You might wonder why I’ve embarked on another project when the pond is as yet waiting upon completion. Well, this new project ties into the whole because I need to do something with the soil mountain which has piled up in the middle of the garden.
One idea I had been toying with was to build a raised bed over the thin (both downwards and sideways) sliver of soil by the back fence. Each spring the bluebells come up and for the rest of the year I am graced with dandelions.
The bluebells are already coming through – they must have accustomed themselves to being in the shade to the extent they don’t recognised the fact it is now December gloom.
Now, I am happy to have dandelions, which is just as well, considering they are unstoppable. At the same time, it would be great if I could also have something else outside the bluebell season.
So, in order to facilitate this desire, I am using slats from the fence I chopped down at the back of the garden earlier in the year to create a border. Then some of the aforementioned soil can go in the bed I’ve created.
The white paint is becoming discoloured as the original fence preservative seeps through.
As per usual, I ran out of steam after doing the first stretch and now I need to keep my fingers crossed that the border holds and doesn’t get knocked when my neighbour is taking her bins out. And I also need to think about what to plant in my new-found bit of garden.
NB I’m aware that the new soil could rot the bottom of the fence but I doubt this will be a concern in the near future.
I love how you use every inch of space available! You would have to plant something pretty upright – our trellis it up against the fence. Do currents grow in your area? You could knock a wooden stake into the ground at every join and screw the slats to that, to keep them from toppling over (if she does bump them…)?
I do have currants which I might need to move. But wouldn’t they be too bushy?
Anyway, thanks for the suggestion re holding the slats in place 😊
You can grow redcurrants and gooseberries as cordons – I’ve seen them growing this way at Ryton and other gardens (although typically I couldn’t find a photo!). They do take a bit of pruning though (like miniature apple trees), and would there be enough soil?
Probably not enough soil, though my eyes did light up when you mentioned gooseberries. I’ve found the variety I was (desert, spineless) but there will be another spot for them 😊
Well done for finding more space. I hope you have some good results there. Strawberries maybe? though they would spill on to the path a bit
I could try strawberries out in that patch – at least until I think of something else to grow there. And I could just cut all the runners off. Thank you, Jackie.