ps. I've just topped up my 2013/14 compost bin and started the 2015/16 one, I start and finish with a bag of horse manure (50p a big bag along the lane). Fortunately I was down to the last couple of buckets so I took the lid off to rake it around to the opening to spade it out. In the bottom was a fine female toad. I managed to persuade her round to the opening, scooped her up and she is now under my garden shed where the snails and slugs gather. I built it on a low platform and then put strategic rocks at close intervals so the local felines couldn't get under and she isn't the first to be deposited there. Not only could I have done her damage with the spade but a heavy load of fresh horse manure on top of her wouldn't have been for the best either
I'm sorry I missed this past messages! Very useful information.
I've been incredibly busy with work this past weeks and haven't been able to sort anything out yet. But, unwanted stuff keeps on growing hahaha.
I'm hoping for decent enough weather on the weekend to start sorting it out
As for the requests, here's more pictures of the garden itself. Several angles and closeups:
Top - View:
As you can see, the Garden isn't too big and ends up in the walking Pebble area:
That big umbrella covers the wooden table which we use daily.
And for reference:
That's the stuff that's starting to grow.
A collection of wood-logs that I guess I'll end up using to separate or decorate? We'll see about that...
A close-up of the big plants in the corner.
I'm also sharing these pictures because I have no idea what any of these plants are (either the big ones, or the small ones haha). So was hoping someone would be able to give me a suggestion as to what I definitely want to get rid of (bad plants? Ugly ones? etc...). Or any particular first steps?
I'm planning on buying a bigger fork tomorrow. Is it worth getting weed-killer for something like this? Or pulling plants out would be enough?
The last picture, to me, looks like a self seeded sycamore - and I would get rid of it, unless someone comes along and tells you it is a rare form of acer and I am totally wrong. The second to last picture looks like native geraniums, also called cranesbills, which are planted plants, but can spread like weeds, so it is up to you how much of it you keep.
A daphne under the trees would be lovely in early spring, for the scent. Or a hardy gardenia. And a trachelospermum would be very happy scrambling about. I have come to realise that I instinctively plant gorgeous smelling plants. I do garden with my nose!!
Wooo! So much cool information! I have to admit I had to google most of those plants you mentioned as barely knew what they looked like (I'll blame it on English being my second language :P ). Quite exciting!
Cool! Thanks for the tips! I'll try and set things up and sort the garden out this weekend to start planting too. I like the suggestions for the pot plants too, as we have some pots hanging about.
Oh! I just remembered. On one side of the garden, there's a pretty populated ant colony... They don't really bother us as they never get into the house and it's not like I want to exterminate them. I am wondering though, is it something I should be concerned about when doing my garden?
(I can imagine I'll be pissing them off quite a bit when I start turning the soil over)
Yes you'll piss the ants off, but they'll be fine and move around the garden. There's no need to be concerned about them.
That garden's got huge potential and it's obviously had some money spent on it in the past - those steps and rocks will have cost quite a bit. Dig the soil over, incorporate lots of organic matter - manure, compost etc and plant some herbaceous perennials and small shrubs - check how much sunlight the different parts of the garden gets so you don't plant sun - lovers in the shade - and yes, get that sycamore out now!!!
Let us know how you're getting on
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi Ant. You have an exciting little project there. Ants like dry ground and they can undermine a planted area but once you start digging etc they'll move on a bit. If you water the area you'll see them run! I think you could make a lovely little woodland area with all those logs at the back. If you consider putting a little pond in as well you'll get great entertainment when you're sitting out in nice weather and also viewing from the windows when it's colder. I'd certainly dig the sycamore out that's next to the table before it's too difficult to shift and a bit of nourishment into the soil will benefit anything you plant. At the end of the summer look out for bargains in GCentres etc, and bulbs will be in the shops then and aren't too expensive. They'll give you good value at the end of winter/spring.
