The zombie army COVID-19 Gardening thread.
Discussion
What is the hedging species?
Project use the lawn as a flowerbed continues. So favourite bulbs are narcissus February Gold (flowers have elegant swept back petals), crocuses Vernus Pickwick, Jeanne D'Arc and a giant yellow crocus species (big, bold flowers)
Duffers are crocus tommasianus (weedy little flowers that are barely visible against the lawn), narcissus early sensation (boring flowers) and iris Katharine Hodgkin (weedy flowers barely visible against the lawn and that last only a few days).
Narcissus ice follies yet to flower.
Bulbs planted last autumn have flowered late, whereas the crocuses done the year before have naturalised and came in in late January, so much earlier than their first year of flowering, and they have also multiplied nicely. So I'm hoping everything planted in 2021 also multiplies, synchronises and blooms a bit earlier in spring 2023...at the moment, it all looks a bit scrappy.
Project use the lawn as a flowerbed continues. So favourite bulbs are narcissus February Gold (flowers have elegant swept back petals), crocuses Vernus Pickwick, Jeanne D'Arc and a giant yellow crocus species (big, bold flowers)
Duffers are crocus tommasianus (weedy little flowers that are barely visible against the lawn), narcissus early sensation (boring flowers) and iris Katharine Hodgkin (weedy flowers barely visible against the lawn and that last only a few days).
Narcissus ice follies yet to flower.
Bulbs planted last autumn have flowered late, whereas the crocuses done the year before have naturalised and came in in late January, so much earlier than their first year of flowering, and they have also multiplied nicely. So I'm hoping everything planted in 2021 also multiplies, synchronises and blooms a bit earlier in spring 2023...at the moment, it all looks a bit scrappy.
Container bulbs kicking off too. The massive ones at the back are giant alliums that get to over 1.5m tall. Others are hyacinth with late tulip layered underneath them...
Flowerbed bulbs starting too. And a few new additions in pots from B&Q to be planted where stuff has failed to appear. Rare allium nevskianum, the bulbs alone are around £2-3 in autumn, and these potted, growing one's were £3 each. I bought the lot.
Flowerbed bulbs starting too. And a few new additions in pots from B&Q to be planted where stuff has failed to appear. Rare allium nevskianum, the bulbs alone are around £2-3 in autumn, and these potted, growing one's were £3 each. I bought the lot.
Evoluzione said:
I'm not seeing many tulips in this thread so far, some inspiration here: https://www.google.com/search?q=dwarf+tulips&s...
As you can see they are dwarf ones so wind resistant, these are ours which were planted last Autumn:
A bit lonely, but it's a start.
Dwarf tulips you say? As you can see they are dwarf ones so wind resistant, these are ours which were planted last Autumn:
A bit lonely, but it's a start.
These are the first up this year. Lots more to come hopefully!
I buy well rotted manure and topsoil in bulk bags, and mix it for pots. Way cheaper, and works really well. I sometime mix perlite and clay balls in as required.
You get through a lot of compost when pots and planters get big, so bulk buying and preparing a load of containers works well. You can always use any leftovers elsewhere in the garden.
You get through a lot of compost when pots and planters get big, so bulk buying and preparing a load of containers works well. You can always use any leftovers elsewhere in the garden.
Bluesgirl said:
It’s certainly peaceful here. The woman who lived here for 30 years before I moved in obviously planned it carefully with some great shrubs and features. The pergola’s on the tilt so I’ll have to find a way of fixing it.
I always think it’s a pity to see older properties with no established garden features. They make a huge difference.
They really do. Ours had been abandoned for 10 years so whilst lawn etc was just brambles, the formerly savagely pruned trees and hedges had grown huge, and given the garden real privacy for a city house. I always think it’s a pity to see older properties with no established garden features. They make a huge difference.
I have yet to grow any food except for fruit from the fruit trees (came with the house - damson, apples and pears) that all gets eaten by wasps. 
However, I am a flower person. And so much is in bud and ready to go. Lots more roses and a bunch of alliums coming through, varieties that flower after some earlier ones already flowering. I am well on my plan to have colour on the garden from January to November...
