Help new gardener!

s.ashbyclarke · May 2020

Hi, I’m looking for some advice, as much as I’m desperate to know what I’m doing I haven’t got a clue when it comes to gardening!

2.5 years ago I moved into a new build property so had to start from scratch. We build a border and planted a young apple tree but looking for something else to put in the border. Any advice on what will compliment the border/tree without effecting the trees growth? Thanks!

josusa47 · May 2020

Hallo, s.ashbyclarke, and welcome to this funky forum! You've done a very neat job there. Fruit trees, especially young ones, fare best with a circle kept clear of other plants around them. This means they are not facing competition for the available water and nutrients. I wouldn't plant anything closer to it than those two little silvery plants. But some low-growing plants around the edges of that structure would look good. It's not too late to sow nasturtiums and marigolds, and they will self-seed ever after. Another cheap and cheerful plant, and it's evergreen and drought-hardy, is London Pride, Saxifraga x urbium. It has rosettes of glossy little leaves and dainty pink flowers.

Do any of your neighbours have apple trees? A few apple varieties are self-fertile, but most of them need another apple tree fairly close by to pollinate it, otherwise it won't set fruit. So it might be worth your while to plant another apple tree if you've got room.

owd potter · May 2020

Looks like the soil in your raised beds is in contact with fence?
If so it will rot the fence so you may want to address that.

m_ali1986 · May 2020

Hi,

I'm a newbie too so can't help but I agree with @josusa47, that is a neat job 🖒

NewBoy2 · May 2020

This is a polite suggestion.

Buy a couple of books on the 2nd hand websites on this subject and read them.

that will give you confidence , experience and some ideas that YOU can try.

Note what you do and what works and what fails.

Thats how we all started.

rebeccamM6CA_Gn6 · May 2020

Agree with @NewBoy2 - Just so many plants and and options out there and it depends hugely on the soil type + PH, the aspect, your climate, and also how much time you want to spend gardening! I'm very new too, so for me the first thing was to sun map the garden, to see when the light hits and when. Then to test the soil for drainage and PH. From there you can consider if you'd like an overall colour scheme, or lots of variety that is perhaps more wildlife friendly, or easy care, or scented, or something a bit more unusual? But considering the light, water and soil and first and importantly what you want from your lovely new garden is a good place to start. From there the world is your oyster and it's all trial and error

(agree about the soil at the very back - if it's touching the fence?)
(agree - don't plant too close to the base of the tree! It's small now but it will grow so the shade and dryness might make planting just there tricky, for now you could try inexpensive seed annuals to fill the gap perhaps if you like, poppies etc)
Good luck!

Bijdezee · May 2020

Bulbs wouldn't hurt. Small flowered daffs, anemones, scilla, crocus etc. I do that under my apple tree with no detrimental effect.

amancalledgeorge · May 2020

Did you miss the bit about second hand books @Treeface you'll also realise that libraries are currently closed. Plenty of them toato be had at a couple of pounds.

amancalledgeorge · May 2020

They're on their way 😉

tui34 · May 2020

@s.ashbyclarke Hi - you have some pretty good advice there. Most information can be googled and the library is certainly the place to look for info. Often other people cruising these shelves can be helpful, too. Good luck!

Help new gardener!

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