Rose Parterre...

I have a small lawn in one part of the garden which I wanted to make into more flower beds but keeping chickens it's difficult to keep things in check as they do like to dig and demolish plants given the chance.Now Roses are 'safe' and my increasing obsession with them and box hedging has spurred me on to create a Rose Parterre,albeit a very small one.The area is approximately 18ft x 14ft ,so let's make a start...I have the Buxus on order which should arrive bare root in late October early November so no immediate hurry and I think I've finally decided on the Roses after much deliberation as there are so many beautiful ones to choose from.There will be 4 beds each containing 3 Roses ..Wildeve,Compte De Chambord,Heritage and A Whiter Shade of Pale,all repeat flowering and highly scented.There is 'half' an old Conference Pear tree 'in the way' ,I say half because a couple of years ago after deciding it was past it's best I started chopping it down but then guilt stepped in so it was left as a feeding station for the birds.This year the tree has produced masses of Pears so I'm still reluctant to remove it so just for now it will be staying...

This is the start....



Now a guesstimate of how the beds will be..




So here we go,this'll be fun

 

This looks interesting. Must follow this thread.

 

Please Miss: Can I drive the JCB? Pretty Please Miss?

 

If only I could fit one in the garden @Kristen ...I don't remember turf being this hard to get up

 

Watch the back Loli! I think slicing off turf is the hardest job in the garden. Would that pear tree be tall enough to handle a climber......just thinking.

 

You need a turf iron Loli

 

A ton of top soil arrived today so thought I'd best crack on.I cemented the first two bed edges in,got fed up after that,too much dust from cutting so Mr Loli made a start on the other two.I double dug two of the beds then filled with the top soil,treaded it down and raked it over but miss calculated on a ton of soil going to need another two plus plenty of 'muck' to dig in too,doesn't go far does it It's looking rather caotic at the moment so you need to use your imagination,I am..Put up a make shift 'chicken keeper outer' so they didn't get under my feet...




Still a way to go but I'm going to cheat and where the grass is I'm going to lay a bed of sand on top and then block pave it

 

It's looking good Loli! You've certainly worked hard on it.

 

Loli,
it's starting to look proper posh already. Glad I found this thread tonight,
Jenny

 

I've Umm'd and ahhh'd about that Sheal,still not properly decided whether it's staying.It's only about 10ft tall but I could make one fit

I've changed my mind about the selection of Roses yet again I had finally decided on the four different varieties I wanted but then on visiting Castle Howard in North Yorkshire came across a bed of 'The Mayflower'...the scent was beautiful and strong which is my aim.

 

Gobsmacked! You don't hang around, do you, Loli? I've a feeling this is going to look very, very good.

I like the two Labradors. I suppose they're not much help with the garden, are they?

 

I love this. Can't wait to see the end product!