@jimtwalker Here if you want to increase hard standing in a front garden you need planning permission. Flooding is becoming more of a problem in suburban areas. I agree with @Dovefromabove you have a great opportunity to plant some waving grasses and create homes for wildlife. Also a lovely outlook for you and passers by
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
There is a gravel garden near me @Dovefromabove & @GardenerSuze and it looks lovely and is very low-maintenance, it looks a bit like a beach, very stylish. I often see bees and butterflies there.
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
If you don't need it for parking, you can certainly plant into it, but you'll need to ensure the soil underneath the gravel/membrane is suitable. It's likely to be compacted and a bit sour. Poor soil is fine for many plants, but compacted soil isn't. You can also return it to grass if you feel that would be easier, but the same would apply re making sure the soil is in good condition before seeding or turfing. You'd need somewhere for the gravel to go, but if you can bag it up, you can always use it for a mulch/top dressing for the planting up on the bank when you do that.
I thought I could see something planted along your boundary, but if those are hornbeam and you want a hedge, you'll have to cut them back to encourage growth low down or it'll just be gappy. They look as if they're tree whips rather than hedging - very lanky. Hedging whips would ideally be smaller with growth all the way up the main trunk, so that they establish well and thicken up to create a good hedge.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you don't need it for parking, you can certainly plant into it, but you'll need to ensure the soil underneath the gravel/membrane is suitable. It's likely to be compacted and a bit sour. Poor soil is fine for many plants, but compacted soil isn't. You can also return it to grass if you feel that would be easier, but the same would apply re making sure the soil is in good condition before seeding or turfing. You'd need somewhere for the gravel to go, but if you can bag it up, you can always use it for a mulch/top dressing for the planting up on the bank when you do that.
I thought I could see something planted along your boundary, but if those are hornbeam and you want a hedge, you'll have to cut them back to encourage growth low down or it'll just be gappy. They look as if they're tree whips rather than hedging - very lanky. Hedging whips would ideally be smaller with growth all the way up the main trunk, so that they establish well and thicken up to create a good hedge.
Thanks again for taking the time to give advice! Very useful. You're on the money with regard the hedge. I (probably foolishly) bought what I thought was the right height hedging plants wanting instant screening back where the old tree was removed but in reality, we've probably bought the wrong thing. Would it be better to cut our losses and replace altogether?
You could take advantage of the approaching bare root season and get some hedging whips to put in. As your other ones haven't there long, it wouldn't be difficult to stick some 3 foot whips in between or nearby.
If you decide to plant into the gravel, remember that gravel gardens don't have to be for dry conditions either. Mine wouldn't be thriving if that was the case
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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I agree with @Dovefromabove you have a great opportunity to plant some waving grasses and create homes for wildlife. Also a lovely outlook for you and passers by
You can also return it to grass if you feel that would be easier, but the same would apply re making sure the soil is in good condition before seeding or turfing. You'd need somewhere for the gravel to go, but if you can bag it up, you can always use it for a mulch/top dressing for the planting up on the bank when you do that.
I thought I could see something planted along your boundary, but if those are hornbeam and you want a hedge, you'll have to cut them back to encourage growth low down or it'll just be gappy. They look as if they're tree whips rather than hedging - very lanky. Hedging whips would ideally be smaller with growth all the way up the main trunk, so that they establish well and thicken up to create a good hedge.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you decide to plant into the gravel, remember that gravel gardens don't have to be for dry conditions either. Mine wouldn't be thriving if that was the case
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...