sat on it (with a cushion) and it is very comfy.

The existing water feature's water reservoir is now exposed - it requires quite a deep hole so I am thinking I will put another water feature in that area - maybe a big ceramic or galvanised pot which gently overtops.

I am now thinking about this gravelly middle bit of the garden and what to do with it. I think I'd like to replace the metal shed with a greenhouse and turn the area into a vegetable/fruit growing area. I'll keep an eye out on Gumtree and Freecycl3 whilst I save my pennies for the greenhouse but would like some advice about what fruit trees I could grow in large pots (or galvanised dustbins). I think the space (excluding the shed) is about 12 feet by 12 feet.

I reckon I could grow potatoes and tomatoes in pots. I'd really welcome any advice about what I can grow in post in this area. I'm thinking I could then getting planning and make a start but be really ready for next year!

Gabion seat!


Old water feature laid on its side!! 

Metal shed - I'm thinking replace with a greenhouse which opens up onto this area.

Thanks again for any advice and inspiration!

Farway

For fruit trees, look at columnar trained ones, Chris Bowers has some details on website, but no doubt other suppliers are available https://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/guides/supercolumns/

I'd avoid growing in metal bins, the heat will cook roots near the metal, think bare legs on metal garden seat, stick to standard plastic / wood etc

YoungBlueEyes

When we moved in here Lovely Neighbour bought us an apple and a pear tree from Tescos, and iirc the label said they could be grown in pots. If that's any help? Love your gabion seat btw, and your borage  

Working_Mum

I thought I'd update my thread so I have the journey of my garden in one spot! It's been all go over the last couple of weeks in the middle bit of my garden that I want to turn into a lovely growing space.

I cleared MORE gravel, freecycled it and then built these brick sets which I can place fruit trees and big pots with vegetables and salads in. I have lugged a ton of Scottish cobbles. I like the overall effect although I reckon I'm going to need more cobbles but that can wait a little while.

I have sold the slate monolith (water feature) and that's being collected on the 28th.



I have built a little water feature from a pot that I bought in H0mebase for £32 and have used the existing reservoir and pump which I am very happy about as I hate waste.

 
I placed a wanted ad on Freecycl3 for a greenhouse and picked one up - the lady's husband had dismantled it and hadn't taken a pic so I spent a few hours this weekend re-building it and spraying it black. The door didn't work fully so I've decided against having a door for the moment - I think it looks sleeker and more modern. If I get serious and need a door I will fashion one out of bubble-wrap or something (any advice appreciated).



I am currently resisting the urge to buy tonnes of seeds but will re-consider once I've got the Perspex fitted (that's being ordered over the next week or so).

I've still got quite a bit to do in this area - I'm thinking of putting the fake grass roof I had on the shed which was planted up with sedum etc onto the back bit behind the greenhouse. I reckon I could cut it size and then it'd cover the side of the next door neighbours shed and hopefully the sedum may grow on it. Will give it a go and see how I get on   

FreeBear

Working_Mum said: I am currently resisting the urge to buy tonnes of seeds but will re-consider once I've got the Perspex fitted (that's being ordered over the next week or so).

Be careful with Perspex and similar plastics - The stuff discolours and becomes brittle fairly quickly. Glass would be a better option, but it needs rubber gaskets between the frame & glass along with fiddly clips to hold it all in place.

Farway

Get a door, or something to block the hole.

When it gets windy, as it surely will, the wind will be in there & could blow panes outwards.

They are designed & secured for resisting inwards pressure, not outwards

Is it secured down as well, weight alone will not prevent it from shifting in a good gale

YoungBlueEyes

Which way round does the door face? I'm sure I read about them in one of my old gardening books. You don't want them facing west, because in the UK we mostly get gusterly westerlys and you don't want it rushing in and wrecking the joint.

I love your water feature, it's lovely muted colours I hope the fake grass + sedums will still work hanging down  

That corner of bricks wants sorting out mind