JennyJ, I'll get a couple of those added to the list. The neighbour has a lovely buddleia which the butterfly's love, so would blend in well with what's over the wall.
Digging out the turf is slow going, I'm doing an hour or so at a time to fit in with the gaps in rain and toddler activities. Nearly at the point where I can start forking over the soil and remove the smaller stones and weeds from the first section.
On the subject of weeds, does anyone know what this in the photo? It's growing along the wall, it's quite pretty but not sure if to pull or not.
1. I wouldn't go down the ericaceous route on alkaline soil. 2. Just mulch. The border will probably not be 'permanent', you will probably want to divide plants and make modifications. I would go for bark chip which will degrade and feed the soil. 3. Why not forget about an edge and just plant the whole thing up to the tarmac?
I would love a space like that, and would plant big sausage shaped drifts of perennials and ornamental grasses, in a Piet Oudolf style, maybe with a few accent multi-stem shrubs. Cercis siliquastrum would probably be a bit better than Amelanchier on your soil.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Hi AnnieD, yes it is pretty sticky. I'll do a bit of reading up on Goose Grass. Thank you.
WillDB. I'm incredibly lucky with the space, I'd love to do the full border over time so may just leave the edging for a while.
I've definitely given up on changing the soil, but will have a few pots of Azalea and maple dotted around to brighten the place up. I've been won over to just mulching too. I can see a lot of change and extra plants going in to the space compared to what I originally thought.
Thank you for the tip on Cercis siliquastrum, they are a beautiful tree with a wonderful colour.
So it's been a while, but some progress has been made.
After trying to dig out the turf and knackering my wrist in the process, I had a bit of a hiatus and decided to go for the cover and gravel option instead.
I'm about 70% done on the landscaping, just one sweeping curve to add in, but pleased with how it's looking.
Keeping in with a gravel garden, I've planted in a couple of different thymes and a rosemary.
I've a 'Beauty of Moscow' lilac at the corner end, two Hydrangea 'Vanilla Fraise', two different pieris and a Hebe 'Strawberries and cream', oh and an Itoh peony 'Prairie Charm'.
A Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief' will be the feature plant of the to be shovelled curve.
Planting so far has been a bit chaotic, any recommendations on shrubs and plants to help fill out the space would be appreciated.
Soil wise, I'd say we are the limey side of neutral, bit not by much due to the lasting impact of a leylandi hedge that was removed some years back. I know euphorbia would work well, but avoiding that due to a toddler sized garden helper and risk of sap. The keen of eye may spot we have also sprouted a poly tunnel, which is another thread altogether!
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Digging out the turf is slow going, I'm doing an hour or so at a time to fit in with the gaps in rain and toddler activities. Nearly at the point where I can start forking over the soil and remove the smaller stones and weeds from the first section.
On the subject of weeds, does anyone know what this in the photo? It's growing along the wall, it's quite pretty but not sure if to pull or not.
Thanks
2. Just mulch. The border will probably not be 'permanent', you will probably want to divide plants and make modifications. I would go for bark chip which will degrade and feed the soil.
3. Why not forget about an edge and just plant the whole thing up to the tarmac?
I would love a space like that, and would plant big sausage shaped drifts of perennials and ornamental grasses, in a Piet Oudolf style, maybe with a few accent multi-stem shrubs. Cercis siliquastrum would probably be a bit better than Amelanchier on your soil.
WillDB. I'm incredibly lucky with the space, I'd love to do the full border over time so may just leave the edging for a while.
I've definitely given up on changing the soil, but will have a few pots of Azalea and maple dotted around to brighten the place up. I've been won over to just mulching too. I can see a lot of change and extra plants going in to the space compared to what I originally thought.
Thank you for the tip on Cercis siliquastrum, they are a beautiful tree with a wonderful colour.
After trying to dig out the turf and knackering my wrist in the process, I had a bit of a hiatus and decided to go for the cover and gravel option instead.
I'm about 70% done on the landscaping, just one sweeping curve to add in, but pleased with how it's looking.
Keeping in with a gravel garden, I've planted in a couple of different thymes and a rosemary.
I've a 'Beauty of Moscow' lilac at the corner end, two Hydrangea 'Vanilla Fraise', two different pieris and a Hebe 'Strawberries and cream', oh and an Itoh peony 'Prairie Charm'.
A Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief' will be the feature plant of the to be shovelled curve.
Planting so far has been a bit chaotic, any recommendations on shrubs and plants to help fill out the space would be appreciated.
Soil wise, I'd say we are the limey side of neutral, bit not by much due to the lasting impact of a leylandi hedge that was removed some years back. I know euphorbia would work well, but avoiding that due to a toddler sized garden helper and risk of sap.
The keen of eye may spot we have also sprouted a poly tunnel, which is another thread altogether!