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Large water trough - ideas!

kat.keen01kat.keen01 Posts: 2
in Garden design
I have a large, currently rather blank expanse of grass leading straight into arable fields. Have started a wildflower meadow effect area (20' by 30' approx) in front of wire fence to crops to soften the boundary. Mixed results - soil is poor, comfrey rather too vigorous. Been given a v large (8') old galvanised trough which is now sited in foreground of wild flowers/comfrey. Looking for ideas on what to put in it! (And any ideas on limiting comfrey take-over also happily received!)

Posts

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    I'd use the trough as a raised bed for growing vegetables. 

    I have a clump of comfrey in my garden which I planted five years ago.  I cut it twice a year and use it in various ways:  to make liquid feed, stuff handfuls of roughly-chopped leaves into the bottom of planting holes, and put the rest in the compost bin.  I've never had a problem with it straying beyond where I planted it.  Perhaps because it's the sterile Bocking 14 strain.  Is yours seeding itself around, or are the clumps expanding?  If the first, I suggest you dig it all out and replace with Bocking 14.  If the second, perhaps you just need to cut it oftener.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Does the trough still hold water? If you could direct some rain water through it they make nice planters for aquatic plants. Maybe drill small outlets at half height and use it to collect and slow some water run off from your roof.

    Comfrey is a really useable crop in the garden so I'd say just harvest the life out of it and make some excellent compost and liquid feeds.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • kat.keen01kat.keen01 Posts: 2
    Some comfrey is good, but it was established essentially as a weed for some twenty years - it covers half my "wild flower" patch and is taking over any un-mown areas. I know it's useful, but I could provide comfrey tea for half the county and still have left overs....! I struggle to dig it on this patch as it is the demolished remains of a cow shed - lots of stone! Hence wild flowers - soil is too poor for grasses which gave a real opportunity.
  • lily6lily6 Posts: 79
    Have you considered clump forming Bamboo? I was gifted a vintage cattle trough, its beautiful and is in deep shade and thriving, planted with carefully chosen Bamboo Red Panda and underplanted with Liriope Muscari. Bamboo would help blur your boundary and cope with weather exposure, but careful research is a must to make the right choice. As for the comfrey as a jobbing gardener I cut it down and add it to the compost heap. 
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