I’d give two pieces of advice…… 1) don’t get too hung up about planting things too close……. Get trees and large shrubs in the right place, and accept that other plants ( smaller shrubs, perrenials, bulbs ) may be moved or even disposed of, as the garden matures. You can’t leave a bare patch to account for a tree that will have a spread of 20 ft in 20 years time, you amend as you go. Gardening is a process, not an event! 2) most people plan borders that are far too narrow. Go and have a look at some gardens near your home and get some ideas….. a) look at how big the borders are and b) if you see two or three plants that look good together …… take a photograph. Have lots of fun.
Rosemary and lavender want lots of sun and as dry feet as you can manage. Maybe build a raised bed somewhere around your deck for these with plenty of gravel (or hardcore) mixed in. Add the conifers you're moving out too. Look at Italian garden photos with pencil cypress trees for inspiration. Your cordilines will probably do better in pots too, and taken in the green house in the winter. They don't mind just cold, but they really hate wet and cold. In your shady areas, suggest lots of hellebores, hostas, Japanese anemones, bergenia and more ferns. If you like bluebells, you'd love camassias. Penstemon, Astilbe and Astrantia will like semi shade. On the sunny side, yarrow, geums, day lilies are good doers. And crocosmia always reminds me of the north east. Climbing hydrangea can cover a fence quickly. And some more climbing roses will tolerate shade. Star Jasmine could be good on the sunny side.
Fatsia japonica good on the shady side gets quite big. You need some early flowering shrubs like mahonia for the bees. Definitely no lavender or rosemary on the shady damp side. Clematis armandii good coverage on shady side and beautiful cream scented flowers in spring. Looks like your beds might benefit from some mulch to feed the soil. Would take out any sycamore trees near the house and replant with fruit trees eg, crab apple 😊or amelanchier for year round interest and good for wildlife. Conifers get really big if not kept under control and I think they’re a bit boring. Do you want very low maintenance shrubs or some perennials for colour which require a bit more work? What soil type do you have, acid/alkali, clay or sandy?
19:47 You may have taken your raspberries out too soon. Raspberries take two years to bear along the whole of the canes. Abundance takes time. You’re putting in many young plants. In the first and second years, and for some longer, plants put all their energy into growing underground, expanding the root ball, sending out both anchoring roots and feeder roots. Those with well expanded roots will shoot up and out in the third and fourth years. Monitor what may need moving to have more room for expansion. The one yew, by the way, is all you need. They are very easy to propagate. I have an entire, dense hedge from clippings a neighbor gave me. Online and on YT the how is probably explained in many places. Love your work and enthusiasm. Gardening knowledge comes with time. Without enthusiasm and love of gardening no amount of time crafts a garden. Blessings.
Is that shiny green leafy vine growing up the large tree near the brook, Poison Ivy? Hope not. You folks are doing such a fine job in bringing this lovely garden back to life! I don't doubt that your stewardship is bring you enormous gratification & joy. Cheers!
Climbing hydrangeas are good for covering fences. Occasionally they’ll need a bit of pruning (we do it every other year - amateurs too) but it’s been there over 30years and still going strong. The bees love it too. They come for the hydrangea and pollinate our strawberries while they’re in the area. It smells absolutely gorgeous! ❤
I would just say - after many decades of growing things - that I gradually came to appreciate reducing the types of things that I chose to grow, to make the total effect more restful and not as jumbled and diverse.
Forgot to add ~ If you do have poison ivy, FYI, there is a specific spray to kill it without harming pollinators or other plantings. You have so many interesting plantings. You had asked about ideas: 1. In the zone at the rear, how about large Hosta (There are so many different sizes & colors. They are shade lovers & look great with Coral Bells. Having a bench near the water would make it all a lovely place to sit comfortably & enjoy a moment to enjoy the cooler air in the hot summer. 2. Have you thought about a fire pit for evening gatherings? Finally ~ Check out other gardens on line to see how grouping numbers of the same plant in mass. That will make a striking mark in each zone. Mixing so many little bits of plants here. there & everywhere often don't create a soothing nor dramatic show. Wishing you all the best!
