Blank Slate in the Midlands

tailspin · Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 5

Hi All

I've been keeping an eye on this site for a while and thought it was about time I introduced myself. I'm Steve and I'm a novice gardener. I'm in the process of moving from Dublin to the Midlands and in the process from a very small town garden to 3/4 of an acre*.

The garden is in a very windy hilltop location. There are neighbours on one side and unspoilt country views on all the others. The site was originally very wet, with a lot of surface water, but we have got professional assistance and got a proper drainage system put in. This was completed last week and already has made a very noticeable difference. We are waiting for the site to dry out before getting some topsoil delivered. Once that arrives we'll have a completely blank slate!

I attach a few photos for your perusal...

Regards,

Tailspin

*note: I'm do live in a house - not a garden.

Sive · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:05 am Post subject:

Good luck from another hilltop windy location here! A couple of your boundaries look clean enough for planting.....it would be the perfect chance to plant bare-root native hedging straight away.......you'll need the shelter!

walltoall · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:32 am Post subject: Now that's a proper windswept

Tailspin,
Firstly, welcome out into the sunlight. There's no knowing how many lurkers are still hiding their lights under bushes. That's a grand opportunity you have there. Do I see the Slieve Blooms in the distance?

Being as how you need to protect yourself as SIVE says try this link to start

http://www.anu.ie/seaside/

They do mail order and have a way to go before they are web-smart, but that's their business. I used them about 15 years ago when I had a place near Ballyvaughan 200 feet above Muckinish castle, which I wanted to make a garden of.

"Seaside Nurseries" specialise in bullet-proof trees, shrubs and plants. I still have their catalogue which scores their offerings on a scale of 1 to 10. Anything above about 7 works in most windy locations. I'd be pleased to give you info from the catalogue if you want it.

The most brilliant thing they had was a netting which could take storm force winds and break them up on the lea side. I've no idea what the netting is called but it breaks up the wind like a dry stone wall does. They imported it and I have never seen it anywhere else. When I wanted to get some shrubs going at Muckinish they told me to use the netting to start and they were right.

Warning: it's a hell of a drive. But it's magic country out beyond Clifden. Now I'm making myself homesick.
'Bye.

verge · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:

Before you sow a lawn make sure you lawn drainage is tip-top as there is quite a bit of reed showing up on "the far side". Put garden drainage or lawn drainage into the search box at the top to learn more about this or else you can trawl back through the lawn section.

tailspin · Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 5

Hi Guys

Thanks for the replies. Was thinking about putting in some bare root hedging alright, Sive. Also was thinking of planting some silver birch to the SE of the site (between us and the neighbours), to create more shelter.

Not sure if we will be ready in time tho - there is still topsoil to go on and the season is running out. Plan was for Beech (green/copper mix) and possibly holly along the front and beech/hawthorn/other native hedging along the other sides. There is an existing hedge on one side but that needs thickening up.

walltoall - not sure if I'll be in Cliften, but will give them a ring when we have figured out exactly what we want. Will mainly be bare root.

verge - have already got some drainage put in but this was only completed during the week, the garden is already much drier. 'The far side' was waterlogged until a few days ago. We'll be getting some topsoil put and hopefully the reeds won't reappear. There were reeds covering most of the site but when drainage was put in they were dug up.

I have a few questions about planting trees/hedges and shall post them in the apropriate forums.

Regards,

Tailspin.

walltoall · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:07 pm Post subject: planting them trees

Tailspin
You can only plant bare-root when saplings are asleep for the Winter, which they are not now. Nurseries often sell saplings growing in pots at this time of year. Providing you don't disturb the roots too much they will grow perfectly well in the ground especially if you make a biggish hole and use a bit of compost. Also check with Agriculture Dept. and the Forest Commission for possibly free trees.
WallToAll

tailspin · Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 5

Hi Walltoall

Yes - it looks like we'll miss out for this year. Given the size of the site I'm not sure if it is economical to plant container plants. We would need enough plants for at least 50m of hedge and about 20 trees.

We were thinking of mixing some holly into the Beech hedge and I was told that Holly is normally supplied in a container, so we could plant some in advance of the rest.

Free trees sound good - any more details?

Thanks,

Tailspin.

Sive · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

We planted 100 metres of mixed native hedging on March 26th last year....all bar about 8 plants have survived their first year. They were all bare-rooted when planted...and young.....about 2 to 3 feet tall.
We kept them weed-free and added one mulch in that year......and the atrocious summer kept them well watered !
So maybe not too late........

tailspin · Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 5

WIth a bit of luck we might get a start made ...

walltoall

I will not go against experience. SIVE is an old hand. If she says it works up to end of March, go for it. I just thought you'd find it hard to locate bareroot plants or they would be budding already.

That little chunk of East? back boundary which is a continuation of your neighbours fence looks a prime target for a few birch. The hedge between you and them looks pretty ok in the front and well minded.

James Kilkelly, was GPI. · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 12:14 am Post subject: Re: Thanks

Michael196 · Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:20 am Post subject:

Hi GPI

I have a green / copper beech mix in random amounts 2 or three of each cpper and green against a second row of equally mixed, with mided in rosa rugoaas and berberis towards the front.

Copper / green mixed can look very attractive indeed,

James Kilkelly, was GPI. · Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:33 am Post subject:

I know it's just personally a look I never favoured.
Nothing at all wrong with it, just not for me visually.
You could compare it to tastes in fashion or food, for example I love mashed potatoes with chopped cabbage as a side. The missus on the other hand loves the mash but cannot abide the cabbage.
Never understood it myself, and I'm sure you cannot understand how I do not favour the look of copper/green beech Very Happy

.
It's views like this that keep things interesting.

Moffo · Hazel Tree Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 3

[quote="walltoall"]I will not go against experience. SIVE is an old hand. If she says it works up to end of March, go for it. I just thought you'd find it hard to locate bareroot plants or they would be budding already.

quote]

Just finished planting 125 Bare Root Beech hedging this weekend, picked them up from Coillte Nurseries. Was advised by Coillte that they have them in cold storage up until May, good to plant up til then !!