2014 - spring makeover (s) part 1

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I’ve been keeping myself busy this last couple of months – the first project, which kind of was unplanned meant moving my shed, which was having water leaking in on the floor. Before it got worse and rotted the base of my shed, I thought it best to move it. It’s a large 10′ × 10′ (that’s around 3m x 3m in new money) so rather costly to replace. I decided that moving it up onto the decking was probably the best idea. The decking really is under used and was a project I under took when I moved here in 2007 – it passed the time whilst the builders got on with the kitchen extension.
No one liked using it as they felt like they were in a ‘goldfish bowl’, that included me too!

The shed and decking just prior to the shed being moved the week before Christmas.

A collage of images taken at the end of December, January and February. The area that was originally behind the shed had a couple of shrubs planted in it. For no other reason than they were bought for else where and I changed my mind about them. My plan had just been to let them do their own thing and would probably benefit the birds by providing an evergreen haven for them. They have now been moved but are still ‘behind’ the shed, doing their own thing. The soil in that area was a good bit higher, so I edged the length with some log edging. Keeping that area raised would not only aid with drainage (should flooding ever be an issue again) it would save me the time and effort of having to level it off.

New trellis was fixed to the boundary fence and shrubs were brought from elsewhere in the garden. I’ve used a Pyracantha as fence cover – it will be trained onto the trellis and kept as tight to the fence as possible. Sambucus nigra Black Lace is central to the top tier of this bed and to the left Cotinus Golden Spirit should add a nice contrast. My Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum Eddisbury) to the right – this Japanese maple is similar to Sango Kaku but will tolerate full sun. Shelter from the wind is by way of the new positioning of shed, fingers crossed! There is also a climbing rose and Clematis montana and another Clematis growing through the rose thrown in up there ‘just for luck’ or should that be ‘coz I had nowhere else to put them’?

Down on the lower level – Viburnum sargentii Onondaga, Deutzia Strawbery Fields and Hydrangea paniculata Pinky Winky are added along the line of the fence. The Photinia Red Robin is presently remaining where it is but I’m not terribly fond of it there – it’s days are numbered, I’ve just not found a replacement yet!

I reshaped the whole border down the entire length of the garden using natural stone (from nearby quarry). I wanted to create an edge that the lawn mower could just fly over. Some of those stones were rather large and as you can imagine burying them flush with the surface was in itself hard work. Come the end of April, plants had been added here and there. I even had the ‘nerve’ to move 2 peonies that were already well into growth and had a few tiny buds forming. I bought some Alliums, Oriental poppies and Helianthus Lemon Queen, there were at that time the only new purchases and I was going to make and I would make do with others from around the garden (like that was ever going to happen!)

At the end of March/beginning of April is was looking at it’s worst. I had really compacted the ground so much from working – where the puddles are is where the lawn was to be seeded. I had to wait until it dried out and give it a good turn over and then prepare it for seeding the lawn.

Come the end of April things were looking so much better – the grass seed had just started to germinate and more plants had been added or moved here. I’m sure as day turns to night, I will have ‘over planted’ and be needing to thin this out sooner rather than later! Why can’t I break that habit?

The same shot just before the sun goes down behind the roof tops this evening.

A few things have disappointed me – namely – the red lupins. The first to flower turns out to be purple – the other plants have buds but no colour yet! Oriental Poppies have just not settled in and are looking rather dire and lastly the Red Robin and Hydrangea paniculata are just not ‘doing it for me’ therefore will need replacing but they can wait now until Autumn.

If we do a wee quarter turn – it takes us to the area that flooded back in 2012. I lost a Cotinus, Lupins and a few more plants that year. The area was restocked with plants that should cope if it reoccurs. I thought I had removed the mushy rhizome of the a bearded Iris – I must have missed a bit, look what has recovered – it has no name, scented and is totally smothered by a large Persicaria, Trollius and Astilbe. This Iris just doesn’t read the books, does it? It’s managed to flower against all odds!

Back up to the top tier, the Acer is looking great and has been filled in round about with a selection of perennials that pick out the colours of the foliage on the Acer.

Oh and before I forget, speaking of plants that just don’t read the books – here are both Peonies having been moved mid March (picture taken yesterday) – I have been very strict with watering and it seems to have done the trick. I pleased my risk paid off!

Thank you for reading thus far, there is more to come – Project Privacy is well and truly finished and I’ll be blogging about that next time.

31 May, 2014
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Comments

Cinderella

Well done, your hard work has paid off. It looks great.

