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Looking for some design advice

KLKL Posts: 115
in Garden design
I have an area in my garden that I have never done anything with and was planning either laying railway sleepers or build a small wall to separate it from the rest of the garden but after having a good think about it, it might just end up a miserable looking part of the garden that’s neglected. So I raked out all the dead leaves, moss, stones etc today though it still needs a lot more tidying up and was thinking of just turfing it so it blends in with the rest of the garden. 

My problem is I work abroad 7 months of the year so it needs to low maintenance so does anyone have any ideas that might be better than turfing it. I’m going to be home for while now so ideal time to get it done. 

The picture below is after todays tidy up 


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  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Mowing that slope might be tricky so I'd think twice about that. You can't build a wall/sleepers and then infill with soil because that will kill the tree. The tree will cast shade (what tree is it, a birch?) If so, they are greedy trees which will take all the moisture/nutrients from the soil beneath.
    Basically what you need is a spreading, preferably evergreen plant which will cope with shade and lack of nutrients, so I guess ivy might fit the bill, although it's not everyones cup of tea. You can get some rather nice variegated types though that would lighten the shade, think green/cream or green/white etc. Otherwise a white periwinkle, (also evergreen and a tough spreader might fit the bill.
    I don't think in the present crisis, you will be going anywhere for the next 7 months I'm afraid!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • KLKL Posts: 115
    I was t thinking of filling it in just kind of separate it into a different area. My plan was to build the partition and leave it as it is. I’m really not sure what type of tree it is. 

    I’m a very inexperienced Gardner so will read up on your recommendations to see if I like them. Yes I agree with you that I’m going no where hence an ideal time to sort my garden out, thanks 


  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Lizzie is right that you don’t want to be raising the soil level around the tree as that will kill it, but I think you might be able to do so something. If you took a straight horizontal line out from the base of the front of the tree to, say 50cm, and build a small wall up to that level, maybe three or four bricks high, you could infill with soil to the base of the tree, so it is level, which would give you some workable soil to plant a line of shrubs, perennials or grasses in that could cope with dry soil and require little care or watering, without burying the trunk and compromising the health of the tree. I have incorporated existing trees into raised beds on slopes that way.

    Tree roots grow down, not up, so either side and maybe higher up behind it, you could incorporate some low maintenance shrubs suitable for poor soil/dry shade in little pockets of soil.  On saying all that, Lizzie’s suggestions are probably the easiest to care for for when you are away for long periods in the future!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    That's good advice @Nollie, I hadn't thought of that.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • KLKL Posts: 115
    I understand what your saying Nollie and that was my initial plan regarding the wall possibly a bit further out to line up with the slab behind the shed, kind of where the taper meets the flat grass. I was never intending to back fill it but also never realised if I did that it would be detrimental to the tree so glad this was pointed out as I wouldn’t fancy that thing rotting and falling onto my house or my neighbours 🙈. 

    I will have a look in daylight tomorrow and make a decision though I am still thinking about turfing it as I don’t think cutting it would be such a chore. 
  • amazingamazing Posts: 8
    Hi I agree about the tree comments. Have you thought about wild meadow turf? It needs very little maintenance, works on a slope, is great for bees, butterflies and wildlife and will give you interest all year long. 
  • KLKL Posts: 115
    No , I’ve never heard of wild meadow turf but will certainly look into it, thanks 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited March 2020
    Have a look at sedums too.  There are small, ground cover ones - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-results?query=sedums and taller ones with broader, composite flower heads that are great sources of nectar and pollen for insects in late summer - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-results?query=Sedum%2Bspectabile%2B.

    They've changed botanical name recently from Sedum to Hylotelephium so don't let that confuse you.

    If you go for ivies there's quite a range of leaf size and variegation.  One with cream in the foliage will brighten and lighten that slope on grey days.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • KLKL Posts: 115
    Unfortunately your links are just showing pages of text and not opening.  
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Google RHS+sedum spectabile and RHS+sedum+ground cover and you'll find the info.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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