However, planning has begun for 2016!
The eradication of the cursed ivy, periwinkle and wisteria will continue, but it's time to plan the spring vegetable garden and plan some new beds.
 |
| Cardiff Castle Park, Cardiff, Wales. |
Where to start?
This garden is pretty much a blank slate, and it can be difficult to know what to do when it seems the choices are endless. I have some rules I've worked out over the past few years.
Work with what you've got. If you have full sun, plant sun-loving plants. If you've got a lot of shade, be honest with yourself. Shade is okay, and there's a lot of plants which will be happy there, and I don't mean just hostas.
Plant what wants to grow. I kill delphiniums. I don't know why. So I stopped planting them. I'm a better person for that.
Choose perennial plants with a long lifespan. This is just because I'm cheap. I only break this rule for lavender.
Select disease-resistant plants when possible. And avoid heartbreak. That's important.
Buy plants which spread responsibly and don't mind being divided. Especially if you have a large garden and a small pocketbook.
Avoid plants which deer love to eat. I have nothing against deer, I just don't like their appreciation of my hemerocalis spp. collection.
Look for inspiration from other gardens.
These can be your neighbours, your local botanical garden, a local park, books, the internet. Find something that moves you. Copy it shamelessly. You might not be able to do the scale of Sissinghurst's White Garden, but you could certainly bring a small piece of it into your own.
 |
| Powys Castle, Welshpool. These poles would get me my climbing roses without covering the house! |