Where to start Andy, I wish I wasn't 300 miles away I'd call in and wonder round with you to talk through it all and give you some ideas and bring you loads of plants ! Right - are you ready for this ? Firstly, you've both done so much right so don't throw the baby out with the bath water, all gardens are an evolving picture and even when on paper plants are in the right place they don't always thrive due to other issues besides aspect ! Also don't apologise for the lawn, I would say that's a perfectly normal amount of lawn and as long as you're happy to mow it and don't obsess about making it perfect and weed free it can be a great resource for both your family and wildlife ! I was trying to remember from your build videos but I guess the area that is least good on the left between house and studio has probably had a lot of compaction from "traffic" and materials storage. do what you can by regularly aerating it, but it will sort itself in the long run when the worms do their work to re-establish soil structure. I wouldn't worry too much about the Viburnum it's man enough to brush off the Ceanothus which can be a bit unruly - it looks like your may be a mound forming or prostrate variety looking at its lax habit so this might inform your expectations of height and spread. They don't take well to heavy pruning so it's a good idea to prune lightly regularly rather than wait till it's lost all shape. The Viburnums should be happy either side of the garden ( but might flower a little more on the sunny side ) try some other varieties such as Bodnantense that have more flower and a lovely scent. I'd also plant a Choysia which is a good doer flowers well and has a lovely scent - I'd choose the green rather than golden variety though as it won't bleach in the sun ! Don't be afraid to place slabs in the border (avoiding any bulbs etc) you're going to have to access the back of the border to maintain the Privet and Snowberry and this will be easier if you've somewhere to put your feet, they'll soon disappear among the planting till you need them ! On the other side, the casualties will probably be due to damp and lack of light so avoid growing them there, you could add some grit on that side but in general the answer to all soil "problems" is more compost/mulch. You could try some Rosemary cuttings form your surviving plants. I'm not a fan of Laurel but appreciate it's appeal to many if you want a good dense backdrop then The Laurel, Viburnum, Berberis and Pyracantha will be good choices but the latter two are spiteful thorny ! Don't forget to consider some natives as they're often silly cheap especially bare root and things like Hazel ( if don't dislike Squirrels ) are great for wildlife and can be coppiced to provide rustic poles. Adding a couple of Rowan (Mountain Ash) adds some height without too dense a canopy shutting out the light and are also good for wildlife. I think that's enough for now, let me know if you still want more ! 😉🤔😂
That's fantastic - thank you!!! Lawn - there's LOADS of worm casts this year, which we've never had before. So that's probably a good thing - that soil was just dead before so it's slowly coming back to life. And good news about the Viburnum - I might just leave it and prune back the Ceanothus a bit. If the Viburnum fills out that back corner we'll be happy. I think I'll try to rescue some of the lavender from the shady side. Even if I just put them in pots for now until I've decided where they're going. Thanks again - amazing! 🙏😊
@@AndyMac No problem mate, wish I could help more, I've more plants than I know what to do with, comes from having had a large empty garden and no money originally - propagate propagate propagate ! 😉
Love your work, Andy and your journey is reminiscent of mine, started 36 years ago with literally a blank canvass. We made a nice little border, planted some standard roses and watched them grow. Now the poor things are 20’ high and searching for the sun through our leylandii hedge! I’m better at hard landscaping (182 2x2 flagstones, waterfall, bridge, stream, pond, decking , sheds etc). Keep keeping up the good work 🌞
You are doing a good job starting your garden. My garden keeps evolving and it has been 20 years! Plants that don't do well or need too much care come out and new ones come in. I have two suggestions. I would buy another shed just like the one you have and put it right next to that one on the downhill side. That would be to help with your crowded workshop. Then by the river, a nice little patio with some lawn furniture to take advantage of the shade in the summer. I really enjoy your videos!
Sub'd. Wow I so have greenhouse envy 😂 I have the same problem as you as I have a very shady side that I have no idea what to plant. I'll be watching your garden for inspiration (then nicking it for my channel). Happy gardening. Karen 😊😊
Lovely all around! Regarding your yellow/patchy grass in the middle of the new area, from the looks of it I think some thorough aeration and fertilizer should get it into shape quite quickly.
My wife said the lavender is possibly a french lavender, it needs a sunnier spot as it is more tender. The other lavender looks dead. If it doesn't have little green leaves on it. Zone 2 (shady bit) generally is too damp, need to be careful.😊
Love this. Your garden is a similar size and aspect as mine (minus the river 😢) and I’m a newbie to gardening (planting for the first time last year) so I’m following your progress with interest 😊
Decking was the first thing I ripped out when we moved into our new place 🤣 a slimy ice rink in winter and convenient safe passage for rats. Made a Geoff Hamilton (remember him?) type of patio instead. Enjoying the seasonal walkabout, always informative and inspiring 👍
Cheers! I quite like the idea of continuing the wooden flooring feel from inside to outside at the same level but know what you mean about it getting slippy. I've had quite a few to fix for customers over the years and it can be lethal! 😬
Hostas,heuchera, astilbes, azaleas all good perennial plants for zone 2. Herbs for sunny zone 1. If garden not been cherished for years try adding lots of manure / feed. Mulch plants on sunny side . Although laurels are evergreen they are invasive trees in 5 years time they will be thugs & you will have to spend your time cutting them back. Looking forward to seeing the garden evolve.
