What do you think of my plans?

**Two_Sheds** · 03-07-2013, 05:07 PM

Your veg plot and the greenhouse want to be in the sunniest position possible

**veggiechicken** · 03-07-2013, 05:16 PM

Its a very neat and tidy garden SP

I'm finding it hard to work out which is the north side of the garden. Also, it depends on how much lawn you need and how much would remain after a greenhouse goes on it. I've no idea of the size of the garden.
The rockery looks a bit difficult to maintain, especially if you have veggies growing in front of it. How about turning it into a herb garden with strawberries as well.
Or putting the GH in front of the rockery and taking some of the larger lawn for your veggies - perhaps with raised beds?

**Two_Sheds** · 03-07-2013, 05:32 PM

It's not really a real rockery, so you could def. use it for something attractive, if not edible

**SP1965** · 03-07-2013, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post

Its a very neat and tidy garden SP

I'm finding it hard to work out which is the north side of the garden. Also, it depends on how much lawn you need and how much would remain after a greenhouse goes on it. I've no idea of the size of the garden.
The rockery looks a bit difficult to maintain, especially if you have veggies growing in front of it. How about turning it into a herb garden with strawberries as well.
Or putting the GH in front of the rockery and taking some of the larger lawn for your veggies - perhaps with raised beds?

If the garden shed is at 12 o clock, the sun rises at 10. Hope that makes sense.

With an 8 x 6 greenhouse, none of the main lawn will be removed. It's probably hard to see from the photo, but there is a small gravelled amount in front of the shrubs.

The rockery isn't a fav of mine. It has heather, lavender and now marigold etc in it. I really just want things in it that will be attractive to bees and cover the ground.

My herbs are all in pots at the other end of the garden that you cannot see.

I am 47, so looking towards raised beds, may be the way to go

**Two_Sheds** · 03-07-2013, 05:43 PM

Originally posted by SP1965 View Post

I am 47, so looking towards raised beds, may be the way to go

Crikey, you sound like me. I'm 43, and just looking at some nice arnica gel for my sore old knees

**SP1965** · 03-07-2013, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

Your veg plot and the greenhouse want to be in the sunniest position possible

The sun is in the garden until at least 6.30pm. (on the days that it shines in Manchester!)

**rustylady** · 03-07-2013, 05:50 PM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

Crikey, you sound like me. I'm 43, and just looking at some nice arnica gel for my sore old knees

And I'm 63 - raised beds no good for me, the soil here is free draining enough as it is.

**veggiechicken** · 03-07-2013, 05:54 PM

If we're playing the age game - I'm 66 and I don't care

I only said raised beds because you could plomk them on top of your grass instead of having to dig up the turf. Anything for an easy life - that's me ('cos I'm 66)

**Two_Sheds** · 03-07-2013, 05:55 PM

Yeah, but then you have the "work" or the worry about how to fill them

And lifting sacks of topsoil is bad for the old back

**Seahorse** · 03-07-2013, 07:20 PM

That's a good sized and well maintained space

As you've said 'newly acquired' I hope it won't be too rude of me to say it's also a bit dull! As you're my age-ish (hey, we're still mere youths!) you might have small kids still. If not, do you need any lawn at all? Do you actually like the shrubs or would you just feel bad about composting them? When I moved here 5 years ago the garden looked quite similar to what you have. It was 'nice' but not 'me'. I pulled up, dug out and dug over to my hearts content. It's now both productive and wild and it's still evolving

**Two_Sheds** · 04-07-2013, 06:41 AM

Glad you said that, Seahorse!

I loathe neat & tidy green squares with thin strips of bedding plants, which is what you get round my estate as "garden". That, or to have it all ripped up and paved over for "easy maintenance" (and to increase the chances of flash flooding)

SP, get your veg plot in and running, and you might find it spreads to other parts of your garden before long

http://www.foodnotlawns.com/how-to.html

You could have a fruit patch, some cutting flowers, a little wildlife pond (which will attract predators to eat the veg pests), all sorts

**SP1965** · 04-07-2013, 06:50 AM

Originally posted by Seahorse View Post

That's a good sized and well maintained space

As you've said 'newly acquired' I hope it won't be too rude of me to say it's also a bit dull! As you're my age-ish (hey, we're still mere youths!) you might have small kids still. If not, do you need any lawn at all? Do you actually like the shrubs or would you just feel bad about composting them? When I moved here 5 years ago the garden looked quite similar to what you have. It was 'nice' but not 'me'. I pulled up, dug out and dug over to my hearts content. It's now both productive and wild and it's still evolving

Dull? How dare you

It's Ok I totally agree!!

I do not like the way all the shrubs are planted in lines. I am sure I could give away some of them, the rest could be composted. I would be more than happy to turn most of it over to fruit/veg. I do also want a nice patio area to sit and admire my hard work.
No children, so lawn is not a necessity

**Two_Sheds** · 04-07-2013, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by SP1965 View Post

I am sure I could give away some of them

You certainly could, I got rid of mine on Freegle and eBay. I've never been to the council tip/dump/recycling centre in m'life: someone else can always use what you can't

**Angeldon** · 04-07-2013, 10:38 AM

Geoff Hamilton wrote a brilliant book called 'The Ornamental Kitchen Garden' which gives loads of information about growing vegetables and ornamentals together to make a pretty, productive and wildlife friendly garden - it's well worth a read, particularly if you're starting from scratch..

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