Hello from Cornwall

Hello everyone, I'm Armorel

I moved to Cornwall about eighteen months ago, having lived and worked on the beautiful Isles of Scilly for over forty years. After so many decades in hospitality, it was time to retire and relocate to a more 'conventional' life on the mainland.

On Scilly I had a garden of half an acre, an 18ft by 10ft greenhouse, an 8ft x 10ft greenhouse and a blessedly mild (though occasionally EXTREMELY) windy climate. I had to leave 95% of my plants behind, a collection built up over many many years, and just bring a few crates with me. I have to admit, I stood in my big greenhouse two days before we left and I cried my eyes out for about fifteen minutes

It would be nice to say that I'm happily creating a new garden but not yet. We are going to knock down our old cold draughty early 1970s bungalow and build ourselves a nice warm draught-free comfortable bungalow as a treat in our retirement. That means there's no point nurturing the rather sparse garden we have because it will disappear beneath a building site later this year.

Hubby saw how bereft I was so he insisted that I get a greenhouse soon after we arrived here so I have a nice 6ft x 10ft greenhouse which he built for me in January 2024. He literally completed it the day before he headed off to the local hospital for an operation on his right hand (de Puytrens Contracture) which, fortunately was a great success. But he now has to dismantle the greenhouse later in the summer so we can move it, plus all the plants inside and out, to a nearby property where we are going to live during the house build. THEN he has to dismantle it again and bring it back to our new home. Talk about a glutton for punishment!

So he virtually forbade from buying any new plants until then. But I have managed to acquire a few more, maybe a couple of dozen, as well as propagating the plants I already have. I am an avid propagator and cannot resist multiplying plants, sometimes just for the challenge. My collection is quite eclectic but I seem to have more corms/bulbs and succulents than anything else. But almost everything is in pots which is going to be challenging over the next week with the hot sunny weather that's forecast.

Anyway, that's me Happy to be here and sure to have lots of questions

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Armorel. You certainly have a busy time ahead with a new bungalow to be built and restoration of your garden. We would love to see the progress along the way if you have time. Good luck!

 

Welcome @Armorel , looking forward to seeing how your garden progresses

 

Welcome to Cornwall and the Forums. You have a challenge on your hands but good luck and enjoy.

 

Hi again all, sorry it took me SOO long to get back. We had a meeting with our builder this week and, due to the limited width of our plot (less than 20 metres), it looks like I'm going to lose the entire high raised bed between us and the road for access for machines and workmen.

Which forum would be best to ask for advice about how to rescue just a few of the precious inhabitants? I realise that I won't be able to save the huge mahonia or the enormous rosa rugosa (which may be Rosarie de L'Haie and smells divine). But I also have two inherited unnamed cluster roses (presume the rose forum for those), a recently transplanted multicoloured mophead hydrangea, a small struggling burgundy leaved hydrangea (which is probably stressed) and numerous common ferns.

It's probably best to just bite the bullet and accept that I'll need to let them grub out and destroy the biggest plants. But I'd like to try and cut back/pot up/propagate the roses, hydrangeas and ferns to take with me for a year and, hopefully, replant when the house is built.

We're also going to lose a 10ft tall Crinodendron Hookerianum (Chilean Lantern Tree) which has been rescued from the clutches of a huge Rhododendrom ponticum and has flowered magnificently this summer. But I have several seedlings growing and I can collect seeds. We will be sad to see it grubbed up and destroyed though

Moving my 10ft x 6ft greenhouse is another headache that hubby is grappling with too

 

Welcome back. There's always a spanner in the works isn't there @Armorel?

Cluster roses? I suspect you mean Floribundas. Both these and the Rugosa are a lot tougher than you may think. Yes, it's not a good time of year to move them but I'd give it a go. They are both worth taking a chance with than losing them completely, even if they have to go into large pots temporarily.

If mine I would cut them back by half, dig them up with as much root ball attached as possible, then replant elsewhere. Mix some fertiliser like blood, fish and bone into the soil before back filling around them. Don't put the fertiliser directly into the hole as it will burn the roots. Don't forget to keep them watered throughout the summer and into early autumn. They may look sorry for themselves for a few weeks but should pick up.

