Hi there !

hello

I'm new to the forum and thought I'd introduce myself - I live in a ( very) rural part of Lincolnshire with my hubby . as well as gardening my other hobbies are breeding,showing and working my Belgian Shepherd dogs and keeping rare breed chickens. We have only recently moved to our present home where we have about a 1 acre plot of which 1/4 is earmarked for my garden. I am really looking forward to creating my new garden and will be asking lots of questions from all of you as I go along.

The piece of land I have in mind is South west facing and is sheltered by a belt of hedges along one side but exposed along the other. It is just scrubby grass at the moment but the soil seems good - very fertile fenland earth !. I am aiming tio create a very English country garden and have already dug out some borders and my hubby has made a pergola and soem arches. I'm sure that I be on heere often to pick your brains and ask for help as I go along !.

 

Can I just add my welcome too merlin!

Plenty of advice and opinions on here so don't be afraid to ask. Open Fenland is ideal but can be exposed so fencing needs to be solid and braced. It can also make make matters worse in some parts of the gaden by creating swirling eddy winds downstream so hedges or trees above fence or wall top height help to break up the wind and provide more shelter.

Have fun and let us all know your plans and designs and if you can post pics in the gallery so we can all be envious!

 

Hi Merlin - get some seeds

When I started my garden from scratch, I bought a load of first year flowering perennial seeds. They did not cost much, but gave hundreds of plants the first year. You can shove them in at random, perhaps in blocks or drifts, and get loads of fun and colour in the first year.

You can move them round later, or get rid of them, when you have a better idea of exactly what you want your garden to look like.

 

Welcome Merlin, I feel sure you will have a great time planning and planting. I imagine you will be really busy with your doggies good luck.

 

Sounds good merlin, nice to start from scratch, and watch it all come together, and you've got the space, GREAT.

 

Hi welcome, don't forget to add to your garden bird boxes, bird feeders, bird bath, hedgehog box, pond and bog garden and anything else that brings in the wildlife, good luck

 

South west facing and protection - what more could you wish for with your blank canvas. Welcome Merlin - have a browse of gardening picture in the books at your local garden centre and marry them with what you want you want from you new garden - and you will have the framework.

Enjoy - you realise of course that you are starting on a road that there is no turning back :D Gardening is addictive!

 

Thanks for the friendly welcome - I loved the idea about sowing loads of seeds this first year to get some instant colour - should I go for varities that can be sown directly into the ground ( what could you suggest as fool proof for summer colour ?) or should I propogate them first ? I have asked for a greenhouse for my birthday ( March)but until then I'll have to make do with various windowsills and seed trays.

We hope to encourage more animals and birds into the garden by incorporating 'wildlife friendly' plants and habitats - any suggestions ?

I have dug out a largish border which I eventaully want to fill with cottage garden type plants ( lilies, delphiniums etc) - should I be adding loads of fertiliser - I think the soil is quite rich already - sorry about all the questions folks but you all seem so knowledgeable and I've so much to learn !!!.

 

one way to do it is to make sure you buy a few plants in flower evry month ... eg this month we are lookin at winter flowering jasmine ,,,
remember that they may need to be hardened off esp if the look in prime condition .. which suggests they have been grown under polythene.
viburnum tinus is great too ..also berried evergreens . pyracantha, berberis .. see other posts ......
you should look at other s gardens and make sure you select your favourites

 

With reference to what sort of perenial plants to grow/buy, I was thinking about getting my records in order and ranking my own plants for desirability for my own purposes. But this may be of interest to you and to others, so I will post it in a seperate thread (as it will take a couple of days to collect).

I would be inclined to grow seeds in seeds trays and then prick them out into individual pots. It is more work than sowing direct in the ground, but I think you have much better control than direct sowing. You can start them indoors and if you have transparent seed tray covers you protect the seeds from drying out and from being eaten by birds, slugs etc. I have a high germination rate with seed trays (or small pots) but a much lower germination rate with direct sowing.

 

hi Merlin also wanna grow lots of perennials this year in our allotment, sectioned off about 15 by 10ft.for this but must admit to being a bit daunted.PeterS,i would like to try your idea but havn`t much knolledge or experience so just gunna have a bash and hope.

 

elainefiz. have a look at the thread Ranking Perennials - if you are interested e-mail me and I will send you the file.