Get your ass in the grass....

[Jayne]

Originally posted by ChrisA
Hey, don't knock it, J... if they get enough into gardening, their dance practice will be neglected... and one day when we're good enough for the advanced, we might get to compete with them again... and maybe, just maybe...

... ok, I can dream can't I????

Ahhh, bless.....

J

[ChrisA]

Originally posted by Jayne
Ahhh, bless.....

J

[Lory]

Originally posted by Pammy

I know Lory has a lovely garden .....

Thankyou Pammie

Jayne, sorry to have to inform you, gardening can get quite addictive BUT its basically a daytime hobby, so I doubt it will interfere too much with their dancing!

And Melanie, I think JB forgot to tell you something, he lovingly bought the Lilly for you! didn't you JB?

Well, here goes, these are my tips for starting a garden, make a plan of the basic shape you want to go for and the theme, i.e. cottage, formal, contempory and stick to it. If you have an excising lawn try using some rope to make shapes around the edge, u can keep standing back till u get the desired shape, then cut out your borders, (clean edges to the grass is one of the most important things for making the garden look instantly neater)

Then go for Shrubs, these will be the 'backbone' for your garden, buy small, their cheaper and have a better success rate, they will soon grow (don't over plant, they will soon spread out) my garden looked very sparse 5 years ago.

I wouldn't bother with seeds and bedding plants the first year, as they work out expensive and you'll have nothing to show for your money next year!

Choosing the shrubs.... It might be a good idea to check what soil type u have, some plants like alkaline and some are acid lovers, the local garden centre will have a good idea, otherwise u can buy soil testing kits quite cheaply look at the label for the height and width growth within 10years, this should give u an idea of how far apart to plant them, and which should go at the back of the borders and visa versa.

I'd then go for contrasting colours and shapes, to group together, groups of 3 or 5 always look better!

I've never really gone for flowers in the borders as I like to have colour all year round from evergreen plants, so I tend to plant up tubs in the summer.

Lastly, don't try to do it all at once, section off a small areas at a time and concentrate just on that, its very disheartening to try and take on the whole garden at once, when u stand back, u hardly notice all your hard work, but if you take on bite sized projects and 'finish it' the sense of achievement is immense!

Good luck its a great hobby!

Here a few pics of mine!

[Lory]

Opps the pics didnt work!

[Lory]

~

[CJ]

... Anyone want to come and sort my back garden?!?

[thewacko]

Originally posted by Ceroc Jock
... Anyone want to come and sort my back garden?!?

Have concrete mixer, can travel

[Lory]

.

[thewacko]

dig up the grass, pull out the plants, pave the bugger, it could look luvverly

[Pammy]

Very nice Lory. Thanks for posting those.

Anyone else got any?

Pamster
x

[CJ]

Originally posted by thewacko
Have concrete mixer, can travel

My back garden craves something a little more solid....

[Lynn]

Originally posted by Lory
... look at the label for the height and width growth within 10years

...or longer...my parents bought a small tree (18") about 20 years ago - and now it looks like something you put outside a town hall at Christmas... Fortunately they knew what they were doing - which is more than I do.

My house came complete with a garden of pebbles (not paving) and I have lots of pots, some with small shrubs - but I think my favourite are winter flowering pansies - I have lovely bright colours all year round.

[thewacko]

Originally posted by Lynn
[BMy house came complete with a garden of pebbles (not paving) . [/B]

close enough

rubble would have been better

[Pammy]

Originally posted by Lynn
My house came complete with a garden of pebbles (not paving) and I have lots of pots, some with small shrubs - but I think my favourite are winter flowering pansies - I have lovely bright colours all year round.

Sounds lovely - come on Lynn, post a piccie

[Lynn]

Originally posted by Pammy
Sounds lovely - come on Lynn, post a piccie

I don't think I have any recent ones and haven't got a digital camera. Its at the front, not much space out the back (and it is concrete) just a flower bed and patio - but don't mind as front is south facing and have a stepping stone path, lovely bench etc. Though I wish I had a lovely south facing back garden like yours Pammy!

[Jive Brummie]

Right, thanks everyone for the top tips.

Now i need some names please of plants. I know i need to find out what soil i have first but surely there must be some good all rounders.

I need plants for part-shaded area's, quite damp/wet areas and sunny areas as it seems we have it all in our garden.!!!!

As for the piccy of the pond...i'll do my best.

Oh, and in all those plant name's you lovley people are going to give me, can you also tell me the rough size they'll all grow to, as i want a good bit of depth in there too......

Ta very much. Hope i'm not asking for too much.

James........x

[philsmove]

Ethel tells me you can get them at B&Q (BRISTOL Hatcliff) for under a fiver

Sorry Im have not worked out how to post a photo yet

[Pammy]

My favourite of the last few years is a wet loving perennial verbena that has purple leaves and the most striking scarlett plume flowers. Homebase are doing them for 3.99 each at the moment and they are gorgeous.

B&Q are probably the cheapest for plants, although the variety will be somewhat limited. If you want to get some basics though, for not too big a spend, I'd definitely recommend them. I always go there for my annuals as you get 30 pansies/lobelias/whatevers for about 4 quid - a bargain!

Px

[thewacko]

B&Q also do a loveley range of paving slabs, you can get white or pink, or if your really adventurous you could mix the two

ooooh a loveley chequor board effect

[Boomer]

Originally posted by Jive Brummie
Right, thanks everyone for the top tips.

Now i need some names please of plants. I know i need to find out what soil i have first but surely there must be some good all rounders.
...

Cacti. Low maintenence, unusual spikey but starngely appealing...anyone else resemble their favourite plant?