CONSTRUCTION
THE FRONT AND SIDE
Well now that the back has been constructed and finished the task ahead was, what do we do with the front? And what a task.
The main thing was to create as much garden as was possible, but how do we do that was the big question!!
The main job was to lift all the old tarmac and concrete and take the level down far enough to give it a fresh start, something that had not been done for sometime and in places the rise in level was several inches where concrete and tarmac had been placed on top of each other.
Once this task had been completed the construction laid ahead:
THE FRONT
- The first task was to lift all the old grass at the front and construct the two levels of garden that was to make the front garden. This task was not to difficult as most of the old soil was used to raise the garden at the rear, which was to form the main planting area for the perennials and the shrubs.
- Once the soil had been back-filled a log roll border was cemented into place which would form the top garden and separate the lower garden, once this was in place it was a case of conditioning the soil with a mixture of soil, compost and fine blended horse manure a good mix which over the last few years has proven the right one. (for my garden)
- The lower garden was to be a completely different style and would consist of rock plants on a gravelled area, the area being a good 8" or so lower than the top area. The base would be of hard core, only a small thickness to allow speedy drainage, and a cover of landscape cloth to stop weeds, this was then covered with river bed stone. (small shingle). Any plant would be planted through the cloth and into the hard core with a compost/gravel mix to help them on their way, and it sure has worked allowing some of the plants to survive very damp winters without any protection, many of which are now into their fourth year and have trebled in size since planting. A list of plants can be found on the plant list page, I will update this more over the coming weeks (possibly during the winter when the garden does not take up so much of my time)
The front garden in early summer 2000, with the baskets just up and running
As you can see from this photo it didn't turn out to bad and being north facing it gets a mixture of sun and shade to help the plants along at an even pace unlike the rear which becomes a furnace during the summer.
THE SIDE
A big question was asked with this part of the garden, what do you grow in a small bed area 12-13' long by about 4-5' wide surrounded by the house on one side and a 6' fence on the other side and at one end, with the other end open to some of the coldest winds that can be thrown at it. To top that lot it does not get the sun except for a very shot period about mid day, then only on the top part at the open end.
- The first thing was to construct the area and like the rest it meant going down a good few inches to allow for the extra depth, remembering this was the driveway and it would mean going through tarmac and concrete, this would give that little extra needed to help good planting
- The area was bordered by log roll which allowed it to blend in with the rest of the garden, again a good blend of soil, compost and blended horse manure was back filled into the void and the area was now ready for the first plants.
- The centre part being the Kilmarnock willow which is thriving in the damp conditions which come with this part of the garden other plants used were astilbe, Ligularia Stenocephala (the Rocket),Bergenia cordifolia (silberlicht) a couple of Ferns names to follow (when I can name them!!), foxgloves and a few roses which do very well especially over the rose arch where we have three varieties growing together and all flowering after each other, they are at the top end which gets the most sun, last but not least primula which blanket the floor of the bed and thrive in the conditions even flowering in the midst of summer.
As can been seen from this photo we think it is just right with the planting and stays in colour during all of the seasons.
Well as I have shown over the last two pages, if you have stuck with it, what was a junk yard is now our little paradise as one says Paradise An Englishman's Garden, mind all I can say is thank goodness the hard work is finished because due to arthritis in my spine and knees my days of digging are alas gone (Pauline does all that)
Conditions and LocationToo Page one ConstructionKevs Project
To the Plant ListLinks
Sunday, June 04, 2000
