[Help] Gardeners Question Time.

[tedebear]

The dead one?

Sorry did I not make sense? He said "brown thin leaved" one in the middle photo, I thought it looked a little chocolatey? Looks like Anemone flaccida from that web site??

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Sorry did I not make sense? He said "brown thin leaved" one in the middle photo, I thought it looked a little chocolatey? Looks like Anemone flaccida from that web site??

Apologies.

I was just being an arse.

(In fairness to me, I had a theory they were all the same plant in different stages of array/disarray)

 

[tedebear]

Apologies.

I was just being an arse.

(In fairness to me, I had a theory they were all the same plant in different stages of array/disarray)

Oh, I see, sorry, I've been in the garden and the allotment all day, knackered and not firing on all cylinders!

 

[WATFORD zero]

I thought that too, but looks like I've learnt something today! ....Your chocolately one in the middle looks like the first one on this site:

Anemone - The Plantsman's Preference

Mail order and retail nursery growing a wide range of Hardy Geraniums, Ornamental Grasses and new, rare & unusual perennials. South Lopham, Diss, Norfolk.

www.plantpref.co.uk

Thanks for that, it explains so much of what I'm seeing. Some of the ones I have are forming huge clumps covering everything around them, whilst others are slowly and delicately pushing leaves and flowers up in between the remains of snowdrops, and tete a tete and the new leaves of bluebells and star of bethlehem. They've been there a few years now so it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few as they join up.

The plants have been 'sourced' from a couple of different 'Internet nurseries' and various clumps around sussex roadsides

 

[tedebear]

Thanks for that, it explains so much of what I'm seeing. Some of the ones I have are forming huge clumps covering everything around them, whilst others are slowly and delicately pushing leaves and flowers up in between the remains of snowdrops, and tete a tete and the new leaves of bluebells and star of bethlehem. They've been there a few years now so it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few as they join up.

The plants have been 'sourced' from a couple of different 'Internet nurseries' and various clumps around sussex roadsides

I had no idea there were so many!! Who knew! I feel enlightened in the way of wood anenomes, thanks! Report back if you get a hybrid in a few years!!

 

[WATFORD zero]

I had no idea there were so many!! Who knew! I feel enlightened in the way of wood anenomes, thanks! Report back if you get a hybrid in a few years!!

I love driving through country roads this time of year and seeing huge areas of wood anemones. Going up to Hassocks in the trees on the left just before South downs nurseries, around Ditchling common (particularly the road off to chailey) completely wild and stunning

The brown flaccid one is my favourite

 

[tedebear]

I love driving through country roads this time of year and seeing huge areas of wood anemones. Going up to Hassocks in the trees on the left just before South downs nurseries, around Ditchling common (particularly the road off to chailey) completely wild and stunning

The brown flaccid one is my favourite

I wasn’t sure I wanted to mention it by name…:

 

[spongy]

Does anyone one have any suggestions on how I can make this a usable space?

We moved in a couple of years ago and have been concentrating solely on the inside.

This is our bit of neglected space out the back of our 1st floor flat.

It's south facing so has good light and is rather warm out there in the summer.

The grass is more like an old field with massive big clumps and full of weeds.

It is also very bumpy under foot and uneven.

Can I even do anything? I'm now very unfit after a heart attack last year and struggle with prolonged exercise.

Ive been giving it a half arsed attempt at mowing it a couple of times last summer but it's so bumpy that even on the highest setting the mower will either not cut. Or bottom out.....

Should I just get a professional landscaper to come in and dig it up and level and turf it? Looks like years of patience (which I don't have) to sort it out .....

Any advice gratefully welcome

 

[mikeyjh]

Does anyone one have any suggestions on how I can make this a usable space?

We moved in a couple of years ago and have been concentrating solely on the inside.

This is our bit of neglected space out the back of our 1st floor flat.

It's south facing so has good light and is rather warm out there in the summer.

The grass is more like an old field with massive big clumps and full of weeds.

