What to do with flower bed

Eldi_Dos

FreeBear said:

Eldi_Dos said: It looks to me it would be a good spot for a veg plot or a flower bed with the garage wall acting as a windbreak and a radiator which would help growth.

Or plant a couple of fruit trees and train them as espaliers.

Hadn't thought of that but would work well. Depending where in the country may even be able to put in a couple of grape vines.

I know it is going off on a tangent and hope the OP will forgive.

I once went on one of those bus trips when on holiday that take you to local places of interest, driving through a hilly area used for grape growing I noticed at the end of the row's of vines there was red rose bushes planted curious about this I asked the rep, who said that they planted the rose bushes as they would show any sign of disease or pests before the vines and give a early warning. Suppose a bit like a Canary down a pit.

Bookworm105

Money_Grabber13579 said:

Albermarle said:

I am wondering why the plastic sheet was there in the first place?
Also I am not an expert but I would be a bit concerned about having soil right up against the house outside wall, but probably better someone more expert comments on that.

For the soil itself, I would dig in some compost/manure/ soil improver as deep as possible, before adding some topsoil.

My thought would be that the plastic sheet was there to stop damp going through to the walls of the house? If the plastic is removed, is there not a risk that having damp soil that high up will cause problems?

no way is that sheet anything to do with damp proofing
more likely it was a previous attempt at weed suppression with a "bit" of soil on top to prevent it being blown away.

danrv

Bookworm105 said:

Money_Grabber13579 said:

Albermarle said:

I am wondering why the plastic sheet was there in the first place?
Also I am not an expert but I would be a bit concerned about having soil right up against the house outside wall, but probably better someone more expert comments on that.

For the soil itself, I would dig in some compost/manure/ soil improver as deep as possible, before adding some topsoil.

My thought would be that the plastic sheet was there to stop damp going through to the walls of the house? If the plastic is removed, is there not a risk that having damp soil that high up will cause problems?

no way is that sheet anything to do with damp proofing
more likely it was a previous attempt at weed suppression with a "bit" of soil on top to prevent it being blown away.

Yes, could be. It slopes down from the edge to about 40cm deep.
At least now I can get the soil out and maybe reuse some and take the rest to the recycling centre.

danrv

FreeBear said:

That brick wall will stop any soil from breaching the DPC in the garage

Right about the wall. It's been done well.
On the other side where the kerb stone is, it's a bodge of concrete and rocks.
It'll be covered with soil anyway.
A bulk bag of top soil I hope will fill it with soil improver down first.

BarelySentientAI

Proper walls!

danrv

Have just had a bulk bag of Melcourt topsoil delivered for the bed and also for the new area of lawn.
Although it's the same type as I ordered before, this seems to have more sand content. It does state that it's a blended loam topsoil.
It's also quite hard and compacted further down but I guess it's because it might have been stored awhile. Ok when it's broken up with a spade.
Maybe fussing too much but the other batch was black and a lot easier to shovel. 
Any ideas appreciated.

twopenny

That looks like sub soil to me. It doesn't look healthy and well fed. Try a bit in a small bowl with a drop/spray of water and see what happens to it.

Water and clay soil, it can be moulded. Water and sandy soil it will fall apart. Water and good, humus rich soil is sticky but will break up as you play with it. Bit like the 3 bears

That's good building of the walls (apart from the right hand side) and should have some thought and purpose for a nice design of plants. Someone has taken time and trouble.

Can't quite see what that would be though.

For more detail on soil (not a lot though) have a look at this

https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/find-out-your-soil-type/

Eldi_Dos

If you are dubious of it and in no great hurry, run some of it through a sieve into a couple of planting trays and seed with some grass seed, keep well watered in a sunny spot and see what germination rate is like.

Although it does not look humus rich that in itself does not mean it is not suitable.

My own inclination would be to shovel in a layer,rake and de-stone and just work your way up.
For the lawn I would sieve as putting down.

danrv

Eldi_Dos said:

If you are dubious of it and in no great hurry, run some of it through a sieve into a couple of planting trays and seed with some grass seed, keep well watered in a sunny spot and see what germination rate is like.

Although it does not look humus rich that in itself does not mean it is not suitable.

My own inclination would be to shovel in a layer,rake and de-stone and just work your way up.
For the lawn I would sieve as putting down.

Good idea about growing some seed in it.
It's actually free of stones. Just needs a bit of breaking up.
I planted some Westland fast acting lawn seed in the last batch of topsoil and that is now 6cm high in three weeks.

Chemistry777

I would start with some trellising on the garage wall and perhaps get some some climbing rose or other climber.

I tend to tier my flower beds in height from back to front with 3 rows (high, mid and low).  Others prefer a "wilder" look but lots of good websites can go you a planting scheme.