HeadGardener's Journal

Last Post 327 days 7 hours ago

What a difference a day made

01 March 2011 10:34:58

New Border at Back of House

What another glorious day here in Wexford, it's cold but dry and sunny and with a prospect of a week of this there really is no excuse but to work outside. Although I'm trying not to injure my arm again so I digging over soil in short bursts.

Finally yesterday we had our man with a digger in who did a brilliant job and in seven hours had dug over all our beds, so there are now soft and beautifully easy to plant. Thankfully we removed all the sod beforehand and that proved to be a Godsend. Of course now the problem is what to plant and where, my wife has claimed the beds at the back of the house (pictured) but can't seem to make up her mind about what she wants in the borders so I haven't been able to produce a planting plan for her.

A similar problem occurs with the extension of three other border, the exotic will have to wait till annual can fill them up perhaps later in the year, however this may not get properly planted up till next year. The extension of the shady border will have to wait too as we still have to dig out bog areas as my wife wants to grow primulas (who don't like drying out at all) and I also only have a few plants for here. Thirdly there a new extension to what I call the messy border it was meant to be a shrub border but in fact seems to be a dumping ground for plants before they move on.

Lastly I have a small area to build a shady area at the back of the house with a sort of Fernery (a rockery with ferns). But I caluated that in total our new borders cover 230 sq metre so that's going to take a long time to fill. The race now starts for who is going to get there border finished first and get there hands on the remaining mulch, my exotic bed is in trouble as it was last year as it's planted so late, it is now rank with grass and weed which I have only tackled superficially.

But it just goes to show with an experienced digger driver and determination what can be done in a day,

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Rachel 01 March 2011 10:46:45

Looking brilliant.

shazzsamsudin 01 March 2011 11:03:22

Ditto that.

LindaB 01 March 2011 11:07:15

Wow Bill you have so much space now for plants, am envious yet again!!

Keego 01 March 2011 12:12:41

Bill That looks great - now the race to keep the weeds out get the plants in and get the mulch down but it is a nice problem to have

fran m 01 March 2011 13:22:28

Bill, that is great, well done. If ever you spot anything in my photos just let me know, and I can get it to you in time.

Periwinkle 01 March 2011 14:26:35

Great work there! And so much lovely soil for growing plants!

unagrant 01 March 2011 14:51:40

That is great work and weather has been brilliant for it.

Jacinta 01 March 2011 17:43:37

Wow, Bill. All looking brilliant there. I love looking at photos of your garden. It will be MINE in my next life. So do a good job!!!!!

Myrtle 01 March 2011 20:24:58

You are going to have a great garden when all that is planted and matured, enjoy doing it.

HeadGardener 01 March 2011 22:01:21

Thanks everyone aching here after digging over a good few of the beds today, got a bit sunburnt I think!! Thanks Fran and of course the same applies for you if you spot anything let me know. I'll have to talk to Martin about Ferns :-) Jacinta I'm getting a little worried now that you might bump us off for the garden :-) Keego don't depress me about the weeds they'll come soon enough :-)

Cloncaw 01 March 2011 23:52:32

Well worth getting in the digger to do the heavy digging will make planting so much simplier although it does take a lot of plants for that area. Good luck and enjoy the challenge to see who gets finished first.

sallysarah 02 March 2011 09:19:23

Head Gardener - I get loads of seedlings from primulata 'denticulata' which I always pot on. I could send you some of them later on in the summer. They are little toughies and their root system is so strong. I have from white to deep purple in my garden. I also have a lovely dark red primula out at the moment, that I'm going to divide - is too clumpy. I could send you a bit of that if you'd like. Good luck with your hellebore.

HeadGardener 02 March 2011 13:41:29

Sallysarah that would be great, thanks so much but how are you going to send them? don't want you to spend any money. Unfortunitly were at the two seperate ends of the country!!

Lìga 02 March 2011 22:49:34

I looking at your flower beds,,supper,,,have to ask Liam to get little digger for us too.I have place for flower beds,but i'm not able to dig there,,so many stones.

sallysarah 03 March 2011 08:09:13

I've sent them before with some earth on, wrapped in kitchen paper. P. drumstick can be quite small but their root systems are strong. Won't send them until early summer - won't cost a lot. Have put your name in my diary to send - I won't forget!