September 2013 to February 2015
September 2013
- Clarify any areas of base map not yet measured - next time I visit (see updated Basemaps below)
- J has a copy of the drafts and needs to comment on them so that they can be tweaked.
- Purchase of plants. J has decided she would definitely like a Crab apple and another Pyracantha. I have Bird Cherry seedling, Honeysuckle and Quince cuttings.
- Setting a date. - we set a date for September, but a problem arose with heavy compost bags, so we had a re-think and decided to try boosting the soil with Grochar, which I was able to order and will take with me. We now have date for October 2013 to plant at least 2 trees (Crab Apple, Bird Cherry) and one shrub (Pyracantha)
- I made notes in my Action learning journal that comfrey would be a helpful plant to have too, for fertility and insect food, so this needs to be added to design, probably in mixed border.
- Planting- to start on 18th October 2013 as well as mixing Grochar in with soil, tweaking base map and client feedback on first design drafts
October 2013
Planted: Pyracantha, buddleia, Golden Hornet crab apple plus cuttings of quince, willow and honeysuckle.
Teasel, poached egg plant, crocus bulbs, nigella seeds and more teasel seeds.
Found : Hazel sapling and relocated remaining pyracantha.
Variety of slugs came out to say hello but not many worms. Perhaps adding Gro char to the soil will change that.
Plants and cuttings don't fill the relatively small planting area but have 0.5 m to grow into. Meanwhile butterfly and hoverfly friendly plants can fill the gaps.
Teasel, poached egg plant, crocus bulbs, nigella seeds and more teasel seeds.
Found : Hazel sapling and relocated remaining pyracantha.
Variety of slugs came out to say hello but not many worms. Perhaps adding Gro char to the soil will change that.
Plants and cuttings don't fill the relatively small planting area but have 0.5 m to grow into. Meanwhile butterfly and hoverfly friendly plants can fill the gaps.
Shade
This is view facing South. The Sycamore branches (left) and top of Robinia to the right are creating shade. Wondered whether to prune them both to enable light to reach Crab apple, which it needs. (Would also make a better view from the house). (Done: See November 2013, May 2014, June 2014 and February 2015 in 7. Implementation)
Action
Agreed with J to look into whether I can prune the lower branches of Sycamore.
according to internet sources :
(http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/trees)
it is possible in late Autumn and is 'tough as old boots' although Robinia should be pruned in Spring.
This is view facing South. The Sycamore branches (left) and top of Robinia to the right are creating shade. Wondered whether to prune them both to enable light to reach Crab apple, which it needs. (Would also make a better view from the house). (Done: See November 2013, May 2014, June 2014 and February 2015 in 7. Implementation)
Action
Agreed with J to look into whether I can prune the lower branches of Sycamore.
according to internet sources :
(http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/trees)
it is possible in late Autumn and is 'tough as old boots' although Robinia should be pruned in Spring.
Updated base to include plantings
Contingencies,
Next date November....
To prune sycamore with long handled loppers and plant hedge depending on whether any space available/J wants one - poss next to Buddliea
- I realised the position of Sycamore(s) need more accuracy. one is growing in neighbours garden and not shading planting area much, the other is blocking sun and view from J's house, so I have tweaked the base map (above)
- A few days later, J reports foxes or squirrels trying to dig up crab apple (only this tree) to get something underneath. Could it be the grochar? (but that was planted in other holes) (does Grochar attract worms that foxes want to eat?) or crocus bulbs which were placed under Crab apple and in front of Pyracantha.- difficult to know as animal not seen in the act!
Next date November....
To prune sycamore with long handled loppers and plant hedge depending on whether any space available/J wants one - poss next to Buddliea
November 2013
Observations and other info
J had bought 2 more Pyracanthas, different colour berries to add to the hedge
Crab apple was still OK, a bit sunken and losing it's leaves but looking heathly
Most of last month's cuttings still in place and honeysuckle doing especially well
Teasel plants seem to have taken
Lots of leaf fall from Sycamore and rose bushes to use as mulch
Chives growing in clumps in lawn (did I chuck some seeds about last time?) which is good for bees
Sunny November day
J had bought 2 more Pyracanthas, different colour berries to add to the hedge
Crab apple was still OK, a bit sunken and losing it's leaves but looking heathly
Most of last month's cuttings still in place and honeysuckle doing especially well
Teasel plants seem to have taken
Lots of leaf fall from Sycamore and rose bushes to use as mulch
Chives growing in clumps in lawn (did I chuck some seeds about last time?) which is good for bees
Sunny November day
What I did
- Planting Pyracanthas x 2
- planted 6 cuttings (willow, dogwood,) /small hedge plants from Woodland Trust (Hazel, dogrose, Hawthorn) see updated map
- moved Goji away from Pyracantha and move forward to be more visible (pretty berries in Winter)
- taking lower branches off Sycamore, hid them under Holly tree, plenty of room and still have access to wheelbarrow (a good habitat for something)(Produce no waste)
- took off higher stems of dogrose from central cluster of trees to allow more light to back of garden where all new plantings are
- took photos before and after (Catch and store energy)
- extracted weeds such as Green Alkanet but so many in lawn and stony path, ran out of time. The weeds go on under the Holly tree too in a pile to rot down
- swept up fallen leaves and covered bare soil with them (Use and value renewable resources)
- measured actual planting area which is 3.5 m long x 1 or 1.5 m wide (wiggly edge)
- tested soil Ph in some areas 7 and others 6, so ranges from neutral to slightly acidic (could be fox poo affecting soil) (OBserve and Interact)
Evaluation November 2013
Am hopeful that extra light wil help Crab Apple and hedge establish (see photos)
Advised J Pyracantha might dominate but she is Ok with that
Plantings are close but some can be thinned out later (the ones that didn't cost anything such as dogwood and Willow)
Next steps.....
