Autumn makeover part 2
By scottish
31 comments
As most of you will remember – the small job of mending a trellis began in earnest 3 weeks ago. You may recall I expected that job to take me around half an hour. In between painting everything that was nailed down – I decided to have a re gig of border I first planted out in April.
Since joining GoY – I have realised that I should have included more shrubs in my original planting scheme. Any excuse to buy more plants really :))
First planted out in April this year…the only shrubs were 2 Rhododendrons which have since been moved…
2 months later and everything is growing away just nicely. A few things in the wrong place but because everything was new I didn’t feel confident enought to move them!
By the beginning of September – having spent many days throughout the summer thinking – what is missing? and realising I had tried to cram too much into this space. I had very little colour in this border from July through to August. That will need to be rectified next year.
There was 3 clematis planted in this border – only one of which decided to flower – then promptly succumb to wilt. Clematis(es) removed to ‘Clematis Hospital’ until next year! A few others I was not happy with in this border were Aconitum, Stachys Byzantina, a tall campanula, drumstick primulas to name but a few. Stachys went directly to the giant compost bin in the sky and the others have been moved to other areas in the garden for the time being!
Looking from the top end of the border right down to the side gate – it seems to go on forever…doesn’t look right, I need to do something to break this up….
I decided to use trellis to create a little fence – this would still let the sun through yet provide the definition that the little box hedge was not.
Digging the holes for the posts commenced….24 inches deep – want to make sure it’s sturdy enough.
Posts set and trellis attached – looking much better already (I think). I couldn’t make up my mind if 1 or 2 trellis looked better so I split the difference and decided to saw one in half!
Now to decide on the new shape of the border….need to remove the chips from this area first…I knew the fact that I had put down so many chips in the first place would come back to bite me on the butt! Still, of we go and a wee while later all was done. A quick check from the upstairs window – yip! That’ll do!
“Mummy….watching you move all that gravel around and running up and down those stairs has made me truly exhausted! Do you mind if I have a rest in here?” said Titch!
Need to get the shape of border worked out now….hosepipe out, a few tweeks and cut out with the lawn edger, bingo
What next….oh yeah, I need to dig the trench for the rocks….wait a minute – I don’t have enough rocks for the edges now, do I? Just need to make a couple of trips round to the woods (only 5 minutes walk, so not too far!) The farmer always has rocks and boulders lying around at the back of his field :)
A bit like a jigsaw puzzle – which stone goes where – an hour or so later……there we go all fitting nicely now….
The supervisor arrives on site….just checking that I’m not slacking off. “Hope you haven’t been sitting down on a ciggie break all day?” Of he walks, happy that I’m sticking to schedule….“Rake the gravel back and give the earth a turn over, compost, sand and soil improver are behind the shed, will be back to check on you later” said Kooki!
Gravel raked…I think Boss Kooki will be pleased with this :)
Soil dug over before I add the compost, sand and soil improver, this area has been under the gravel for around 3 years.
Finished digging in the compost etc just in time…. phew!!!!
Kooki decided to give it a thorough examination, quality control he informs me :)
Planting out and moving around began in earnest, weather was to get worse over the weekend.
A few more plants – some from the nursery and a couple from else where in the garden. That will do for now, don’t want to fall into the same trap as before. I will monitor this area next year and fill in as the seasons progess.
Shrubs are all in, a few more plants moved and removed. The new shrubs I have planted are Cornus, Enkianthus, Exochorda and Heptacodium. The are all quite small just now but I am looking forward to seeing them all flower next year.
View from above….still a little busy in the middle but I can rectify that next year once I get the balance of colour sorted.
Not much left to do now….tweek a few pots – fill the bird table with goodies……
Some seed and nuts in the feeders…..BTW, these feeders are from B&Q – badly designed. They can be used for water or feed. I had to drill drainage holes in the bases to allow any water to drain or else the bird food would go soggy….yukk!
30 minutes later and the birds are back all feeding happily on their winter menu :)
All tidied up and ready for dinner…..
“Don’t forget my dinner” said Oscar!
“Did someone mention Dinner?” thought Chip!
8 Oct, 2011
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Comments
Lovely blog Scottish. I feel tired just reading it, you must be exhausted. It's all looking good though now, well worth the effort. :))
8 Oct, 2011
Well done !
9 Oct, 2011
Looks ten times better with all your hard work. :o)
9 Oct, 2011
I really like your design,Scottish..and the trellis looks so good,breaking up your long garden..what a lot of hard work you have put into it..well done,you must be so pleased with how it's turned out..enjoy :o)
9 Oct, 2011
Wow hen.. a lot of hard work there..and so worth it..looks fab! Weel done..love the animals and birds too :)))
9 Oct, 2011
I love your new look in the garden and your borders are so pretty. I also love the planting, thats how I like mine too. Well done. Great blog
9 Oct, 2011
It looks really nice well done. brill blog
9 Oct, 2011
Wow, what a great job you did with that trellis. I also have a 'problem' area like that....the main problem with mine is the border is far too shallow. Putting that corner in with the trellis is a great solution...brilliant! Thanks for sharing all your hard work....Isn't October exhausting?! ;))
9 Oct, 2011
Lol, October is exhausting, just reading this blog.
