My Latest Ongoing Project - so comments and advice required please

[Lumpy]

OK so I decided to rip up as much front lawn as possible. It was oblong and boring so this is what has been done so far.

Any advice on potential problems, what should and should not be there or together etc would be appreciated.

It's not finished yet as the bed in the middle is going to be bigger and an oval shapish. It's called the Wilfie bed as we bought the tree in memory of our beautiful, old greyhound - his collar hangs in the branches.



Won't show you the back as it's a bomb site

[fishpond]

I really like that, stunning, you must be well pleased.

[ioan]

Hi lumpy

That looks realy nice,
The only thing l would say is the edging around the lawn might serve the garden better if it was placed around the
outside of the garden, this in my view would give the picture you have created a nice frame, and the whole front might prove easier to maintain, wish you well on your lovely project.
kind regards
ioan

[Penellype]

Looks brilliant - that must have been really hard work. The main thing that strikes me from the problems point of view is that with edging that high its going to be tricky to mow the lawn unless you have a strimmer. Usually lawn edging is lower than the lawn surface for this reason.

Nice to see I am not the only one on here with solar panels

[mothhawk]

It looks good, Lumpy. If it was me, and the centre bed is going to be bigger and oval, I would give up on grass altogether, as it's going to be fiddly to mow. I would gravel it, and then dot around in the gravel plants like aubretia, thymes, thrift, and other small clump forming alpine types.

Then you could also put plants into the beds that can trail and hang over the edging, which will soften the borders, and no bother about mowing around them.

[Lumpy]

You lot are brilliant.

Ioan - I did think about moving the wooden bits but decided to leave them there not just because it is easier to strim but alot of the plants (all discounts and near death) are going to be tall if they survive. I have shoved in hollyhocks, lupins, hardy bush fushia's. let alone this years sweetcorn (minipop) etc. So if they grow OK the wooden edgeing would be broken up by plants and might look odd.

Penellype - we were given a load of those wood edge things from the builders opposite who did'nt want to take them to the tip. Just as well as they would have been expensive. They do help with the strimming and I suppose keep the bark in place.

Mothawk - now that is a bluddie good idea as it would mean no mowing. I like the idea of the plants in amongst the shingle. Ta for that!

[Martin H]

Nothing to add except, well done it already looks fantastic!

Lots of good suggestions already, but as a bit of an alpine fan I really like MothHawk's idea.

[veggiechicken]

Looks great Lumpy! Lots of heavy work moving those edging bits into place, I'm sure!
My question is, where's the way in? Do you have to lift the barrow/mower etc over the beds and edges to get in?

[Bigmallly]

Good job Lumpy & some great ideas. The only thing I would do is give the edging a lick of paint, maybe brick red.

[Lumpy]

VC - if you squit your eyes up, stand on tip toes and do a funny sort of waggle dance you can get the mower in via the slab that is next to the tyre that has the pumpkin in it (pic 3). The bed down the front path is also thin enough, until it meets the next ripped up corner, to step over (oh now I'm thinking apples)

BM - when we got the wooden thingies they were tango orange - I suppose being newish wood. Thankfully, the weather has toned them down a bit. I did'nt realise until I looked at the pics again, after your post how in your face they are. I suppose I have just got used to them. Now I have the urge to paint multicolour stripes - I must check my blood sugars.

[ioan]

Hi lumpy
yep mothhawks idea is good for you.
Iknow how reluctant some people are to give up thier lawns, and gravel isn't cheap.
But it would I think give you a much better canvas to paint your garden picture,
Well done to mothhawk, and good luck with your lovely garden.
kind regards
ioan

[noviceveggrower]

I think your garden is looking good. Are your edging bricks buried a bit to stop them tipping over if you accidently stand on them. Thinking you down want to fall either way and hurt yourself.
Agree with Mothhawks idea of gravel then you could put some more pots on there