It is also very bumpy under foot and uneven.

Can I even do anything? I'm now very unfit after a heart attack last year and struggle with prolonged exercise.

Ive been giving it a half arsed attempt at mowing it a couple of times last summer but it's so bumpy that even on the highest setting the mower will either not cut. Or bottom out.....

Should I just get a professional landscaper to come in and dig it up and level and turf it? Looks like years of patience (which I don't have) to sort it out .....

Any advice gratefully welcome View attachment 179803

Can you get a mini digger back there - You could have the grass off and reasonably levelled in no time. Then maybe put some nice borders in, have a little path between them. Veg plot at the end? There's loads of potential.

I'm currently cutting out some paths in fenced off bits of our land between the ponds and woodland/meadow areas. Probably done about 100 linear metres or 75 sqaure meteres so far, so less than your space and it's incredibly hard work removing grass so you defnitely want to use a machine.

 

[spongy]

Can you get a mini digger back there - You could have the grass off and reasonably levelled in no time. Then maybe put some nice borders in, have a little path between them. Veg plot at the end? There's loads of potential.

I'm currently cutting out some paths in fenced off bits of our land between the ponds and woodland/meadow areas. Probably done about 100 linear metres or 75 sqaure meteres so far, so less than your space and it's incredibly hard work removing grass so you defnitely want to use a machine.

POSSIBLY. How big are mini diggers? I have no idea! It's a bit of a wiggle round the back of the flat behind some garages. But it's a tad wider than a normal path down the side of the house scenario. But there is a back gate with wider access just out of shot on the left that leads straight into our "garden".

I huse a lot of big pallets at work so can readily get hold of 3m lengths of 2x2 or 3x3 timber so I was considering making some kind of raised bed or bench seat thing along that fence and across the back edge as you look at it with some decent garden furniture set up with a parasol as there is zero shade until after 7pm during summer..

 

[WATFORD zero]

Does anyone one have any suggestions on how I can make this a usable space?

We moved in a couple of years ago and have been concentrating solely on the inside.

This is our bit of neglected space out the back of our 1st floor flat.

It's south facing so has good light and is rather warm out there in the summer.

The grass is more like an old field with massive big clumps and full of weeds.

It is also very bumpy under foot and uneven.

Can I even do anything? I'm now very unfit after a heart attack last year and struggle with prolonged exercise.

Ive been giving it a half arsed attempt at mowing it a couple of times last summer but it's so bumpy that even on the highest setting the mower will either not cut. Or bottom out.....

Should I just get a professional landscaper to come in and dig it up and level and turf it? Looks like years of patience (which I don't have) to sort it out .....

Any advice gratefully welcome View attachment 179803

Looks to have lots of potential, but if you are limited in terms of what you can do physically and can afford it, getting someone to level and turf a large part of it may not be a bad idea (sod's law says that it will then turn dry and you'll have to water like buggery all summer © @Jack Straw ).

Have them cut a couple of beds that you can then deal with at your leisure. If you get it done quickly, you can spend time out there this summer and a large bit of lawn with a couple of beds would give you a start. Maybe leave a bit rough at the bottom that you can gradually turn over to fruit/veg raised beds etc.

I've spent 30+years contemplating, adding to and changing my garden and it's starting to get to where I want

 

[The Grockle]

Does anyone one have any suggestions on how I can make this a usable space?

We moved in a couple of years ago and have been concentrating solely on the inside.

This is our bit of neglected space out the back of our 1st floor flat.

It's south facing so has good light and is rather warm out there in the summer.

The grass is more like an old field with massive big clumps and full of weeds.

It is also very bumpy under foot and uneven.

Can I even do anything? I'm now very unfit after a heart attack last year and struggle with prolonged exercise.

Ive been giving it a half arsed attempt at mowing it a couple of times last summer but it's so bumpy that even on the highest setting the mower will either not cut. Or bottom out.....