However, I am a flower person. And so much is in bud and ready to go. Lots more roses and a bunch of alliums coming through, varieties that flower after some earlier ones already flowering. I am well on my plan to have colour on the garden from January to November...
Comacchio said:
Harry Flashman said:
I have yet to grow any food except for fruit from the fruit trees (came with the house - damson, apples and pears) that all gets eaten by wasps.
However, I am a flower person. And so much is in bud and ready to go. Lots more roses and a bunch of alliums coming through, varieties that flower after some earlier ones already flowering. I am well on my plan to have colour on the garden from January to November...
Lovely thought! Might ask you for some planting tips next year, have 2 raised beds - one 0.8 x 5m the other 0.8 x 7m I think. Would be nice to have them flowering Jan to Nov mixed in with some veg too. Have 8 or 9 big pots dotted about as well, currently have peony, ranunculus, eucomis, nerine & nasturtium starting to sprout. Once the hardscaping is done I'll look to getting to some long pots to start growing some climbers up the fences for privacy and a bit of colour.However, I am a flower person. And so much is in bud and ready to go. Lots more roses and a bunch of alliums coming through, varieties that flower after some earlier ones already flowering. I am well on my plan to have colour on the garden from January to November...
Are the raised beds shallow beds (i.e. depth is the depth of the bed), or just raised above earth (so bigger shrubs can root deep)? This will make a big difference to what you can plant!
If they are near the house, I'd go for visual impact.
A couple of flowering shrubs that can be pruned. I love Cotinus candyfloss for insane autumn interest from the leaves and the beautiful flowers in summer. These are small trees though really so will need to be kept in check. Fabulous, though.
A few grasses for texture. Stipa tenuissima is lovely and quite low.
Then herbaceous perennials that also give winter interest. And tower over/through the grasses, planted in three plant drifts. Bee balm, coloured yarrow, globe thistle, salvia give some different textures, and some winter interest from dried flowers. Autumn sedum gives late, beautiful flowers and interesting leaves to extend your season of colour and interest. Also the leaves of all of these are not too overbearing for a smallish bed, unlike say another favourite of mine, the statuesque Jerusalem Sage. You chop these all right back in late winter/early spring.
amongst this, in autumn, plant early spring bulbs to give winter colour to the bare, chopped back bed - dwarf daffs, Pickwick crocus, etc. In November plant tulip bulbss for more colour next year as the daffs etc fade but before the perennials grow to make the bulb leaves and flower - think perennial tulips in drifts. Also plant summer bulbs to wave amongst the grasses and perennials - drumstick allium is excellent as it is tall, has excellent flowers, but slender leaves that will blend nicely.
Sorry, no idea on veg!
A couple of flowering shrubs that can be pruned. I love Cotinus candyfloss for insane autumn interest from the leaves and the beautiful flowers in summer. These are small trees though really so will need to be kept in check. Fabulous, though.
A few grasses for texture. Stipa tenuissima is lovely and quite low.
Then herbaceous perennials that also give winter interest. And tower over/through the grasses, planted in three plant drifts. Bee balm, coloured yarrow, globe thistle, salvia give some different textures, and some winter interest from dried flowers. Autumn sedum gives late, beautiful flowers and interesting leaves to extend your season of colour and interest. Also the leaves of all of these are not too overbearing for a smallish bed, unlike say another favourite of mine, the statuesque Jerusalem Sage. You chop these all right back in late winter/early spring.
amongst this, in autumn, plant early spring bulbs to give winter colour to the bare, chopped back bed - dwarf daffs, Pickwick crocus, etc. In November plant tulip bulbss for more colour next year as the daffs etc fade but before the perennials grow to make the bulb leaves and flower - think perennial tulips in drifts. Also plant summer bulbs to wave amongst the grasses and perennials - drumstick allium is excellent as it is tall, has excellent flowers, but slender leaves that will blend nicely.
Sorry, no idea on veg!
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 16th May 13:26
RichB said:
Harry Flashman said:
That looks like one David Austin's English shrub roses. Possibly Gertrude Jekyll (but cannot be sure because with cameras and PC screens colours all appear slightly different) Ridiculous profusion of flowers, growing in a container.
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