New gardener in Scotland.

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by Jocko, Jan 2, 2022.

  1. Jocko

    Jocko Guided by my better half.

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    I am new to gardening and new to this forum. In July my wife and I inherited this house with a fair-sized garden. We have lived in flats all our married life but my wife is a keen gardener from her earlier life and I am eager to learn. At 73 I am past digging and getting down to flower beds is a problem (getting back up is even worse) but I have a kneeler which helps immensely.
    I was given a bit of garden for my own but it is damp, heavy clay and doesn't get much sun (wonder why she gave me that bit), but I am determined to make it flourish.
    We are both into flowers and shrubs so we do not intend growing vegetables We both like wildlife so I have installed a bird table and feeders and we have a rabbit that comes around now and again.
    So I just want to say hello and look forward to tips and tricks I glean from these pages.
     
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    • CanadianLori

      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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      Welcome to the forum @Jocko !

      I am not a big fan of trying to dig into hard clay so I mostly have raised gardens.
       
    • Jocko

      Jocko Guided by my better half.

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      Thanks, Lori. I am trying a generous dressing of horticultural gypsum to try and break it down. That and a top dressing of well-rotted horse manure.
       
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      • Tomcat

        Tomcat Gardener

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        Hi @Jocko and welcome to Gardeners Corner !.
        Can’t go wrong with liberal dressings of well rotted manure , spread on top as you say , let the worms do the work ! .
         
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        • Sheal

          Sheal Total Gardener

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          Welcome to Gardeners Corner Jocko. Good luck with the new garden and some pictures along the way will also be welcome please. :)
           
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          • Loofah

            Loofah Admin Staff Member

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          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            Welcome to the forum Jocko
             
          • Jocko

            Jocko Guided by my better half.

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            Thanks to you all for the nice welcome.
             
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            • Michael Hewett

              Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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              Sorry it's late but WELCOME ! :smile:
               
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              • Upsydaisy

                Upsydaisy Total Gardener

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                :oopss:......me too!!

                Hi @Jocko and [​IMG]
                 
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                • Jocko

                  Jocko Guided by my better half.

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                  Once again, thank you. Seems like a real friendly forum but there again gardeners are always friendly and eager to help.
                   
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                  • Logan

                    Logan Total Gardener

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                    Welcome @Jocko
                    With clay soil it's good to keep putting compost on it, then you don't have to dig it in.
                    Here is some videos, haven't watched them.



                     
                  • Upsydaisy

                    Upsydaisy Total Gardener

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                    @Jocko , don't knock clay soil as it's highly nutritious!! We live and garden in the middle of a now non functioning Clay Quarry ( all the local older houses, including ours were built with bricks from it).
                    You can gradually add bulky organic matter , best is composted tree bark. Too much additions can in fact have a detrimental effect on its workability so have a test area planned and see how it responds.

                    There are loads of plants that grow well .......so you may well have been given a 1st class spot after all.:dbgrtmb:

                    Once amended and workable ..look up clay and shade loving plants....and start the exciting stage of experimenting!!! Make your wife envious!!:heehee:
                     
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                    • Jocko

                      Jocko Guided by my better half.

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                      At 73 I am very much a no-dig gardener so I covered all the beds with manure and I just dig holes as I wish to plant an item.

                      Finished putting manure around my plants 11-11-21.jpg
                       
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                      • Lem

                        Lem Keen Gardener

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                        :sign0016: @Jocko to Gardener’s Corner
                         
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