I had to follow Beth Chatto on Facebook to get a glimpse of her Shade Garden Diary which I have just ordered. The way she thinks about her garden and talks to her gardener reminds me of how slowly spaces expand and change
Category Archives: ASIDE
WHEN IS A HEDGE NOT A HEDGE?
When it’s going into lawn
With the help of Sam, the new privet hedge is on it’s way so the ground has to be prepared. A membrane is ready to go down to keep away the weeds from the roots and a seeper system to water it when it gets dry.
MY NEW LIVING WALL OBSESSION
Still in it’s infancy, this PlantBox Living Wall from Growing Revolution has the makings of such a productive and beautiful addition to this sunny corner in Suffolk..
All the troughs are eco-friendly, stackable and have a nifty watering system that shows you when the water is getting low. Also, that way the plants learn to put out roots to find the water as it comes from the bottom., keeping the soil wet but not water-logged, which can easily happen when you water from the top.
I mostly used herbs from my favourite supplier Herbal Haven where the range is simply amazing. They arrive in recyclable holders that cut down for bringing on seedlings, or still in the recycling. I then added some chives at the top for a pink topper and some ferns for structure. There’s still a little room for cut-and-come-again lettuce or some sedge, which I dearly wanted to plant, but couldn’t source in time.
IT MIGHT STILL BE FEBRUARY, BUT NOT LONG NOW!
I love the colours that start in April and run through to early June as the purples, blues and yellows are some of the most generous of the year. With the Irises taking over from the Alliums, this is the time when you aren’t battling the lack of water but just get to enjoy the abundance.
WELL SAID
Gardening is surely an ideal profession for the woman who likes it. The work is not so heavy as to put too great a strain on her physical capacity; and in the more expert branches the possibilities and range of interest is really unlimited
VITA SACKVILLE-WEST
FEEL FREE TO FLING IT AROUND
My abiding principle is to to make sure my clients feel that their gardens are their gardens and I am just here to do the jobs they need and want doing. When they start apologising for putting compost in the wrong bit, it’s time to readjust!
JOBS I DO
My father used to say there was no such thing as can’t so I do try to say yes to everything, but at a push I would say that two feet on the ground is generally better for all and I do have specialists I can call on to do the other stuff. For instance an amazing chap who does hedges and fencing, and a mower chap who takes great pride in his work