A small change to the garden

[Chrisg]

I can also add that hosta empress wu does not like being kept in a small pot, in a snail infested garden, with no water :lol: You can see it at the front of this photos (or what is left of it)



Apart from having to dig and work in the garden, it is going to take a bit of getting used to actually water plants or they die. The whole reason for getting into succulents was my drought or flood watering style seemed to kill most plants. I am setting up an irrigation systems connected to a water butt, but I am still going to have to remember to actually turn it on. It will be interesting to see if I have green fingers or need to go back to just succulents.

[LONGK]

I can also add that hosta empress wu does not like being kept in a small pot, in a snail infested garden, with no water :lol: You can see it at the front of this photos (or what is left of it)



Apart from having to dig and work in the garden, it is going to take a bit of getting used to actually water plants or they die. The whole reason for getting into succulents was my drought or flood watering style seemed to kill most plants. I am setting up an irrigation systems connected to a water butt, but I am still going to have to remember to actually turn it on. It will be interesting to see if I have green fingers or need to go back to just succulents.

So you will be using some herbaceous plants then? Any ideas what?
For someone who is forgetful about watering Hosta is maybe not the best choice!! :lol:

[Chrisg]

So you will be using some herbaceous plants then? Any ideas what?
For someone who is forgetful about watering Hosta is maybe not the best choice!! :lol:

I know, but I like the idea of the big leaves, although right now it is more case of swish cheese leaves :evil: I am going to have to dig out those pet friendly slug pellets that were discussed a while back.

As to what else is going in that bed, it will depend a bit on what happens to the climate when I provide some shade. By the posts will be a bamboo, then a couple of tree ferns in the hope of improving the view and proving the shade, Then a couple of trained shrubs as mentioned else where. I 'm hoping this will help to cool it down a bit, currently it is a bit of a dust bowl and hotter than rest of the garden. If the shade does work then the rest of the plants will hopefully be a few select big leaved, things like podophyllum spotty dotty, my arisaemas will go in there as well.

Because the garden is small, I can be very selective about each plant, although I am guessing I will probably fil it quite cheaply to get some plants in and get my killing spree over with and then move better plants in once things have settled.

[Chrisg]

Today before work, I thought I would play around with a few plant positions. (minus the big cycad)



A couple of agaves, a couple of aloes and a couple of yuccas, echeverias to be added later. needed to move the around a bit to try different combination



Can you spot the difference. problem is then you get going, maybe this would look better



or this



Think I'll swap the small agave parasana for a larger one I have, either that or sap it for a parryi, it is a little small. The aloe polyphylla is too small as well, but sadly only have one other and have that ear marked for the main succulent bed.

[LONGK]

I know, but I like the idea of the big leaves, although right now it is more case of swish cheese leaves :evil: I am going to have to dig out those pet friendly slug pellets that were discussed a while back.

Coffee grounds are working quite well here.

As to what else is going in that bed, it will depend a bit on what happens to the climate when I provide some shade. By the posts will be a bamboo, then a couple of tree ferns in the hope of improving the view and proving the shade, Then a couple of trained shrubs as mentioned else where. I 'm hoping this will help to cool it down a bit, currently it is a bit of a dust bowl and hotter than rest of the garden. If the shade does work then the rest of the plants will hopefully be a few select big leaved, things like podophyllum spotty dotty, my arisaemas will go in there as well.

Because the garden is small, I can be very selective about each plant, although I am guessing I will probably fil it quite cheaply to get some plants in and get my killing spree over with and then move better plants in once things have settled.

If I may offer a few ideas...................

Salvia forskoalii (spelling?) has large leaves (£2 coin in the leaf in the centre of the photo).............


It has tall (4ft) multi-branched flower spikes...................


Close up of the flowers...............


Take a look at the Eastern European Digitalis. Rather drought tolerant, if they wilt they pick up quickly with a quick drench around the base.
D.parviflora...................




D.lutea.................




I'd like to recommend Lobelia tupa, but if it gets this big in West Oxon then it'll be huge in London!

[Chrisg]

A big weekend with 4 tonnes of rock and gravel turning up on saturday morning for the start of the rockeries.



They couldn't get any of it into the garden (in fact one tone fell over in the road and had to be moved straight away), so it was not the gentle start I wanted.

Thankfully my oldest nephew is a fitness fanatic rugby player and now big and dump enough to be really helpfull lugging stone around. It took about 3 hours to move it all and sadly not all of it would fit in the back garden so there is still a lot in the front, but there was enough to get going with.



Then finally got to start the planting. This rockery is in two halves, a more succulent based one and the alpine bit.





Still so much to do, but it is great to actually get the first plants in the ground and really feels like a garden now.

[Chad]

I can also add that hosta empress wu does not like being kept in a small pot, in a snail infested garden, with no water :lol: You can see it at the front of this photos (or what is left of it).

For someone who is forgetful about watering Hosta is maybe not the best choice!!

Hosta in pots don't like to get dry, but they are natural woodland plants that once they have got their roots down are perfectly happy with dry summers if they are not in full sun.

Beth Chatto grows them in her 'dry garden' under mature oak trees in rain starved Essex.

I think all the slug bait is now 'pet friendly' iron phosphate. I haven't seen metaldehyde for sale for a couple of years now [it is still available but you would have to search for it I think]. Methiocarb which actually worked has gone for domestic use and is being banned for commercial use this year I think.

Chad.

[LONGK]

I can also add that hosta empress wu does not like being kept in a small pot, in a snail infested garden, with no water :lol: You can see it at the front of this photos (or what is left of it).

For someone who is forgetful about watering Hosta is maybe not the best choice!!

Hosta in pots don't like to get dry, but they are natural woodland plants that once they have got their roots down are perfectly happy with dry summers if they are not in full sun.

Beth Chatto grows them in her 'dry garden' under mature oak trees in rain starved Essex.


Chad.

Thanks - that kinda explains why mine are doing well this year despite my neglect. They're now established enough to be going to war with some Day Lilies that I'm struggling to get rid of!

[LONGK]

Still so much to do, but it is great to actually get the first plants in the ground and really feels like a garden now.

It really is looking good!

[Phemie]

Challenging times ahead but very rewarding.