I like hostas but we get a LOT of slugs so I'm a bit wary. Know what you mean about laurels - it's a quick fix but not a great long-term solution. Love azaleas! 👍
Really looking forward to see how your garden grows! On the sunny side i would go with Dahlias, Cannas and Salvias. All can be started early in the greenhouse from seeds or tubers and planted out at a good size for a great headstart. Also to make your life easier in the long run is to edge the beds with pavers or bricks. It stops the grass growing into the beds and the beds from growing into the grass and makes it very easy to run the mower over.
Know the feeling, we restarted our garden 6 years ago. We're still learning what works, and moving plants about. Shady side: viburnum eve price, escallonia, sarcococca, fatsia. mahonia, yew, cotoneaster, osmanthus burkwoodii, acer. Sunny side: lavender, cotton lavender, curry plant, rosemary, thyme, sedums, euphorbia. Tall grasses like stipa, miscanthus, calamagrotis. Dead lavender and rosemary could be due to heavy/wet clay soil, so improve drainage by digging in plenty of organic matter, stones, sand.
Honeysuckle grows well in a bit of shade & can romp away covering fences. I personally feel your three cherry trees are a bit close together & a bit close to your shed, unless you are going to prune them & keep them small. You could also try applying those glue bands you get to wrap round the trunks of fruit trees, they catch a lot of the destructive insects that crawl up the stems 👍 I grow cut & come again salad leaves in my greenhouse, I sow them in monthly batches in a fairly big shallow pot, that way when we’ve used all the first lot of leaves, the next ones are ready & I always have just two pots on the go. Chillies & peppers do well in a sunny greenhouse too.
Cheers! I'm happy to prune the wild cherry to keep it in check around the studio. It's mainly a bit of screening to disguise the expanse of wall. I've heard of those glue bands - will check it out! Salad leaves - good idea! 👍👍
Looks great and will grow and develop in time. I thoroughly recommend reading Tom Massey’s book ‘resilient garden’. Loads of great ideas for planting up with lists of planting and how hardy each plant is. Also links to a VR garden that you can view to see how things will look in real life.
I think you are right about using the grass area as a temporary ground cover while the rest of the garden takes shape. I don't know what the security is like from the stream but I would probably think about some sort of barrier while trying not to spoil the wild look. We have a similar situation but with open ground behind rather than a stream and it might sound unattractive but we have a green chain link fence which is hardly visible form the house and disappears from view completely in the spring & summer when everything is growing.
Good evergreen conifers are Thuja. They can be clipped back if needed as unlike other conifers they don't go dead in the middle. I'm in Cumbria with heavy wet soil and I've found them to be good as a specimen shrub and for screening. They grow fast enough but not too fast. They have a natural pyramidal growth habit but can be kept more narrow if needed. 👍 I have pyracantha growing on my fences, as someone has said, they are very thorny but if you trim back forward facing stems to about 3 or 4 buds to the main branches and train the side shoots along the fence, no problem and the birds love them. I also grow honeysuckle. They take a bit of getting going but once they take off, beautiful. The moths love those and some of the perfumed ones smell lovely of an evening. Hope that helps a little 😊 PS. Sorry to ramble on a bit, but astilbe do well in damp soil as do carex which should do well in the damp areas and is good cover fo frogs etc near the river area especially near the logs you have there. Look forward to following your progress. Thanks fo sharing your journey.
Hi Andy, lavender is a nice plant I have grown mine with the roses which keeps green fly away, I also love is wild garden mix and butterfly mix on my borders my borders is about 15-16 metres long with a path at the side of it and then it drops in to the garden which is on going from last year I have built one rockery and this year I'm going to build two more and more Alpines and gravel the garden area so at the moment its a bit of a builders yard in places, I,m going to enjoy your new garden channel. Take care
Lavender is one of my favourite plants - I could sit and smell them all day. Most of ours are from cuttings but those few I picked up from ASDA were just terrible. Barely lasted a couple of weeks and it wasn't even that cold when they died. Keeps us busy! 😂👍
We've got 2 Cupressus that have outgrown the front of house planter, the wind keeps trying to tip them over, and have nowhere for them to go. 😢 I really love these too.
