@Plantminded When I was working I looked after a C Bill Mckenzie for a client. It grew over a metal arch the seedheads were just as lovely as the flowers. I think it would be stronger growing than C Golden Tiara Kugotia and the flowers slightly larger maybe. I have a book of the lady clients beautiful paintings this was the plant in her garden. Amazingly the right way up.
Garden Requisites Bath is very interesting they have used arches in so many different settings including contempory which ia real help for ideas. Thankyou.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I think C. Bill Mckenzie would probably be a safer bet @GardenerSuze, I don't know how mine will fare until I've seen it through the growing season. I love the painting, well done with the positioning! I like your idea about C. Karl Foerster alongside your garage. I planted a hedge of it from divisions from two plants about three years ago. Here it is in today's sun:
@Plantminded Yes that is exactly the look I want in time. I know someone with a small nursery so I hope to be able to get some more. Just three plants at present but as you know they soon grow. They are standing by the wall and the shadows they make are lovely. I think it will work. A friend has been asking me how big the garden is, she doesn't live locally, now with the posts on here she will be able to take a look at progress.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
would say about wooden arches in the light of our own experience is that they don't seem to last much longer than 10 years
I inherited a wooden arch when I moved here nearly 10 years ago... The wooden arch rather dominated my lower garden, the metal
one is more subtle. It depends whether you want the arch itself to be a
feature or prefer to see the plants that grow up it.
I echo what others have said. I wanted a wooden structure, but in reality would already have had to replace it at least once. The metal arch I put in is pretty much like the day it went in 15 years ago. I think the wooden arbour would have been a chunky feature in itself, that would have over-dominated my small garden and blocked a fair amount of light. It would have be chunky to be at all robust. I agree Harrod and Agriframes are excellent companies, offering ten year guarantees.
My thought would be to try and find a finish on the metal that you like. When I was looking there only really seemed to be a kind of steel grey tone or a black finish. Both of these can look super modern, and if your garden does not have that style, it can feel like a clash. I see they offer now do a rust-coloured finish on some models that would disappear into the background more easily - I would personally love that.
Harrod Horticultural 10% off - discount Use code: 23RDRGW
I tried growing clematis on my metal arch. Sadly it did not cling well to the arch and maybe the metal got too hot in the summer heat. Not sure what went wrong.
I have a wooden pergola arch now, hoping the climbers prefer the wood to metal.
Some clematis do cling better than others, for sure. I can be hard to ge them going to start with. Herbaceous clematis cling not at all and you have to tie them in.
@HeyHo! One suggestion made to me was to add some metal containers as planters. My thoughts were the same, in a warm south facing garden not sure they will be happy. I had a south facing wall at my old house. You think great I shall be able to grow some of the more tender plants. However it was a problem, climbers that fix to a wall find it too hot. Thankyou for your thoughts. Suze
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Iv'e planted up the nursery bed I dug over in late July. Plants neeed to be in whilst there is some warmth in the soil, I have also removed some more of the turf and covered it with a plastic sheet as rain is due. I will continue to dig down to break up the 'pan'. This area as I mentioned is west facing, it will be developed into a long straight border at least 2m deep [not sure on actual size as yet].The lounge window looks down the length of it.
The plants are in tight and not set out in any way. They include..Campanula Dixon's Gold, Seslaria Autumnalis, Miscanthus Flamingo, Molinia Poul Petersen, Ophiopogon planicapus Nigrescens, Panicum Mum's Best Red, Parahebe Perfoliata, Geranium sanguinium Elke, Hedera Helix Ice Cream, Stipa Gold Fontane, Rubus Tricolor [for a tall pot in time] All from my old garden and I have split a couple of plants already. New to me is Nandina Gulf Stream, a very small Thuja Whipcord which I have grow before[more birthday vouchers].
It is not very likely these plants will get to their final homes this Autumn and Knowing me some will be moved again at a future date. I am starting to understand what is happening out there a new site with no plants is very different to a garden that is planted and needs maintaining. With plants in place you can make a quick judgement on what to expect. We will see..
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
So it is all change, the nursery bed is on the move to a different part of the garden. Instead this will be three raised beds for those lovely plants that hate wet clay. Or perhaps it would be best to use them for over wintering the plants from my old garden as it will be protected?
