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New House, new garden, new to gardening - lessons to learn!!
NorthernJoe
Posts: 660
Can't see anywhere to just say hi and introduce myself, so first post is here.
I'll be asking a lot of questions. This is our first proper garden that is close to being ours when it new n house purchase goes through. And we've got a humdinger too. The whole area is widely limestone outcrops but I'm not sure what this garden has. It's steep with almost complete tree cover. Great for our kid with all the little paths, hiding and seating spots around it. Decent size too, possibly way too big to manage as a formal read immaculate garden considering we're active with our son and other activities n out and about.
First job when we get the keys, probably for me before I do anything with the house but that might not work out as I plan, is to cut things back. This is expected to be in January. I believe winter is best time to cut trees and shrubs back. Whatever the case it's been empty property for a while and garden is overgrown. I need to cut low growing plants back as there's a kind of ground spreading vine like plant that's a major trip hazard on the paths. Strim and hack to tidy up. In the future we'd like to open a few places up for the sun, sitting, BBQ, etc. Perhaps spots like mini clearings to grow a little veg and fruit. I'm thinking a few shade tolerant plants like raspberry. If gooseberry plants grow well in shade or edge of tree cover then I'll be very happy.
Anyway, if anyone wants to suggest what to do to a tree and large shrub covered, steeply sloping garden I'm open to suggestions. I'm thinking garden versions of British native forest plants. Lesser periwinkle, primrose (is it primula vulgaris??) for example. Bloodroot I heard too. Lots of white flowered woodland plants so the blue periwinkle, lesser for less vigorous spread, might be good.
Any fruit trees work in shade?
As I said, we've got an interesting first garden. Not many start off with the twin difficulties of steep slope and complete tree cover!! Ideas are low for me. I also would like tool advice? I'm a kind of half newbie. I've grown up with keen gardeners and very knowledgeable ones. My Grandad (dad's side) was of the old school with all those little tips and tricks that get lost in time. My dad used to live in his garden when not working or out and about. I grew up not needing to ask where he was. Apparently there's a big commercial growing link with a great or double great granddad running some nurseries of some kind. It's in the blood but I've never had a garden before. Plus I've forgotten more about gardening than some people ever learn. As a kid I got nerdy about it and used to be able to give Latin names for plants, not now. I need help now with the details.
I'll be asking a lot of questions. This is our first proper garden that is close to being ours when it new n house purchase goes through. And we've got a humdinger too. The whole area is widely limestone outcrops but I'm not sure what this garden has. It's steep with almost complete tree cover. Great for our kid with all the little paths, hiding and seating spots around it. Decent size too, possibly way too big to manage as a formal read immaculate garden considering we're active with our son and other activities n out and about.
First job when we get the keys, probably for me before I do anything with the house but that might not work out as I plan, is to cut things back. This is expected to be in January. I believe winter is best time to cut trees and shrubs back. Whatever the case it's been empty property for a while and garden is overgrown. I need to cut low growing plants back as there's a kind of ground spreading vine like plant that's a major trip hazard on the paths. Strim and hack to tidy up. In the future we'd like to open a few places up for the sun, sitting, BBQ, etc. Perhaps spots like mini clearings to grow a little veg and fruit. I'm thinking a few shade tolerant plants like raspberry. If gooseberry plants grow well in shade or edge of tree cover then I'll be very happy.
Anyway, if anyone wants to suggest what to do to a tree and large shrub covered, steeply sloping garden I'm open to suggestions. I'm thinking garden versions of British native forest plants. Lesser periwinkle, primrose (is it primula vulgaris??) for example. Bloodroot I heard too. Lots of white flowered woodland plants so the blue periwinkle, lesser for less vigorous spread, might be good.
Any fruit trees work in shade?
As I said, we've got an interesting first garden. Not many start off with the twin difficulties of steep slope and complete tree cover!! Ideas are low for me. I also would like tool advice? I'm a kind of half newbie. I've grown up with keen gardeners and very knowledgeable ones. My Grandad (dad's side) was of the old school with all those little tips and tricks that get lost in time. My dad used to live in his garden when not working or out and about. I grew up not needing to ask where he was. Apparently there's a big commercial growing link with a great or double great granddad running some nurseries of some kind. It's in the blood but I've never had a garden before. Plus I've forgotten more about gardening than some people ever learn. As a kid I got nerdy about it and used to be able to give Latin names for plants, not now. I need help now with the details.
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Posts
I agree with @pansyface, don't go charging in chopping things back, no matter how tempting it might be. Apart from the wildlife aspect, there may be plant treasures lurking in the undergrowth.
The best thing to do would to be to post photos (not too many !), just to give forum members an idea of what you're dealing with, one section at a time. I'd also advise dividing it into small sections to deal with one bit at a time. Start from the back door so that when you look out of the window, you can see progress being made, and l'm assuming you'd want easy access to a washing line, bins etc.
As for tools, a spade, fork, secateurs, hand fork, trowel, loppers, and possibly a mattock spring to mind.
Sounds like it's going to be fun !
Obviously I plan on habitat piles tucked away. Bundles of cut branches make for a good habitat pile. Both shelter and source of food through the bugs it collects. I used to volunteer with a conservation charity and this was common practice with woodland rejuvenation. When land reclamation is caused it by tree planting they often over plant so 20 years later on we went in and felled a lot and cleared undergrowth. Love the long handled (Yorkie) billhook for that. Might look at getting one instead of an electric strimmer, brush cutter.
I'm thinking that any introduction of new plants would be garden versions of natural, British plants. Round here Ransomes and primroses are quite naturally found. I'm thinking lesser periwinkle for its ground cover but not too vigorous. Not sure of pH and whether that would take. A bit of googling of plants I think. Certainly like the idea of British native species or their close relatives/garden versions for undeplanting what's there if possible.
Thing is I want to make it useable hence the immediacy of my work schedule for cutting back.
Definitely a going to get a wildlife cam. Think I need to get back in and look for signs of wildlife trails through the garden.
The idea I had was work from rear patio up and down the path network clearing out the growth over the path. Then between paths I'm thinking of not doing as much. I don't know what's there and TBH there could be native plants that legally in the countryside you can't dig up or pick. I know in private gardens they're fair game but not in my opinion. Native species are a blessing you work around.
BTW there's an amazing plant life in this neck of the woods including IIRC one of very few lady slipper orchids in the country about 4 miles away. It got stolen by orchid thieves but they later found out it wasn't completely taken and it came back. The nearest village had volunteers guarding it 24/7 while flowering each year apparently.
I don't think wait and see what's there won't completely work but I reckon it I only clear out the paths I doubt I'll take that much out. Afterall it's only grown out from the borders and there should be enough left there.
I'd second the desire for photos, please, to help us give you sound advice - and I'd also second the idea of taking things slowly, so you don't hack away at something in the winter (when it's hard to do proper identification of deciduous trees and shrubs) and regret it once growth starts in spring. Clearing paths, and obvious hazards to little ones like trailing brambles, is a different matter, of course.
It's so exciting, taking on a new garden. We did that a year ago and I've scarcely made a dent yet in what needs doing, but it's all good...
What I have is more ground cover but it grows flat and is woody with leaves off if. The result is you step on one part and accidentally hook your other foot under it causing a trip. It's not really a vine I just used that to describe how it grows along the ground with a long length, like a vine does growing upwards and along walls. I vaguely remember reading about what it is and it's invasive. I don't think cutting that back will be an issue.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.