I know what I would like but I think I may need some help.

[Kat&Neil]

I would keep the rounds and hire an electric log splitter if you have a log burner.

Splitting it isn't a problem as it is really easy to split. We have about 2t of wood from this tree and have two more trees to come down with the same or more wood. I just haven't got a safe place to store all of it. I really wish I did have so we would be fine for heating for the next 3-5 years.

I'd definitely recommend this book, it's very informative on all common plants, with some surprises (parsnips are skin-irritant to some people).

I refer to it constantly, as I garden in the school

Thank you I will have a look for that book.

oooh why no do a peony swapsies on freecycle next winter for other colours, I used to have a lovely pink with cream centre ...sadly not anymore

[ATTACH=CONFIG]34979[/ATTACH]

I will see what my mum & mother in law has in there gardens.

don't go completely crazy with bulbs, buy some of each, then each year, when they die back, dig some up and transplant. You could paint the fence in different colours along the length, some stripy lengthways etc, put a seat or pergola or something like that in front of it.

Don't try and get everything at once. Also, go visit some gardens and see what they've done, and as TS says, copy it if you like it

Do I just split them or is there a certain way to do it. I usually buy the bulbs that are on sale or the mutli packs that are on offer. I picked up 9 lilly bulbs the other day that were reduced from £1.75 each to 50p each. When I got to the till they only charged me for 6 bonus.

[rustylady]

Do I just split them or is there a certain way to do it. I usually buy the bulbs that are on sale or the mutli packs that are on offer. I picked up 9 lilly bulbs the other day that were reduced from £1.75 each to 50p each. When I got to the till they only charged me for 6 bonus.

Most spring bulbs produce clumps after a couple of years (a single daffodil will become a clump of four or five) so when you lift them you just separate the bulbs and replant.

[veggiechicken]

Splitting it isn't a problem as it is really easy to split. We have about 2t of wood from this tree and have two more trees to come down with the same or more wood. I just haven't got a safe place to store all of it. I really wish I did have so we would be fine for heating for the next 3-5 years.

Can you top the 2 remaining trees and leave them as standing stumps. Then you could cut another down in a year or so to keep you in firewood!

[kentishgal]

If it was me I would probably try and plant a native hedge with wild cherry, hazel, hawthorn, etc and maybe some woodland type bulbs and plants underneath.
It would attract lots of wildlife and you could sit at the top of your garden and bird watch!

[JetSetPhil]

I think bulbs are a great idea, i would really go heavy on them as once they are planted in you really don't need to worry about them at all. They will come back year after year and they will fill the border with colour wonderfully.

Some other good climbers could be jasmine, honey suckle and passion flowers. Definitely put some netting up for the plants to climb and once they do the netting will be practically invisible.

[Two_Sheds]

Most spring bulbs produce clumps after a couple of years

It takes a while though: I've been here 5 years now, and nothing is anywhere near getting overcrowded