Fantastic progress Andy. You and Mrs. Mac have achieved wonders all round. I'm not taking the P but is your river navigable? I'd have a landing stage and a boat!
Recently my rosemaries have also struggled, some have died. I think there's a fungus or some other pathogen that makes them suffer during any cold wet winter weather
You really need to map your garden through the seasons and where the sun does/doesnt sit then select your plants from there. You have shown plants that need full sun that have been planted in shade and vice/versa. All conifers are garden killers in the long term as they suck all the moisture out of your garden beds personally I wouldn't bother with them at all.. I also noticed that appeared to be no mulch on your beds why not. Oh and lose the lavenders and go for proper lavender plants you have planted French lavender that doesnt do at all well in cold weather, you need to plant english lavender. Oh and get rid of that tree that you have allowed all the suckers to grow up off. Its going to caused issues long term( the one near the rose and lattice frame. I feel you lost so many plants when you planted as they appeared to be pot bound, but also they dont like wet feet aka roots. When you pull out a plant from a pot and Its roots are all jammed up and round the base of the pot remove 1/4 of the entire root ball this encourages new root growth and if you put fertilizer in the hole you have dug always put soil over it before you plant. @AndyMac learn what gardening zone you live in and plant to that particular zone, just because you can buy a plant locally doesn't necessarily mean that it is suitable for that area, thats how they make money. Find a qualified horticulturist that actually owns/runs their own nursery . Cheers for now. (ps I have clicked the thumbs down to draw you attention to this post one you have read it reply and I will tick the thumbs up! ciao?)
Hi Andy, bit cheeky I know 😬but my daughter is looking to move to Newcastle from the south . Apart from Gosforth and Jesmond what other areas maybe a bit cheaper would be good to look at. Great channels by the way 👍
Fantastic stuff! Check out Heaton, High Heaton, South Gosforth, Sandyford, Ouseburn etc. All lovely. If she's happy to be a bit further out from the centre, Kingston Park, Cramlington, Newcastle Great Park, Wideopen etc. Feel free to drop me a note off-line! Get in touch via here: gosforthhandyman.com/contact/
To keep the greenhouse and veggies thriving, place them in close proximity and in view of the house. The great Square Foot Gardener Mel Bartholemew said always have your garden near at hand, to tend and care for it as needed. Burying these elements behind the studio will inevitably lead to poor performance and yields.
First off, #1 Get rid of the Hedges . ( there always a pain in the (ass) lol #2. You've got way too many plants . ( Don't add anymore ) #3. As far as your flowers,,,,,,? Cut back on what you've got. Good rule of thumb. (if you can't remember what you have, You've got to much. ) As far as the grass,,,,,,,,, I would add a nice walkway through it , and since you've got so much going on in the back. Hope this helps? :-)
perfect time to start your new japanese maple collection in the garden . you won't regret it I swear. amazing colours and shapes all through the year . and don't grow out of control. non invasive root system 👍🏼👍🏼
I’d give two pieces of advice…… 1) don’t get too hung up about planting things too close……. Get trees and large shrubs in the right place, and accept that other plants ( smaller shrubs, perrenials, bulbs ) may be moved or even disposed of, as the garden matures. You can’t leave a bare patch to account for a tree that will have a spread of 20 ft in 20 years time, you amend as you go. Gardening is a process, not an event! 2) most people plan borders that are far too narrow. Go and have a look at some gardens near your home and get some ideas….. a) look at how big the borders are and b) if you see two or three plants that look good together …… take a photograph. Have lots of fun.
Rosemary and lavender want lots of sun and as dry feet as you can manage. Maybe build a raised bed somewhere around your deck for these with plenty of gravel (or hardcore) mixed in. Add the conifers you're moving out too. Look at Italian garden photos with pencil cypress trees for inspiration.
Your cordilines will probably do better in pots too, and taken in the green house in the winter. They don't mind just cold, but they really hate wet and cold.
In your shady areas, suggest lots of hellebores, hostas, Japanese anemones, bergenia and more ferns. If you like bluebells, you'd love camassias. Penstemon, Astilbe and Astrantia will like semi shade.
On the sunny side, yarrow, geums, day lilies are good doers. And crocosmia always reminds me of the north east.
Climbing hydrangea can cover a fence quickly. And some more climbing roses will tolerate shade. Star Jasmine could be good on the sunny side.
