I think you deserve top marks, and if the alpines you have planted are anything like the ones I planted this spring, it won't be long before they are filling the spaces! If that was in my garden then all that gravel would be one big cat litter tray! If you spread some used ground coffee through it then they should stay away
Hi Nick Personally I think you have done a cracking job and not just because you are a beginner. It looks like you have put a lot of thought into it
The ivy at the back is just perfect making it look very lush but keep an eye on the ivy to the left as it looks like ordinary tree ivy and you don't want it running into the chippings.
Venus looks great as if she is wading through the chippings. She is a favourite of mine
Is it Thyme in the tipped up urn? Will look lovely once it it has tumbled out and spread around the urn and have you planted in the crown?
What are the other alpines you have planted in there. Can't see even when I enlarge. Is it a suntrap? Is that why you used alpines?
I can see there is some Pulmonaria to the left of the pond are you adding to that side and are you planting in the narrow strip down the rhs?
Can you take a pic further back to see it in relation to the rest of the garden?
The chippings you have used will discolour and mossen (is that a word!!!) up over time making it look much softer.
What are your plans with the pond itself? Fish? Waterplants? Have you put in an escape root for frogs cos they will turn up!
How long did the project take you from start to finish?
Sorry so many questions lol but they are the kind of things I would ask if stood in your garden with you admiring your handiwork!
It has been done very neatly and tidily with attention to detail so full marks for that. However, I really dislike the plasticky looking waterfall and the visible pipe at the side but these can be softened in impact by plants which will hide and soften the edges and one to flop over and hide the pipe.
It should bed in in time and look more natural and I hope your parents are pleased with your efforts.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Nick I think it a great effort will you come and make me one
I think a nice water lily to cover that pipe would make a world of difference and have you thought of adding some grey slate to the white stones. so it blends with our fibreglass water rockery Slate is quite cheap at the GC
If that rockery is fiber glass it is covered with a gel coat first. the gel coat can be lightly sanded to lose the shine this may help it blend in a bit better
Thank you for your comment and ill try and answer all of your questions for you.
Question: It looks like you have put a lot of thought into it
Answer: have had abit of advice of my parents to say what they would like as in colour and help with the plants from our local garden centre.
Question: The ivy at the back is just perfect making it look very lush but keep an eye on the ivy to the left as it looks like ordinary tree ivy and you don't want it running into the chippings.
Answer: i must admit i did hav eto cut quite abit away, because it was growing quite freely.
Question: Is it Thyme in the tipped up urn?
Answer: No, its actually another alpine which i have just put in.
Question: Will look lovely once it it has tumbled out and spread around the urn and have you planted in the crown?
Answer: Yes, hopefully will look really good when it start to grow and tuble out.
Question: What are the other alpines you have planted in there. Can't see even when I enlarge.
Answer: They are various, i was advised to get pink and white.
Question: Is it a suntrap?
Answer: Yes, it is a suntrap for quite a few hours of the day.
Question: Is that why you used alpines?
Answer: To be honest, yes that was why i used alpines with a good spread so they can cover the rocks and stones abit as well.
Question: I can see there is some Pulmonaria to the left of the pond are you adding to that side and are you planting in the narrow strip down the rhs?
Answer: Yes, to be honest thats my next job to do that side.
Question: Can you take a pic further back to see it in relation to the rest of the garden?
Answer: Yes i will do ill get it sent over.
The chippings you have used will discolour and mossen (is that a word!!!) up over time making it look much softer.
Question: What are your plans with the pond itself? Fish? Waterplants? Have you put in an escape root for frogs cos they will turn up!
Answer: I'm going to put some water plants in i think.
Question: How long did the project take you from start to finish?
Answer: We had a builder to repair and reline the main pond part which took him a few months for him to get started, but just took me 3 days to sort the rest etc.
Sorry so many questions lol but they are the kind of things I would ask if stood in your garden with you admiring your handiwork!
Bet your parents are well chuffed
Hope this helps in answering your questions.
I would love to take this further if possible, if i could find some way.
