We have a lawn :-)

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Well its took a while but we’re finally there (mostly lol). Over the last few months we’ve worked our socks off digging over the lawn area, preparing it for turfing. As well as just digging to loosen the compaction we’ve also dug out a ridiculous amount of roots (mostly mares tail), which is what has taken the time (well that and the cement like soil surface lol).

Part way through digging the lawn we got completely fed up so went for a jolly to a local (ish) garden centre when I spent a slightly scary amount of money (then we went back a second time for a second attempt lol). I then followed that up with a trip (or 2 lol) to a GC by work. I also managed to find 2 big half whisky barrels (well 1 whisky one wine) from an online supplier. Most of what we brought was intended for the house patio which is north facing so gets a fair amount of shade. Planted up I’m quite pleased with the effect (everything has already really filled out from these photos):

Campanula glomerata alba and Begonia semperflorens

Acer Ornatum

Heucherella Sweet Tea

Left to right: Heuchera Cherry Cola, Begonia Go Early, Astrantia Major Sunningdale, Begonia Go Early and Heucherella Sunrise Falls

Left to right: Geum Eos, Begonia Go Early, Astrantia Major Rosea, Begonia Go Early and Heucherlla Brass Lanterns

Bamboo fargesia in a BIG half whisky barrel

Bamboo (not sure of the type) in a half wine barrel

Corner by the back door

Other patio corner

I’ve still got the one little wooden planter to fill, just need to decide what with. As I want something tall ish I’m struggling some.

Well anyway back to the digging. We finally got close to the end (I wasn’t convinced we would lol) where we started talking about the planned herb bed. We had been thinking about having a herb wheel but I hadn’t been convinced it would fit with my plans for the border. Well as we had dug out a huge amount of bricks (still not convinced the house wasn’t growing an extension lol) we started playing with shapes:

We both quite liked this so decided to run with it. Since we’ve got such a problem with mares tail we decided to dig it out quite deeply, build the raised border, use a weed control membrane on the bottom of the bed and fill it with fresh soil. All the spoil from the hole I sifted through a 10mm riddle (oy vey its work on the arms). But the end result (complete with a selection of herbs) looks quite good (though I say so myself)

At this stage I think we had spearmint, curry plant, rosemary, bay, variegated thyme, broadleaf thyme, lemon balm, blackcurrant sage, purple sage, common sage, French tarragon and feverfew. We’ve since added lemon scented thyme, marigolds between the thyme in front of the bed, a bronze fennel to the one side, a fennel on the other side, pineapple mint, majoram and a pretty one whose name escapes me. We’ve also got carrots growing in the front of the bed.

It was about this point I got very excited and opened a bottle of wine :-)

Before we put the lawn down we decided to plant a tree in one of the planned borders. So one evening after work we spent a ridiculous amount of time planting a Eucalyptus gunii

(not the best photo – sorry)

I ummed and ahhed loads before getting this tree. But as we said what the heck its gorgeous and if it gets too big for its boots we can always take it out.

Anyway, I’m sure your getting bored now and wondering when on earth I’m going to reveal the lawn. Well without further ado (and only one cut finger) here it is:

View from the chairs by the house

View from the path by the garage

I keep finding myself just standing and grinning at it. Laying the lawn made such a huge difference to the garden.

As well as all that I talked my brother and cousin into helping out by painting the garage and strimming the front lawn (it may have been a tad long lol). We’ve also started painting next doors falling down fence (so at least it is less of an eye sore), put up a rose arch over the path (no photos yet though) and started digging over the remaining borders. Still got borders to finish and hopefully the chippy will show up sometime this week to put in a new door and window in the garage (both are in a terrible state) and put up a pergola over the patio by the garage (I’m thinking about growing a grape vine over it). Oh yeah and we’ve been growing tomatoes, salad leaves, radish, carrots, coriander and the amazing fenugreek which was grown from supermarket herb pot (the type intended for use in food rather than for growing) 4 years past its date lol. I’ve then got masses of plants to put in and the plants I’ve taken from nans to move (I’ve got part of a peony, some London’s Pride, a Japanese Anenome, a Geum and a tiny Heuchera). I’ve also got Grandad’s rose in the front garden to move later on in the year when its dormant. I’m really pleased with it though, its got 2 flowers at the moment. My OH’s mom thinks it could be Queen Elizabeth (planted over 30 years ago by my grandad)

Finally just to keep myself busy (lol) I’m growing a few different things from seed. I was amazed at how many verbena bonariensis germinated, think I’ve got about 40 plants. Now if I can just get them to bush out a bit…. My star plant from seed though has got to be this Malva (so far)

I’ll leave it there for now, since I’m bound to have bored you senseless lol. If you’ll excuse me I’m off to grin at the garden for a bit lol (or dig).

• 21 Jul, 2014
• 12 likes

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