Good tips. I'll follow a few of these myself.
That's awesome - thank you so much! I've made a note of all of those. 👍👍
Fatsia japonica good on the shady side gets quite big. You need some early flowering shrubs like mahonia for the bees. Definitely no lavender or rosemary on the shady damp side. Clematis armandii good coverage on shady side and beautiful cream scented flowers in spring. Looks like your beds might benefit from some mulch to feed the soil. Would take out any sycamore trees near the house and replant with fruit trees eg, crab apple 😊or amelanchier for year round interest and good for wildlife. Conifers get really big if not kept under control and I think they’re a bit boring. Do you want very low maintenance shrubs or some perennials for colour which require a bit more work? What soil type do you have, acid/alkali, clay or sandy?
SO helpful! I’m taking notes too 👍🏻
19:47 You may have taken your raspberries out too soon. Raspberries take two years to bear along the whole of the canes. Abundance takes time. You’re putting in many young plants. In the first and second years, and for some longer, plants put all their energy into growing underground, expanding the root ball, sending out both anchoring roots and feeder roots. Those with well expanded roots will shoot up and out in the third and fourth years. Monitor what may need moving to have more room for expansion. The one yew, by the way, is all you need. They are very easy to propagate. I have an entire, dense hedge from clippings a neighbor gave me. Online and on YT the how is probably explained in many places. Love your work and enthusiasm. Gardening knowledge comes with time. Without enthusiasm and love of gardening no amount of time crafts a garden. Blessings.
Is that shiny green leafy vine growing up the large tree near the brook, Poison Ivy? Hope not. You folks are doing such a fine job in bringing this lovely garden back to life! I don't doubt that your stewardship is bring you enormous gratification & joy. Cheers!
Climbing hydrangeas are good for covering fences. Occasionally they’ll need a bit of pruning (we do it every other year - amateurs too) but it’s been there over 30years and still going strong. The bees love it too. They come for the hydrangea and pollinate our strawberries while they’re in the area. It smells absolutely gorgeous! ❤
They look nice! I'll look out for them. Cheers!
I would just say - after many decades of growing things - that I gradually came to appreciate reducing the types of things that I chose to grow, to make the total effect more restful and not as jumbled and diverse.
Forgot to add ~ If you do have poison ivy, FYI, there is a specific spray to kill it without harming pollinators or other plantings.
You have so many interesting plantings. You had asked about ideas: 1. In the zone at the rear, how about large Hosta (There are so many different sizes & colors. They are shade lovers & look great with Coral Bells. Having a bench near the water would make it all a lovely place to sit comfortably & enjoy a moment to enjoy the cooler air in the hot summer. 2. Have you thought about a fire pit for evening gatherings? Finally ~ Check out other gardens on line to see how grouping numbers of the same plant in mass. That will make a striking mark in each zone. Mixing so many little bits of plants here. there & everywhere often don't create a soothing nor dramatic show. Wishing you all the best!
Where to start Andy, I wish I wasn't 300 miles away I'd call in and wonder round with you to talk through it all and give you some ideas and bring you loads of plants !
Right - are you ready for this ?
Firstly, you've both done so much right so don't throw the baby out with the bath water, all gardens are an evolving picture and even when on paper plants are in the right place they don't always thrive due to other issues besides aspect !
Also don't apologise for the lawn, I would say that's a perfectly normal amount of lawn and as long as you're happy to mow it and don't obsess about making it perfect and weed free it can be a great resource for both your family and wildlife ! I was trying to remember from your build videos but I guess the area that is least good on the left between house and studio has probably had a lot of compaction from "traffic" and materials storage. do what you can by regularly aerating it, but it will sort itself in the long run when the worms do their work to re-establish soil structure.
I wouldn't worry too much about the Viburnum it's man enough to brush off the Ceanothus which can be a bit unruly - it looks like your may be a mound forming or prostrate variety looking at its lax habit so this might inform your expectations of height and spread. They don't take well to heavy pruning so it's a good idea to prune lightly regularly rather than wait till it's lost all shape.
The Viburnums should be happy either side of the garden ( but might flower a little more on the sunny side ) try some other varieties such as Bodnantense that have more flower and a lovely scent. I'd also plant a Choysia which is a good doer flowers well and has a lovely scent - I'd choose the green rather than golden variety though as it won't bleach in the sun !