If anyone would like to kindly add their thoughts on growing plants that love the summer heat in a west facing raised bed I would welcome your help. It is Notts so really tender plants may not work but all new to me. I have worked in a garden with raised veg beds already insitu but my knowledge is limited when it comes to flowers and shrubs
I wasn't sure if raised beds were the way to go at firs,t I find it easier to see what to plant when faced with a border at ground level you can to see how the plants will flow. Raised beds should help me as I become more of an OAP?
For now I am working on a border that faces north. I have lots of plants that I think will be happy in this aspect but there will be some trial and error I am sure.
This is the third garden I have created from scratch with the help of my OH but this time the hard landscaping will be done by someone else. All still very exciting.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
The hard landscaping is finished. Sorry not exactly sure what these raised beds are made of but breeze blocks inside. Three beds one and half metres square, the wall is west facing. They do seem close to the wall but I have been assured that will be fine.
Because of their size some permanant planting will be needed but for now they contain plants from my old garden which I quickly had to find a home for until spring, it is very wet. Thick clay in the bottom but I am sure it will break up. On top is a deep layer of fine topsoil that has been sterilised. I have added nothing at this stage.
I am thinking of repeating some fairly tall grasses and herbaceous plants with height plus small shrubs. I think it will take alot of watering and see it as an opportunity to plant sun lovers that like good drainage.
I would love to here from anyone who has tackled something similar or if you are able to offer any thoughts on plants or the pros and cons of such a project. Thanks Suze
Photo to follow videoed it instead will take another tomorrow. Always learning the hard way.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
Amazingly the right way up.
Garden Requisites Bath is very interesting they have used arches in so many different settings including contempory which ia real help for ideas. Thankyou.
A friend has been asking me how big the garden is, she doesn't live locally, now with the posts on here she will be able to take a look at progress.
I had a south facing wall at my old house. You think great I shall be able to grow some of the more tender plants. However it was a problem, climbers that fix to a wall find it too hot. Thankyou for your thoughts. Suze
This area as I mentioned is west facing, it will be developed into a long straight border at least 2m deep [not sure on actual size as yet].The lounge window looks down the length of it.
The plants are in tight and not set out in any way. They include..Campanula Dixon's Gold, Seslaria Autumnalis, Miscanthus Flamingo, Molinia Poul Petersen, Ophiopogon planicapus Nigrescens, Panicum Mum's Best Red, Parahebe Perfoliata, Geranium sanguinium Elke, Hedera Helix Ice Cream, Stipa Gold Fontane, Rubus Tricolor [for a tall pot in time] All from my old garden and I have split a couple of plants already.
New to me is Nandina Gulf Stream, a very small Thuja Whipcord which I have grow before[more birthday vouchers].
It is not very likely these plants will get to their final homes this Autumn and Knowing me some will be moved again at a future date. I am starting to understand what is happening out there a new site with no plants is very different to a garden that is planted and needs maintaining. With plants in place you can make a quick judgement on what to expect. We will see..
Instead this will be three raised beds for those lovely plants that hate wet clay. Or perhaps it would be best to use them for over wintering the plants from my old garden as it will be protected?
If anyone would like to kindly add their thoughts on growing plants that love the summer heat in a west facing raised bed I would welcome your help. It is Notts so really tender plants may not work but all new to me.
I have worked in a garden with raised veg beds already insitu but my knowledge is limited when it comes to flowers and shrubs
I wasn't sure if raised beds were the way to go at firs,t I find it easier to see what to plant when faced with a border at ground level you can to see how the plants will flow. Raised beds should help me as I become more of an OAP?
For now I am working on a border that faces north. I have lots of plants that I think will be happy in this aspect but there will be some trial and error I am sure.
This is the third garden I have created from scratch with the help of my OH but this time the hard landscaping will be done by someone else. All still very exciting.
Because of their size some permanant planting will be needed but for now they contain plants from my old garden which I quickly had to find a home for until spring, it is very wet. Thick clay in the bottom but I am sure it will break up. On top is a deep layer of fine topsoil that has been sterilised. I have added nothing at this stage.
I am thinking of repeating some fairly tall grasses and herbaceous plants with height plus small shrubs. I think it will take alot of watering and see it as an opportunity to plant sun lovers that like good drainage.
I would love to here from anyone who has tackled something similar or if you are able to offer any thoughts on plants or the pros and cons of such a project. Thanks Suze
Photo to follow videoed it instead will take another tomorrow. Always learning the hard way.