That's more like the idea, but I'm a bit concerned about the exposed roots. Those will need covered up. You'll need to layer on the soil and compost again, and just keep the edging a bit more discreet, or bite the bullet and put in some brick or rock to contain the bed instead.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
May I suggest that you remove all the bits of grass and earth you cut off. By throwing them under the Magnolia they will regrow and you will have defeated the objective of clearing /mulching . I suspect you have severed several Magnolia root on the way round...hope it will be OK. Make sure you put more mulch over the exposed roots.
@Fairygirl I've just had a thought as well, if I'm actually going to be sowing a wildflower "meadow" around the tree (apart from the small patch by the grass) can I get away without the near edge? You're (hopefully) not going to see it much anyway.
You can obviously see the area I'm prepping to sow yellow rattle
I'm not sure that would work. The tree would benefit from being fed/mulched on a fairly regular basis, and wildflowers won't like richer conditions. It would be impossible to separate them. @Silver surfer is right - you need to remove the turf you've cut away. I didn't realise you had so many roots so near the surface, or I wouldn't have suggested digging down too far. Just make sure that's all well covered again. I really meant just to angle the bit at the edge a bit more, and then add the compost to make the slope, not remove a load of soil from the area round the tree.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl sorry, perhaps I didn't make myself clear. The area under the tree that's bare soil, that would be mulched and kept clear for the tree and some bulbs.
The area of dodgy looking lawn in front of tree is where I'll be sowing for wildflowers, not under the tree. I'm assuming that's what you thought? Please correct me if I'm wrong!
I've refilled the trench with the topsoil and covered the roots. The only area where "lawn" will meet the clear area under the tree is the small strip right next to the path (where you can see the bags filled with rubbish)
Ah - ok. I understand now. You might be better with a proper, solid edge then, to avoid an overlap of the two areas. It may also be better to bring the wildflowers right across to the path too, rather than having that wee strip of grass. I'm not sure the two areas work very well side by side though, but that's just my personal opinion.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl ok, a few more questions, bare with me! 😀
1. Totally value any experienced opinion, even if I eventually disagree!! Lol. Why do you not think it would work? From a practical or an aesthetic point of view?
2. With the solid edge, I'm assuming it'll need to be dug in to give it a solid foundation. Do I not give myself the same problem of cutting roots in order to do that?
3. I've added a couple of wider pictures of the front garden area. The area of mowed lawn to the right of my overgrown patch is the neighbour. The square of mowed lawn to the left of the path is mine.
In the first year I mowed the lawn to both sides of the path but the bit where the tree is was uneven, bumpy, patchy and never looked good. I left it to grow long in the hope of some naturalised wildflowers but didn't get anything. Now it's all flopping over and looking very messy.
The plan was to sow some seeds, starting with yellow rattle to knock back the grass, then introduce annuals and perennials but to have it lower maintenance.
I have to go out! Aesthetically, I don't think those two areas would look right as they stand. You wouldn't need any foundation just to put some rock or brick round the circle. It would just be laid on the soil. If you were concerned about them moving, you could just lay them on a small layer of mortar, on the soil, or on some gravel. Again, it would be largely cosmetic. I can't see any more photos, but in the one I can see, is there no physical barrier between the grass you have, and the neighbour's grass? I think that would be a good idea, but that depends on how your neighbours feel, and whether any restrictions prevent it too. Maybe it would be better to do the whole area currently grassed, as wildflowers, and mow a path to give you access to the tree - perhaps on a curve, which would also give some interest, and would suggest a route to the tree - the focal point.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
You'll need to layer on the soil and compost again, and just keep the edging a bit more discreet, or bite the bullet and put in some brick or rock to contain the bed instead.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
By throwing them under the Magnolia they will regrow and you will have defeated the objective of clearing /mulching .
I suspect you have severed several Magnolia root on the way round...hope it will be OK. Make sure you put more mulch over the exposed roots.
You can obviously see the area I'm prepping to sow yellow rattle
I've only done a small section, perhaps cut 3 or 4 roots, no more. I'll pull the topsoil back into the trench
It would be impossible to separate them.
@Silver surfer is right - you need to remove the turf you've cut away. I didn't realise you had so many roots so near the surface, or I wouldn't have suggested digging down too far. Just make sure that's all well covered again.
I really meant just to angle the bit at the edge a bit more, and then add the compost to make the slope, not remove a load of soil from the area round the tree.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The area of dodgy looking lawn in front of tree is where I'll be sowing for wildflowers, not under the tree. I'm assuming that's what you thought? Please correct me if I'm wrong!
I've refilled the trench with the topsoil and covered the roots. The only area where "lawn" will meet the clear area under the tree is the small strip right next to the path (where you can see the bags filled with rubbish)
It may also be better to bring the wildflowers right across to the path too, rather than having that wee strip of grass.
I'm not sure the two areas work very well side by side though, but that's just my personal opinion.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
1. Totally value any experienced opinion, even if I eventually disagree!! Lol. Why do you not think it would work? From a practical or an aesthetic point of view?
2. With the solid edge, I'm assuming it'll need to be dug in to give it a solid foundation. Do I not give myself the same problem of cutting roots in order to do that?
3. I've added a couple of wider pictures of the front garden area. The area of mowed lawn to the right of my overgrown patch is the neighbour. The square of mowed lawn to the left of the path is mine.
In the first year I mowed the lawn to both sides of the path but the bit where the tree is was uneven, bumpy, patchy and never looked good. I left it to grow long in the hope of some naturalised wildflowers but didn't get anything. Now it's all flopping over and looking very messy.
The plan was to sow some seeds, starting with yellow rattle to knock back the grass, then introduce annuals and perennials but to have it lower maintenance.
Aesthetically, I don't think those two areas would look right as they stand.
You wouldn't need any foundation just to put some rock or brick round the circle. It would just be laid on the soil. If you were concerned about them moving, you could just lay them on a small layer of mortar, on the soil, or on some gravel. Again, it would be largely cosmetic.
I can't see any more photos, but in the one I can see, is there no physical barrier between the grass you have, and the neighbour's grass? I think that would be a good idea, but that depends on how your neighbours feel, and whether any restrictions prevent it too.
Maybe it would be better to do the whole area currently grassed, as wildflowers, and mow a path to give you access to the tree - perhaps on a curve, which would also give some interest, and would suggest a route to the tree - the focal point.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...