[Micko]

We're about to erect a polytunnel this month and because I also run a landscaping business, am keen to start growing on our own amenity plants along with the main business of fruit and veg.

Has anyone any good recommendations for suppilers of plant liners?? We're looking particularly for species such as Phormiums, grasses and bamboos and general landscape/garden plants.

Also if anyone is after any landscape and gardening advice please let me know.

Be very grateful for any contacts.

Thanks loads - Micko

[doganjo]

I'd like to take you up on that, Micko. I have an acre, split into to more or less equal areas on either side of the house, mostly in grass. I feel it would look bigger and more interesting if it was split up into smaller sections - am I right?  I got lots of willow twigs from Happyhippy last month and stuck them in alongside a little wall that runs the length of the front garden - when will I see if they've 'taken'?   Basically I need all the space for my dogs to hunt and run in, and they make good use of all the trees and shrubs at the front as well as the burn,  but I intend having a higher raised bed for veg for myself so they don't run all over that, and I think it would be more interesting for them too if there were separate areas.  I also have a few fruit trees, planted  just over a year ago and would like to put something round them to make it like a mini orchard  - not sure what though and not a lot of spare cash around from a pension.  The back garden is as difficult - it's just half grass and half gravel.  I need the gravel at the moment to move the motorhome around but I'm selling that in the spring.  Any ideas welcome.  If I was closer, younger, and fitter, I'd come and help at the construction party!
Annie

[Micko]

Hi Annie....think I probably need to give you a shout back tommorow if that's OK cos the lass has got me hammered and you'll get a much more considered response!!!!

Not my fault...she made me.

Defo should consider the construction party though....could do the supervising bit??

[doganjo]

 

Yeah, she just held your nose and poured it down your throat.  I know these Geordies - two of 'em have just bought pups off me.  Grand lads ayman.
Woudl it be possible to do the supervisor bit by remote control 

[HappyHippy]

Hi Annie,
You should be able to tell if they've taken by spring (if it ever comes lol!) You should hopefully see new growth on the stems when everything else starts to grow and by the summer they'll be off and racing.

[Micko]

Hi Annie....got my sensible head on now and feeling a bit more clever. Dee's the Geordie and once she hits the wine I've got to do my best to keep up (that's my excuse anyway).

As HH says, you'll soon be able to tell come the spring with the willows. One check you can do now though is to scrape a bit of bark off with your nail and the stem should be nice a green underneath. For best growth it'll be worth keeping as weed free as possible until they get really established. Best be careful if you've planted them against a wall though as they've got pretty vigorous root systems and may start heaving the wall up.

Reckon your garden would definitely benefit from breaking up and create several smaller areas. Trouble is is cost though isn't it. If you're wanting to put raised beds in you could also build in solid posts in the beds as support and to attach strained wire between for beans and peas to provide a bit of vertical interest and to visually break up the area. One cheap way of creating a bit more interest would be to allow certain areas of the lawn to grow longer and maybe plant some wildflower plugs to provide colour and seasonal interest and mow grass paths through, maybe meandering through to your orchard, again with wildflowers in there or bulbs.

Hedges too maybe worth considering for wildlife...using thorn, blackthorn (good for sloe berries), holly, hazel, dog rose etc. they could be used to create different areas within the garden.

The gravel area looks pretty huge and could be costly to start removing. Depending what the soil/ground is like underneath you could create a separate sitting area and plant some ornamental specimen plants directly through the gravel with some strategically placed rocks and pebbles, just to break up the area.

Just a few thoughts but quite happy to look at in more detail if you fancy.

[doganjo]

Sounds good so far Micko.  Never though of the gravel area being suitable for sitting in but it's a good idea once I get rid of the motorhome.  My grandkids have a Wendy house there now anyway so their Mum and I could have a cuppa while they play.  I also have their climbing frame so we could put down some rubber matting on the gravel and set it up there too.  I had one of those green tesco rubber mats so put it in front of the Wendy house to look like grass and a couple of potted magnolias at the corners.  So some more pots we can do.  Might buy some blackthorn for hedging - sloe's for the gin might be useful!   I seem to remember John buying a whole heap of hedging plants from a catalogue for not much cash. I'm not good a digging out but if I take my time i'll be OK.  Could always look for a couple of 'wwoofers' I suppose  Thanks for your ideas - might draw out a plan and post up here for comments.

[scattybiker1972]

http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/Index_Hedging__Trees__Shrubs___Conifers_1.html


can highly recomennd these for blackthorn plants.did a native hedge and a edible hedge as well as a few others and theyre quite reasonable priced good size ect good plants too

[Micko]

Aye drawing up a plan would be dead useful Annie and I could have better look at it for you.