Don't be afraid to place slabs in the border (avoiding any bulbs etc) you're going to have to access the back of the border to maintain the Privet and Snowberry and this will be easier if you've somewhere to put your feet, they'll soon disappear among the planting till you need them !
On the other side, the casualties will probably be due to damp and lack of light so avoid growing them there, you could add some grit on that side but in general the answer to all soil "problems" is more compost/mulch. You could try some Rosemary cuttings form your surviving plants.
I'm not a fan of Laurel but appreciate it's appeal to many if you want a good dense backdrop then The Laurel, Viburnum, Berberis and Pyracantha will be good choices but the latter two are spiteful thorny ! Don't forget to consider some natives as they're often silly cheap especially bare root and things like Hazel ( if don't dislike Squirrels ) are great for wildlife and can be coppiced to provide rustic poles. Adding a couple of Rowan (Mountain Ash) adds some height without too dense a canopy shutting out the light and are also good for wildlife.
I think that's enough for now, let me know if you still want more ! 😉🤔😂
That's fantastic - thank you!!! Lawn - there's LOADS of worm casts this year, which we've never had before. So that's probably a good thing - that soil was just dead before so it's slowly coming back to life. And good news about the Viburnum - I might just leave it and prune back the Ceanothus a bit. If the Viburnum fills out that back corner we'll be happy.
I think I'll try to rescue some of the lavender from the shady side. Even if I just put them in pots for now until I've decided where they're going. Thanks again - amazing! 🙏😊
@@AndyMac No problem mate, wish I could help more, I've more plants than I know what to do with, comes from having had a large empty garden and no money originally - propagate propagate propagate ! 😉
Really helpful advice 👍🏻
These are the kind of people we all need in the gardening community!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💪🏻
You should get some videos up on your channel - sounds like you have a lot of experience- you’d have one subscriber here!
Love your work, Andy and your journey is reminiscent of mine, started 36 years ago with literally a blank canvass. We made a nice little border, planted some standard roses and watched them grow. Now the poor things are 20’ high and searching for the sun through our leylandii hedge! I’m better at hard landscaping (182 2x2 flagstones, waterfall, bridge, stream, pond, decking , sheds etc). Keep keeping up the good work 🌞
You are doing a good job starting your garden. My garden keeps evolving and it has been 20 years! Plants that don't do well or need too much care come out and new ones come in. I have two suggestions. I would buy another shed just like the one you have and put it right next to that one on the downhill side. That would be to help with your crowded workshop. Then by the river, a nice little patio with some lawn furniture to take advantage of the shade in the summer. I really enjoy your videos!
Thank you - great suggestions!
Sub'd. Wow I so have greenhouse envy 😂 I have the same problem as you as I have a very shady side that I have no idea what to plant. I'll be watching your garden for inspiration (then nicking it for my channel). Happy gardening. Karen 😊😊
Lovely all around! Regarding your yellow/patchy grass in the middle of the new area, from the looks of it I think some thorough aeration and fertilizer should get it into shape quite quickly.
My wife said the lavender is possibly a french lavender, it needs a sunnier spot as it is more tender.
The other lavender looks dead. If it doesn't have little green leaves on it.
Zone 2 (shady bit) generally is too damp, need to be careful.😊
Cheers! Never seen Rosemary wiped out before - it's always been pretty indestructible for me! 😂
Love this. Your garden is a similar size and aspect as mine (minus the river 😢) and I’m a newbie to gardening (planting for the first time last year) so I’m following your progress with interest 😊
Decking was the first thing I ripped out when we moved into our new place 🤣 a slimy ice rink in winter and convenient safe passage for rats. Made a Geoff Hamilton (remember him?) type of patio instead. Enjoying the seasonal walkabout, always informative and inspiring 👍
Cheers! I quite like the idea of continuing the wooden flooring feel from inside to outside at the same level but know what you mean about it getting slippy. I've had quite a few to fix for customers over the years and it can be lethal! 😬
@@AndyMac Fantastic in lovely weather with the doors wide open and I know you'll make a really good job of it. Best wishes.
Looking great Andy and I like your plans. I'm no gardener so following and learning with interest 👍
Cheers - it's a big learning curve! 😁
Hostas,heuchera, astilbes, azaleas all good perennial plants for zone 2. Herbs for sunny zone 1. If garden not been cherished for years try adding lots of manure / feed. Mulch plants on sunny side . Although laurels are evergreen they are invasive trees in 5 years time they will be thugs & you will have to spend your time cutting them back. Looking forward to seeing the garden evolve.