I would also attempt to move the other shrubs in a similar way but without the pruning. Nothing ventured....

Take photo's of all sides and roof of your greenhouse before moving. It will help when re-constructing.

 

Thanks Sheal

I'll certainly take your advice to cut them back by half and dig them up. Sadly they'll have to go into big pots because our garden will be a building site and they'll get damaged. They've got generous clusters of flowers and small shiny green foliage. I have no idea what they are but they are pretty. The rosa rugosa and mahonia are far too big to even consider digging up and moving unfortunately. I'll take cuttings of the rose but we'll have to get a new mahonia sometime in the future. Hopefully we can get some of the ferns out and I'll save lots of tall quaking grass seeds. We have self heal popping up through the paving so hopefully I can take some of that too.

I didn't bring much but, to hubby's chagrin, plants just keep growing and need bigger pots. Added to that, I'm addicted to propagation so they keep multiplying. AND I've even managed to buy a few extras. He is in despair

But I won't be sorry to see the back of the two huge buddleias, Lycesteria formosa, Rose of Sharon and all the cotoneasters, which self seed absolutely everywhere and are almost impossible to control

Fortunately the greenhouse is only 18 months old and I still have the very comprehensive manual that came with it So hubby is confident that he'll be able to remove the glass then shift the sides, ends and roof pieces entire to be reassembled elsewhere.

We are very fortunate in that we invested in a very small bungalow with a tiny garden and garage about a year ago so we have somewhere to go without spending a lot of money on renting. But the garden really is tiny and the patch of sloping grass where the greenhouse will be reassembled is only just over 8ft wide which means my 6ft wide greenhouse is a tight fit So he's going to have his work cut out ...

 

Having moved several greenhouses over the last 40 years, can advise that its not too difficult.
Essential tips:
Prepare foundations thoroughly, especially to be square/level (correct slope by packing/cutting in.)
Insert ,but do not tighten bolts fully ,until you glaze. (minor irregularities permit)
Its possible to glaze 1 side/end from inside if tight for space.
It needs two people !
Keep glass for each side together; transport glass in vertical plane, seperate with newspaper, do not let it twist or flop side to side. A wooden crate helps.
Good luck.
Buy extra clips/nuts/bolts ahead of time
Clean glass before you fit it.

 

Hello @Armorel and I hope you enjoy your new home in Cornwall.
It sounds as if you have somewhere to live whilst your bungalow is being built so that is certainly an advantage.
Presumably you have a "finish date" for the new bungalow ? Hate to say it but you may be better off at the moment to resist your addiction to propagating ( easy to say I know !! ) and concentrate on planning your new garden layout and deciding which plants you want and which will thrive there. Nothing to stop you propagating those plants which will suit the new garden if you have enough room presently to keep them happy until the move.
Agree with the advice given about the roses and also re building the GH. You don't say what type of ferns you have but possibly they could be dug up with as much soil as possible and potted or bagged, a good soak and a shady spot until you can find a home for them.
You certainly have a job on your hands so the very best of luck for the future

 

Thanks all

Hubby has a strong friend to help him dismantle and then reassemble the greenhouse and we have a tall strong son as well (always a bonus!). It's being moved by professional movers who know what they're doing to hopefully it will all stay intact Not sure about cleaning the glass because it's had white shading paint applied this summer and it's likely to be still needed in late July when we move it. I don't want to have to buy more and apply it.

We're hoping that building will take 12 - 15 months from start date on 1st August (soft strip) then demolition beginning 1st September. The basement/undercroft is the biggest task because we are on a slope, the house itself is a highly insulated wooden frame house so should go up in two or three weeks. We hope to be back in by Christmas 2026, if all goes well.

I find it really difficult to visualize the house and (small) garden, I don't think in 3D like hubby and the architect We're on a slope and I think hubby wants to level it as much as possible but I'm thinking the garden needs some changes in level to make it more interesting. He has every confidence in my ability to design the garden though. I do know plants but I'm not so confident on design. My books are all packed away in storage so I can't even get to my helpful and inspiration John Brookes books

Can anyone recommend a good garden design program (preferably free) that I might be able to play around with?