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Gardener Suze's New OAP Garden

GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
in Garden design
It's official I am an OAP. Thought I would celebrate by digging a hole in the lawn of my new build south facing  garden to celebrate!  I was pleased to find that although there was a 'pan' which I have broken through, in general it does seem to be ok. I am planning a nursery bed along this west facing wall so that I can find homes for the fifty or so plants from my old garden.
Many were potted back in March and then potted on so they are now pot bound.

This will be a more formal easy to maintain space, not like my old garden that had soft lines.
I am going to see what I can get hold of to improve the soil before planting. I wondered if I might need to add gypsum to break the clay but having dug down I am not facing the thick red seam of clay in my old garden.
I will also test the soil although I do need to be aware that some has been brought in from elsewhere.

Concerns... suspect some difficult weeds as it was a field. No worms, plenty of wasps, the odd bee, wagtails and crows.

More upside down photos to follow, any thoughts will be gratefully recieved.

As you can see from the fork I have removed some soil. The 'pan' was about a spades depth down but not that difficult to break through. 
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Brilliant @GardenerSuze. I hope you have many years ahead of tootling, planning, constructing, planting, and getting all sorts of fun in there.  :)
    We must be the same age - I'm officially an OAP in October. 

    Rotted manure is the best option for your soil. Looks like mine - only drier!  ;)
    We have a smallholding up the road which now has four or five alpacas. I'm thinking of chapping the door one day and asking for their 'deposits'.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    edited July 2023
    Looks good @GardenerSuze, but make sure you don't breach the damp course on that brick wall behind the new bed, I'm sure you know all about the concerns.

    Happy birthday if that's applicable.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I hope you are settling in well @GardenerSuze and look forward to seeing your progress in your new garden!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    Congratulations on reaching OAP status and also on your move to Australia. 🙃
    Good luck with your new garden. I can't wait to see your progress.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Fairygirl I am going to try and source some manure. I will keep posting as I go.
    With our previous garden OH did the hard landscaping, this time we have downsized so the treat is to use a landscape gardener. This is a new and very special project I am so lucky to get the opportunity to create another new garden.

    @Lizzie27 Thankyou for your thoughts regarding the walls. I will have a chat with the site manager next week and mention it. The wall in the photo is a garden wall, the boundry is a mix of fence, wall and a curved wall which adds interest.

    @Plantminded Thankyou many more upside down photos to follow.

    @plant pauper Yep it did feel like I was digging to Australia and I've only just started!

    Thankyou All.Suze


    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I hope you have as much fun making your new garden as I have had with mine.





    You have to turn them and crop them using the pencil icon.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Your soil looks like mine, lumpy clay. I dug in loads of cheap bought compost and some manure from a donkey and it's heaps better. Now, 2 years later, I mulch in winter. There weren't worms and now there are.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    1957 was clearly a vintage year for producing gardeners - I'm in that club too🙂 Shall we have a party?
    Enjoy your new garden Suze.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Any gardeners from 1951?
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Busy-Lizzie I have been looking for the pencil icon and have tried the resizer website. I have made an image smaller but now I don't know how to get it on to the forum.1 and 7 are often confused when they are not written properly. The French have a much better way of writing 7.

    I have found lots of worms today I am pleased to report. Plus a plastic bottle but no bricks! This hard work will pay off, breaking through the pan of soil will give plants the chance to develop some deep roots. 
    When planning a new garden water conservation is critical the deeper the roots can go the less help they will need from me.

    I have three new plants as house warming and birthday gifts, Euonymous Green Pillar.
    It is easy to lift and split perennials when moving but the evergreens and deciduous shrubs that form the backbone of a garden are not so easy. So any plants that I buy in the coming months/year will be these.  


    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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