I like hostas but we get a LOT of slugs so I'm a bit wary. Know what you mean about laurels - it's a quick fix but not a great long-term solution. Love azaleas! 👍
Really looking forward to see how your garden grows! On the sunny side i would go with Dahlias, Cannas and Salvias. All can be started early in the greenhouse from seeds or tubers and planted out at a good size for a great headstart. Also to make your life easier in the long run is to edge the beds with pavers or bricks. It stops the grass growing into the beds and the beds from growing into the grass and makes it very easy to run the mower over.
Cheers! Made a note of them. Defo need the edging bricks, it's a nightmare to mow at the moment. 😂
Know the feeling, we restarted our garden 6 years ago. We're still learning what works, and moving plants about.
Shady side: viburnum eve price, escallonia, sarcococca, fatsia. mahonia, yew, cotoneaster, osmanthus burkwoodii, acer.
Sunny side: lavender, cotton lavender, curry plant, rosemary, thyme, sedums, euphorbia. Tall grasses like stipa, miscanthus, calamagrotis.
Dead lavender and rosemary could be due to heavy/wet clay soil, so improve drainage by digging in plenty of organic matter, stones, sand.
Great suggestions! I've made a note of all those. 👍
Honeysuckle grows well in a bit of shade & can romp away covering fences. I personally feel your three cherry trees are a bit close together & a bit close to your shed, unless you are going to prune them & keep them small. You could also try applying those glue bands you get to wrap round the trunks of fruit trees, they catch a lot of the destructive insects that crawl up the stems 👍
I grow cut & come again salad leaves in my greenhouse, I sow them in monthly batches in a fairly big shallow pot, that way when we’ve used all the first lot of leaves, the next ones are ready & I always have just two pots on the go. Chillies & peppers do well in a sunny greenhouse too.
Cheers! I'm happy to prune the wild cherry to keep it in check around the studio. It's mainly a bit of screening to disguise the expanse of wall. I've heard of those glue bands - will check it out! Salad leaves - good idea! 👍👍
Looks great and will grow and develop in time. I thoroughly recommend reading Tom Massey’s book ‘resilient garden’. Loads of great ideas for planting up with lists of planting and how hardy each plant is. Also links to a VR garden that you can view to see how things will look in real life.
I suggest giving the Pieris a prominent position asap, ours is a standout shrub, with interest all the year.
I think you are right about using the grass area as a temporary ground cover while the rest of the garden takes shape. I don't know what the security is like from the stream but I would probably think about some sort of barrier while trying not to spoil the wild look. We have a similar situation but with open ground behind rather than a stream and it might sound unattractive but we have a green chain link fence which is hardly visible form the house and disappears from view completely in the spring & summer when everything is growing.
I think you need a place for flowering annuals to add colourful borders to the garden
Defo! We normally add a few in bare patches. Got loads of seeds for annuals so will get those started soon. 👍
A suggestion for the big grassy area. How about a rockery with waterfall and pond. We built one a few years ago. The birds love it.
Tempted! We've got a bit of a mozzy problem so have to careful with ponds etc. Although if we get plenty frogs I think they'll eat the larvae. 👍
Good evergreen conifers are Thuja. They can be clipped back if needed as unlike other conifers they don't go dead in the middle. I'm in Cumbria with heavy wet soil and I've found them to be good as a specimen shrub and for screening. They grow fast enough but not too fast. They have a natural pyramidal growth habit but can be kept more narrow if needed. 👍 I have pyracantha growing on my fences, as someone has said, they are very thorny but if you trim back forward facing stems to about 3 or 4 buds to the main branches and train the side shoots along the fence, no problem and the birds love them. I also grow honeysuckle. They take a bit of getting going but once they take off, beautiful. The moths love those and some of the perfumed ones smell lovely of an evening. Hope that helps a little 😊
PS. Sorry to ramble on a bit, but astilbe do well in damp soil as do carex which should do well in the damp areas and is good cover fo frogs etc near the river area especially near the logs you have there. Look forward to following your progress. Thanks fo sharing your journey.
yes sarcococca in the shady side its also known as xmas box , the scent will knock your socks off in jan\ feb
+1 for Sarcocca. The scent is incredible.