Should I just get a professional landscaper to come in and dig it up and level and turf it? Looks like years of patience (which I don't have) to sort it out .....

Any advice gratefully welcome View attachment 179803

It's a great space that has huge potential, very jealous!

The first thing I'd decide is what you want from the space? Sunbathing, kickabout for kids, vegetable growing or a space to get lost in.

Personally, I use our garden as place to escape, I like to walk around into different 'rooms' and seating areas. Partitioning the space and creating pathways means a walk from one end to the other can be leisurely and take a few minutes.

I'd focus on a small manageable lawn area where you can keep it manicured and give the rest away to borders navigated by pathways. One seating area close to the house and one at the far end where you can go to escape!

If its South facing it could be unbearably hot in summer so a small copse of himalayan birch half way down would provide some shade, dappled sunlight and create some height and winter interest

 

[mikeyjh]

POSSIBLY. How big are mini diggers? I have no idea! It's a bit of a wiggle round the back of the flat behind some garages. But it's a tad wider than a normal path down the side of the house scenario. But there is a back gate with wider access just out of shot on the left that leads straight into our "garden".

I huse a lot of big pallets at work so can readily get hold of 3m lengths of 2x2 or 3x3 timber so I was considering making some kind of raised bed or bench seat thing along that fence and across the back edge as you look at it with some decent garden furniture set up with a parasol as there is zero shade until after 7pm during summer..

Mini digger will get through a normal size gate. 3ft no problem I think. Stacked 3x3s could work nicely for a raised bed. If you're removing the grass, consider seeing aside an area for wildflowers, maybe get hold of some tree whips (you've probably missed the spring planting), things like Rowan, Hazel, Silver Birch are fast growing.

If your flush with 3x3, you may want to consider buying a cheap 'sail' and put it on some posts for shade/shelter.

 

[A mex eyecan]

any idea what this is oh wise folk of NSC?

Other half reckons it could be a bay tree. But before deciding to use it’s leaves in cooking would like to make 100% certain.

 

[mikeyjh]

any idea what this is oh wise folk of NSC?

Other half reckons it could be a bay tree. But before deciding to use it’s leaves in cooking would like to make 100% certain.


View attachment 179909

Yeah, I'm very sure that's Bay - Give the leaves a scrunch and sniff, should have delicate sweet fragrant smell.

 

[A mex eyecan]

Yeah, I'm very sure that's Bay - Give the leaves a scrunch and sniff, should have delicate sweet fragrant smell.

thanks, however after badly breaking my nose about 20 years ago I was left without a sense of smell. I always relied on Mrs to assist, however following her escapades with Covid she also has been left without a sense of smell or taste

 

[Jack Straw]

any idea what this is oh wise folk of NSC?

Other half reckons it could be a bay tree. But before deciding to use it’s leaves in cooking would like to make 100% certain.


View attachment 179909

It could be Bay, but also Portugese Laurel. Bay leaves aren't usually wavy around the edge, or particularly elongated.

Prunus 'lusitanica' (Portuguese Laurel) - Dundonald Nurseries Gardening Shop

Portuguese Laurel is an elegant evergreen hedging plant with narrow, pointed, deep-green glossy leaves borne on striking, maroon-coloured stems. Small, fragrant white flowers blossom in summer which are popular with bees and butterflies, along with small red fruits which are a favourite with...

dundonaldnurseries.com

 

[LamieRobertson]

I’m going for the latter re the post above

 

[mikeyjh]

thanks, however after badly breaking my nose about 20 years ago I was left without a sense of smell. I always relied on Mrs to assist, however following her escapades with Covid she also has been left without a sense of smell or taste

Ahh - You should probably err on the side of caution then! The leaves are absolutely identical to my Bay, (I went and got one to compare) but I wouldn't want to make you ill!

 

[A mex eyecan]

Ahh - You should probably err on the side of caution then! The leaves are absolutely identical to my Bay, (I went and got one to compare) but I wouldn't want to make you ill!

thanks again, that was thoughtful of you.