Good luck - and keep asking questions as there's loads of people here who'll help.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
ps. I've just topped up my 2013/14 compost bin and started the 2015/16 one, I start and finish with a bag of horse manure (50p a big bag along the lane). Fortunately I was down to the last couple of buckets so I took the lid off to rake it around to the opening to spade it out. In the bottom was a fine female toad. I managed to persuade her round to the opening, scooped her up and she is now under my garden shed where the snails and slugs gather. I built it on a low platform and then put strategic rocks at close intervals so the local felines couldn't get under and she isn't the first to be deposited there. Not only could I have done her damage with the spade but a heavy load of fresh horse manure on top of her wouldn't have been for the best either
I'm sorry I missed this past messages! Very useful information.
I've been incredibly busy with work this past weeks and haven't been able to sort anything out yet. But, unwanted stuff keeps on growing hahaha.
I'm hoping for decent enough weather on the weekend to start sorting it out
As for the requests, here's more pictures of the garden itself. Several angles and closeups:
Top - View:
As you can see, the Garden isn't too big and ends up in the walking Pebble area:
That big umbrella covers the wooden table which we use daily.
And for reference:
That's the stuff that's starting to grow.
A collection of wood-logs that I guess I'll end up using to separate or decorate? We'll see about that...
A close-up of the big plants in the corner.
I'm also sharing these pictures because I have no idea what any of these plants are (either the big ones, or the small ones haha). So was hoping someone would be able to give me a suggestion as to what I definitely want to get rid of (bad plants? Ugly ones? etc...). Or any particular first steps?
I'm planning on buying a bigger fork tomorrow. Is it worth getting weed-killer for something like this? Or pulling plants out would be enough?
Thanks a lot! You're all very useful
The last picture, to me, looks like a self seeded sycamore - and I would get rid of it, unless someone comes along and tells you it is a rare form of acer and I am totally wrong. The second to last picture looks like native geraniums, also called cranesbills, which are planted plants, but can spread like weeds, so it is up to you how much of it you keep.
Yeah, I like the idea of experimenting. I'm just checking these things to make sure I set things up as best as possible to make the most of it.
So when it comes to getting rid of those plants... Do I just pull them out or is it worth using any product?
We do like the idea of scented plants
A daphne under the trees would be lovely in early spring, for the scent. Or a hardy gardenia. And a trachelospermum would be very happy scrambling about. I have come to realise that I instinctively plant gorgeous smelling plants. I do garden with my nose!!
Wooo! So much cool information! I have to admit I had to google most of those plants you mentioned as barely knew what they looked like (I'll blame it on English being my second language :P ). Quite exciting!
Cool! Thanks for the tips! I'll try and set things up and sort the garden out this weekend to start planting too. I like the suggestions for the pot plants too, as we have some pots hanging about.
Oh! I just remembered. On one side of the garden, there's a pretty populated ant colony... They don't really bother us as they never get into the house and it's not like I want to exterminate them. I am wondering though, is it something I should be concerned about when doing my garden?
(I can imagine I'll be pissing them off quite a bit when I start turning the soil over)
Yes you'll piss the ants off, but they'll be fine and move around the garden. There's no need to be concerned about them.
That garden's got huge potential and it's obviously had some money spent on it in the past - those steps and rocks will have cost quite a bit. Dig the soil over, incorporate lots of organic matter - manure, compost etc and plant some herbaceous perennials and small shrubs - check how much sunlight the different parts of the garden gets so you don't plant sun - lovers in the shade - and yes, get that sycamore out now!!!
Let us know how you're getting on
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi Ant. You have an exciting little project there. Ants like dry ground and they can undermine a planted area but once you start digging etc they'll move on a bit. If you water the area you'll see them run! I think you could make a lovely little woodland area with all those logs at the back. If you consider putting a little pond in as well you'll get great entertainment when you're sitting out in nice weather and also viewing from the windows when it's colder. I'd certainly dig the sycamore out that's next to the table before it's too difficult to shift and a bit of nourishment into the soil will benefit anything you plant. At the end of the summer look out for bargains in GCentres etc, and bulbs will be in the shops then and aren't too expensive. They'll give you good value at the end of winter/spring.
Good luck - and keep asking questions as there's loads of people here who'll help.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...