Fantastic - cheers! Defo on the list. 👍
You will need 3/4plants to make a inpact
Hi Andy, lavender is a nice plant I have grown mine with the roses which keeps green fly away, I also love is wild garden mix and butterfly mix on my borders my borders is about 15-16 metres long with a path at the side of it and then it drops in to the garden which is on going from last year I have built one rockery and this year I'm going to build two more and more Alpines and gravel the garden area so at the moment its a bit of a builders yard in places, I,m going to enjoy your new garden channel. Take care
Lavender is one of my favourite plants - I could sit and smell them all day. Most of ours are from cuttings but those few I picked up from ASDA were just terrible. Barely lasted a couple of weeks and it wasn't even that cold when they died. Keeps us busy! 😂👍
We've got 2 Cupressus that have outgrown the front of house planter, the wind keeps trying to tip them over, and have nowhere for them to go. 😢 I really love these too.
Big plans looking good
Do consider which plants with chicken and nugget about think pet friendly.
great plans. don't do the laurel thing though!! ypu will regret it! they get massive and take over everything.
Yeah, know what you mean. Had them before and they get huge!
Fantastic progress Andy. You and Mrs. Mac have achieved wonders all round. I'm not taking the P but is your river navigable? I'd have a landing stage and a boat!
Cheers! No it's not really navigable - only in short stretches. Lots of very low bridges and culverts. In the summer it's very shallow. 👍
Recently my rosemaries have also struggled, some have died. I think there's a fungus or some other pathogen that makes them suffer during any cold wet winter weather
Consider the mature size of the plant....what size will it be in 5 or 10 years. ?? :)
You really need to map your garden through the seasons and where the sun does/doesnt sit then select your plants from there. You have shown plants that need full sun that have been planted in shade and vice/versa. All conifers are garden killers in the long term as they suck all the moisture out of your garden beds personally I wouldn't bother with them at all.. I also noticed that appeared to be no mulch on your beds why not. Oh and lose the lavenders and go for proper lavender plants you have planted French lavender that doesnt do at all well in cold weather, you need to plant english lavender. Oh and get rid of that tree that you have allowed all the suckers to grow up off. Its going to caused issues long term( the one near the rose and lattice frame. I feel you lost so many plants when you planted as they appeared to be pot bound, but also they dont like wet feet aka roots. When you pull out a plant from a pot and Its roots are all jammed up and round the base of the pot remove 1/4 of the entire root ball this encourages new root growth and if you put fertilizer in the hole you have dug always put soil over it before you plant. @AndyMac learn what gardening zone you live in and plant to that particular zone, just because you can buy a plant locally doesn't necessarily mean that it is suitable for that area, thats how they make money. Find a qualified horticulturist that actually owns/runs their own nursery . Cheers for now. (ps I have clicked the thumbs down to draw you attention to this post one you have read it reply and I will tick the thumbs up! ciao?)
Hi Andy, bit cheeky I know 😬but my daughter is looking to move to Newcastle from the south . Apart from Gosforth and Jesmond what other areas maybe a bit cheaper would be good to look at. Great channels by the way 👍
Fantastic stuff! Check out Heaton, High Heaton, South Gosforth, Sandyford, Ouseburn etc. All lovely. If she's happy to be a bit further out from the centre, Kingston Park, Cramlington, Newcastle Great Park, Wideopen etc. Feel free to drop me a note off-line! Get in touch via here: gosforthhandyman.com/contact/
Thanks Andy. Much appreciated mate.
To keep the greenhouse and veggies thriving, place them in close proximity and in view of the house. The great Square Foot Gardener Mel Bartholemew said always have your garden near at hand, to tend and care for it as needed. Burying these elements behind the studio will inevitably lead to poor performance and yields.
Why didn't you paint fence before planting?
There's no point - on the shady side it turns green in under a year. The trellis is brand new believe it or not. 👍
First off, #1 Get rid of the Hedges . ( there always a pain in the (ass) lol #2. You've got way too many plants . ( Don't add anymore ) #3. As far as your flowers,,,,,,? Cut back on what you've got. Good rule of thumb. (if you can't remember what you have, You've got to much. ) As far as the grass,,,,,,,,, I would add a nice walkway through it , and since you've got so much going on in the back. Hope this helps? :-)
Can someone advice me on which are the best plants for shady gardens
Some great tips in these comments! Our Apple Blossom is doing amazingly well on the shady side. 👍
Hostas.
perfect time to start your new japanese maple collection in the garden . you won't regret it I swear. amazing colours and shapes all through the year . and don't grow out of control. non invasive root system 👍🏼👍🏼
PS. Also, consider bark chipping to help reduce weeds and retain moisture for the plants!
Don't put decking in unless you like rats 🐀🐀
⛳️You can do putt-putt golf on the greenway.🏌🏾♂️