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New tricky border

valgray30abAFuY8Lvalgray30abAFuY8L Posts: 6
in Problem solving
I have a difficult to reach new raised border. It is ready to be planted up and I need planting and maintenance ideas. It is approx 2 feet above ground level ,west facing and roughly 2 metres by 5 metres. Soil looks good and is hopefully more or less perennial-weed free. It has been created by a neighbour cutting back huge trees and installing a fence on his boundary. I , although being reasonably fit, am in my 80's and dont want to have to get up there any more than necessary. Slabbing it over might well be the best idea tho' plants would be kinder to the environment. TIA
Gardening Grannie 
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  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Do you have a photo? I'm not sure why a 2ft tall raised bed is difficult to reach.

    You could cover it with weed suppressant fabric, plant easy care alpines like sedum as though it was a green roof then cover it with fine gravel.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    Can you explain what makes it difficult to reach please? Is it at the top or bottom of a slope or behind another border / shrubs etc?

    If it's difficult for you to access now then it's not going to get any easier with time and any planting will take time to establish and require some maintenance. If you can't really see it I would be tempted to slab it over. If it's a bit of a feature you could still slab it but maybe install an attractive ornament or water feature that doesn't require regular maintenance.

    Alternatively is there a way to make it more accessible such as steps etc.?
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I wouldn’t  be able to reach it either,  you’re  looking at leaning over, from ground level to tend a bed 6’6” away,  I’d have to climb in and walk across it,  not something I would want to do at my age.
    without seeing, I could only suggest taking away the front of it and trying to level it out a bit. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Yep some pics would be very useful. You could run some slabs down the middle if you need access. But if you plant it up with dense blob shaped shrubs, like Hebes or Pittosporum 'Golf Ball', planted quite closely, & you'd rarely need to maintain it. You could of course add a few other taller bits and bobs to add a bit more interest.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • valgray30abAFuY8Lvalgray30abAFuY8L Posts: 6
    Thanks everyone for your comments. The difficulty I would have is that at 81 I would need to step up onto the bed to care  for plants or weed and I have already found out, in the garden you've got nothing to help you balance. Like the sound of 'blobby' shrubs and /or easy care alpines so may go down that road.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    Would it be worth considering putting a row of slabs lengthways down the centre of the bed so you have a solid surface to walk on and to work from and having a proper step with handrail built at one end to enable you to get up there?

    You could then plant it up as Loxley has suggested but you or somebody else can get up there once or twice a year to give the bushes a trim, do some weeding etc
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • valgray30abAFuY8Lvalgray30abAFuY8L Posts: 6
    That sounds like a good idea. Having something stable to stand on would be really useful.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Also a ramp to get up there. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • valgray30abAFuY8Lvalgray30abAFuY8L Posts: 6
    Think Lyn has definitely got the picture. Gonna have a step rather than a ramp - or even two steps. Handrail would be good but probably expensive so might have to be plan B there.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Could you have steps cut into the raised bed? Then you might not need a handrail. If you need something to grab onto, a good sturdy post of the right height might do the trick.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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