Two years later
By arbuthnot
10 comments
When we came here two years ago the garden had barely been touched. It was obviously tidied up to sell the house so we almost had a blank canvas.
The Ceanothus was there (thank you previous owners), as was the Fatsia and a very few other very small shrubs/plants, some of which clearly didn’t like where they were. We removed the membrane that had been laid over the beds and chipped bark covering it, removing most of the miserable plants as well. Then we dug in lots of manure and compost which meant I could then fill the borders with my own choice of plants. The lawn edges were reshaped and the pathway altered slightly though I was happy with it straight. The garden design is nothing special, I know, but Him Indoors wanted an easily maintained lawn with no awkward corners to mow. Plus he no longer has the energy to do heavy landscaping and would baulk at having someone else do it. I simply don’t have the vision, being more of a plant collector.
The first picture (the windows bars have now gone thankfully) shows how the garden looked in February 2014. The second two as it is now. The manuring and composting continue as the ground is still far from great but it has enough nutrients in it now to nurture the plants I’ve added.
I’m pleased at how much it has come on in these two years.
3 Jun, 2016
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Comments
That's kind of you to say so, Dan. My garden is only about 40ft or so square so very tiny, especially compared to the two thirds of an acre we had before moving here. Why not post a picture of your garden and we can compare planting?
3 Jun, 2016
Its very attractive Arbuthnot, you completely changed the look of the garden, I like the curves but admit I haven't the patience when it comes to clipping the edges of the lawns, I cheated here and put concrete edging around mine, you have every right to give yourselves a pat on the back it looks great ...
3 Jun, 2016
It looks good, Arbuthnot. I too have a stepping stone path to the corner of my garden. It definitely makes the garden look bigger having a diagonal axis. After 44 years living here, the garden is mature (!) but I honestly think it looks bigger than the gardens on either side mainly because of that path to the bottom left-hand corner.
3 Jun, 2016
Looks lovely :-)
4 Jun, 2016
Thank you for all your kind comments. My garden wouldn't win any prizes but, given our ages, I think we've done well. I would, of course, have loved a properly designed and landscaped garden wherever I lived but Him Indoors wouldn't going lay out all that money when he could design it himself. Not on your life! And that's why it's an ordinary design not an innovative or creative one.
Still, I love the colour and still have a list of plants I want to buy - there's always room for more. I also want to move one or two now they've grown a bit but that's gardening, isn't it? My motto is find a space and as long as it's the right aspect put it in though I do think of the colours beside each plant. Then I buy one that's wrongly labelled!
4 Jun, 2016
We have done similar, we decided to do a figure of 8 to the lawn to start us off as you just want some structure and form, did ours about 6 years ago after having extension built (been in the house 18 years) and the planting is still a work in progress but am pleased with what we've achieved, and lots of inspiration from GOY (hoping to get rid of trampoline soon!!) :-))
4 Jun, 2016
this has seen a lot of good changes. Like you I love plants rather than a good design. but my garden and as long as I like it......
4 Jun, 2016
Such a wise statement Sbg! Our gardens are our havens (mine is anyway). That's the wonderful thing - they are there just for us!
5 Jun, 2016
You've said it all!
6 Jun, 2016
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14 Apr, 2016
Similar to what mine was like too! Mines just alot smaller! Your garden looks brilliant!!
3 Jun, 2016