Posts
I think you deserve top marks, and if the alpines you have planted are anything like the ones I planted this spring, it won't be long before they are filling the spaces! If that was in my garden then all that gravel would be one big cat litter tray! If you spread some used ground coffee through it then they should stay away
Hi Nick
Personally I think you have done a cracking job and not just because you are a beginner. It looks like you have put a lot of thought into it
The ivy at the back is just perfect making it look very lush but keep an eye on the ivy to the left as it looks like ordinary tree ivy and you don't want it running into the chippings.
Venus looks great as if she is wading through the chippings. She is a favourite of mine
Is it Thyme in the tipped up urn? Will look lovely once it it has tumbled out and spread around the urn and have you planted in the crown?
What are the other alpines you have planted in there. Can't see even when I enlarge. Is it a suntrap? Is that why you used alpines?
I can see there is some Pulmonaria to the left of the pond are you adding to that side and are you planting in the narrow strip down the rhs?
Can you take a pic further back to see it in relation to the rest of the garden?
The chippings you have used will discolour and mossen (is that a word!!!) up over time making it look much softer.
What are your plans with the pond itself? Fish? Waterplants? Have you put in an escape root for frogs cos they will turn up!
How long did the project take you from start to finish?
Sorry so many questions lol but they are the kind of things I would ask if stood in your garden with you admiring your handiwork!
Bet your parents are well chuffed
It has been done very neatly and tidily with attention to detail so full marks for that. However, I really dislike the plasticky looking waterfall and the visible pipe at the side but these can be softened in impact by plants which will hide and soften the edges and one to flop over and hide the pipe.
It should bed in in time and look more natural and I hope your parents are pleased with your efforts.
Nick I think it a great effort will you come and make me one
I think a nice water lily to cover that pipe would make a world of difference and have you thought of adding some grey slate to the white stones. so it blends with our fibreglass water rockery Slate is quite cheap at the GC
If that rockery is fiber glass it is covered with a gel coat first. the gel coat can be lightly sanded to lose the shine this may help it blend in a bit better
as for plants I wouldn't have a clue
James
hi obelixx
tell us about we looked at the brochure and they all seemed to be plastic looking but hopeing the alpines will spread over it abit to cover
hi CluelessGardener
we had the main part of the pond built for us, we just had to do something with the rockery at the back.
in real life the chippings dont look that white i took the pic on my phone
Hi Addict,
Thank you for your comment and ill try and answer all of your questions for you.
Question: It looks like you have put a lot of thought into it
Answer: have had abit of advice of my parents to say what they would like as in colour and help with the plants from our local garden centre.
Question: The ivy at the back is just perfect making it look very lush but keep an eye on the ivy to the left as it looks like ordinary tree ivy and you don't want it running into the chippings.
Answer: i must admit i did hav eto cut quite abit away, because it was growing quite freely.
Question: Is it Thyme in the tipped up urn?
Answer: No, its actually another alpine which i have just put in.
Question: Will look lovely once it it has tumbled out and spread around the urn and have you planted in the crown?
Answer: Yes, hopefully will look really good when it start to grow and tuble out.
Question: What are the other alpines you have planted in there. Can't see even when I enlarge.
Answer: They are various, i was advised to get pink and white.
Question: Is it a suntrap?
Answer: Yes, it is a suntrap for quite a few hours of the day.
Question: Is that why you used alpines?
Answer: To be honest, yes that was why i used alpines with a good spread so they can cover the rocks and stones abit as well.
Question: I can see there is some Pulmonaria to the left of the pond are you adding to that side and are you planting in the narrow strip down the rhs?
Answer: Yes, to be honest thats my next job to do that side.
Question: Can you take a pic further back to see it in relation to the rest of the garden?
Answer: Yes i will do ill get it sent over.
The chippings you have used will discolour and mossen (is that a word!!!) up over time making it look much softer.
Question: What are your plans with the pond itself? Fish? Waterplants? Have you put in an escape root for frogs cos they will turn up!
Answer: I'm going to put some water plants in i think.
Question: How long did the project take you from start to finish?
Answer: We had a builder to repair and reline the main pond part which took him a few months for him to get started, but just took me 3 days to sort the rest etc.
Sorry so many questions lol but they are the kind of things I would ask if stood in your garden with you admiring your handiwork!
Bet your parents are well chuffed
Hope this helps in answering your questions.
I would love to take this further if possible, if i could find some way.
Nick