Love Oscar, what a cutie and the new bed looking good!
9 Oct, 2011
Well done Scottish...Lots of hard work gone on there...
Love the design, you've added so much more character...
Love the Animals, don't they enjoy being around while we're beavering away :))) Don't envy you all the gravel you had to move, heavy stuff...and the flattened soil that had to be dug over...backbreaking stuff...
The little bird picture returning to the feed table, what a good shot...
You must be feeling tired by elated with what you've acheived...:)))) good on you...
9 Oct, 2011
Exhausted but very happy at a guess, you have done a brilliant job it looks really lovely. Well done on all of your hard work.
9 Oct, 2011
Scottish you have a completely new look, well done on all your hard work, wish I had a farmer with spare stones near me, you can sit back and admire it now knowing its a job well done.
I cannot believe how many birds are back at the feeding stations, at this rate I`m going to need to put up their housekeeping allowance...
9 Oct, 2011
Well it looks very nice after all that work :o)
9 Oct, 2011
Scottish I admired your garden before but must agree that this looks so much more interesting, looking forward to seeing how it matures next year.
9 Oct, 2011
fliping hek ............... lol wot a lot of work and runing up and down !! but well worth it .............. i need a coffee now haha
10 Oct, 2011
lol....Cristina...tiring watching her...:)))
11 Oct, 2011
Thanks to you all for your lovely comments....yes between this and all the painting, I was kinda exhausted, haven't been on GOY because of it!!
I'm very pleased with it all and hopefully it will look even better next year :))
Now onto the autumn tidy up and doing some bulbs in pots - never bothered much with bulbs before but am going to give them a bash!
Thanks again everyone x
11 Oct, 2011
Not surprised,Scottish..but it must be lovely to look out at what you have done..I would be feeling on cloud nine !
I have never bothered with bulbs much either..a few Tete a Tete daffs,and crocus..and that's been about it ! Bought some Narcissi,and some Tulips this year..but haven't a lot of spare garden or pots for more..
11 Oct, 2011
I didn't have any spare pots Bloomer....bought some cheap bulbs from Tescos and Morrisons, then had to go buy some pots for them...didn't think that one through ;))
I have just taken deliver of 300 tulip bulbs which have been donated to the village - Saturday afternoon is 'October Bulb Planting' hope I get plenty of volunteers :)))
11 Oct, 2011
Shame I don't live near,scottish..I would have helped you :o)I'm sure you will get lots of help..hope your weather is ok,,as it has given a decent forecast here,at the weekend ..:o)
11 Oct, 2011
I haven't checked weather Bloomer, it's the only weekend a couple of us have free, so rain or shine we will be there :)
It is a pity you are too far away :))
11 Oct, 2011
Me too; would have loved to have helped, we used to do something similar on the I.O.W. in the Village .....
Good luck anyway...Nice cuppa afterwards ....:)))
12 Oct, 2011
I would too but I go to Dads on Saturdays! :(
12 Oct, 2011
Have a happy planting day Scottish! Great idea! Bloomer I am going to copy Carol Kleins idea and put tulips deep in pots, hers are gorgeous, hope mine will be!
12 Oct, 2011
I have done that with a few of mine,Grandmage..deep under the violas by the front door...hope they grow well too. The others are in various borders...with sticks in,so I remember where they are !..hopefully!I will probably have forgotten what the sticks are for by spring.:o))
12 Oct, 2011
Have done the same thing B. put sticks everywhere and yes I was thinking 'will i remember what the sticks are for' Lol.!! Poor old things!
12 Oct, 2011
Tragic if it wasn't true,Grandmage.Lol.do you think we would be better with flags.. colour co-ordinated to our bulbs ?..ha ha..only one problem..are your's all the same colour? luckily mine are ! Lol...I can just picture how it would look...a bit early for the Queen's Jubilee,methinks..:o))
12 Oct, 2011
Thanks for all you good wishes....I will try remember so take some pictures. I'm hoping that some of the kids will turn up too.
Don't talk to me about planting bulbs - I sliced through a whole lot of allium bulbs the other day. I forgot they were there and by the time they appeared attached to the spade - it was too late :(
12 Oct, 2011
Think we've all done that! :)
13 Oct, 2011
Oh dear,Scottish ..join the club !:o)
13 Oct, 2011
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30 Dec, 2011
Well done, you have been working hard, its looking good.
8 Oct, 2011