1 Jun, 2014

Hywel

It's been a lot of work for you but it looks lovely now.
I'm glad your Peonies survived. Some plants are tougher than we think and will defy all the books :)

1 Jun, 2014

Jagienka

what a tranformation! It looks like a ton of work and careful planning paid off, that corner looks lovely. Can't wait for part 2 :D

1 Jun, 2014

Cottagekaren

Yes, I'm looking forward to part two as well! You've done a fantastic job there, and as for the over planting...well, we all do it don't we!? You'll have fun thinning g it out if necessary later. I love the way you picked out the colours in the Acer and used them in the under-planting. It's very stylish!

1 Jun, 2014

Scottish

Snoop - you flatter me :) Glad you like it.
HB - thank you very much. I do take too many chances in moving my plants - I find so long as I'm willing to put in the effort of watering them I don't loose too much.
Your compliments are much appreciated.
Cinders, I'm glad I can sit back and enjoy it all now - it took me a while but got there in the end!
Hywel - I took on too much this spring and I was feeling really down for a good couple of weeks, still got there in the end and my mood has lifted! As I said above, I take chances in moving plants, I know I'm not alone and it would probably make experienced gardeners toes curl!
Jagienka - thank you so much, I'm not so sure I'd call it planning though. More like 'suck it and see' kind of gardener me!
Karen - What a lovely compliment. I occasionally get it right, mind you I'd not show the ones I don't on here! Yes, the thinning out - I'll be pleased if I can get 2 years without having to fiddle with it all!

1 Jun, 2014

Cottagekaren

I'm a terror for moving stuff. Been at it today, shifting all sorts around in that golden border! It usually works as you say...a big big rootball and lots of watering! Like you, I even moved a paeony in bud with no I'll effects. Sometimes I think "should really wait until the autumn" ...but I never do!

1 Jun, 2014

Scottish

You know Karen, I've been staring at the area at the back for a couple of weeks now and how Sambucus is lost with the fence in the background. I bought a Hawthorn tree today - guess what I'm moving tomorrow. Mind you, where the Sambucus is going to go now is any bodies business!
That's 3 trees in 3 weeks! I'm getting a habit! Hope the stuff you moved today does well for you. That golden border is going to be wonderful

1 Jun, 2014

Cottagekaren

Lol! Thanks! I love Sambucus...all of them. I bought a new one last week, it's variegated...'Madonna'. But my favourites are the black feathery one and The Golden one with red berries. s. racemosa... I don't have it here...yet! Good luck with the shifting...I loved my Hawthorn tree....perfect for a small garden, and the insects love hawthorn. It supports a lot of biodiversity.

1 Jun, 2014

Tuesdaybear

You have been a busy girl! How much you've achieved since Christmas! I share your 'bad habits' of moving things when in full bloom and overplanting. Late last Summer, I moved a rose which was about 5ft tall and very bushy. I pruned some of it back (a bit) to give it a fighting chance, but I probably shouldn't have done that really, and then watered, watered, watered and it's as lovely as ever. I've also done the unforgivable and moved a peony before now. Like you, I have a shed to move, except in this case it will be disposed of. It is well and truly falling apart and I want the space for a small veg plot with an arbour or some such behind and maybe even the water feature which I was promised some 17 years ago!!
Looking forward to Part 2, Angie.

1 Jun, 2014

Dorjac

You have been hard at work Scottish. Your planting looks very expert and well thought out. Nice to start with a clean slate in a section of the garden every so often. I try to do this on a smaller scale when I lose control of part of my border. I am just having a try out of Erysimums to avoid planting the front of the border twice a year as I get older. Sorry to hear your garden flooded and hope this is the last time it happens.

2 Jun, 2014

Oliveoil

I love that planting, well done Scottish, it is coming along so nicely. You will get things right and get some things wrong, that is the fun of gardening, never a dull moment. It looks so lush and colourful now. Keep up the good work I look forward to the next episode. Great pictures of lots of hard work with excellent results. :O)

2 Jun, 2014

Scottish

TB - your plans for a veg patch sound great as does the arbour. Good luck with your makeover. I bought an arbour for mum a couple of years back and since doing this makeover I've not worked out where to put it yet! She's been having a wee moan about it almost every day since April!
Dorjac - thank you. It's often better to start with a clean slate, as I'm learning. My trouble is I have too many ideas mid summer and don't have the patience to wait until it's practical to do things. If the flooding reoccurs everything I've planted there should cope I will move the Iris at some point. I was given a couple of Erysimum cuttings by someone on GOY last year - they are doing well in my front garden. I think your idea to use instead of annuals is a good one and much less work.
Oliveoil - thank you for all the encouragement, it truly is appreciated. Now I know 'what' I like, it's only taken me 3 years - I can concentrate on trying to achieve that look.
I've just a wee bit tidying up to do and get some pictures of the rest of my changes.

2 Jun, 2014

2014 - spring makeover (s) part 1

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