research bird nesting times, tweak implementation
research feasibiility of small pond
draft maintenance schedule
set a date for Feb or March 2014 depending on how warm the spring is!
Am hopeful that extra light wil help Crab Apple and hedge establish (see photos)
Advised J Pyracantha might dominate but she is Ok with that
Plantings are close but some can be thinned out later (the ones that didn't cost anything such as dogwood and Willow)
Next steps.....
research bird nesting times, tweak implementation
research feasibiility of small pond
draft maintenance schedule
set a date for Feb or March 2014 depending on how warm the spring is!
March 2014
Visited J's garden to assess how well everything was doing and to observe any changes. Used the four action learning questions as a framework for recording.
Going well?
1. Nearly everything planted had taken and was showing signs of sprouting and budding. Nigella seeds germinated, Honeysuckle etc growing (most of the cuttings were still pretty small but they have space to grow). Chives growing around the small Robinia. Naturally ocurring plants such as Lesser Celandine and bluebells abundant as ground cover. (Lesser Celandine likes damp woodlandy sites so will keep an eye on that).
Could be better?
2. Lots of Green Alkanet to weed out!
Lawn behind clump of roses etc a bit patchy, maybe a fox or cat had scratched it bare. (There was a lot of poo on it).
Cutting from friend with sentimental value didn't look as if it had taken, as planted a long time after it was given to her so gave it some grochar and will hope it survives.
It has been a long time since last visit, due to fragility of J's health. I have been unable to find an easy light weight watering system.
Vision?
3. Fill the available space with up to 8 Butterfly and Hoverfly-friendly plants.
Also fill gaps in lawn with low growing creeping plants (Pennyroyal, Bugle, Corsican Mint, Creeping Jenny, Self-heal) inspired by Lionel Smith, from University of Reading.
Next Achievable Steps?
4. J liaise with friend for lift to garden centre to buy plants and seeds (she has a list of suggestions as above).
Arrange a date to plant and tidy in April 2014.
Going well?
1. Nearly everything planted had taken and was showing signs of sprouting and budding. Nigella seeds germinated, Honeysuckle etc growing (most of the cuttings were still pretty small but they have space to grow). Chives growing around the small Robinia. Naturally ocurring plants such as Lesser Celandine and bluebells abundant as ground cover. (Lesser Celandine likes damp woodlandy sites so will keep an eye on that).
Could be better?
2. Lots of Green Alkanet to weed out!
Lawn behind clump of roses etc a bit patchy, maybe a fox or cat had scratched it bare. (There was a lot of poo on it).
Cutting from friend with sentimental value didn't look as if it had taken, as planted a long time after it was given to her so gave it some grochar and will hope it survives.
It has been a long time since last visit, due to fragility of J's health. I have been unable to find an easy light weight watering system.
Vision?
3. Fill the available space with up to 8 Butterfly and Hoverfly-friendly plants.
Also fill gaps in lawn with low growing creeping plants (Pennyroyal, Bugle, Corsican Mint, Creeping Jenny, Self-heal) inspired by Lionel Smith, from University of Reading.
Next Achievable Steps?
4. J liaise with friend for lift to garden centre to buy plants and seeds (she has a list of suggestions as above).
Arrange a date to plant and tidy in April 2014.
May 2014
(Again there was no implementation April due to combination of health reasons and colder than average weather).
Planting - J had bought some plants, some that I suggested and others that she liked and thought would be good for wildlife. She bought Lavender, Solidago, Verbena bonariensis, lupins x 2 and packets of bird friendly seeds, plus birds foot trefoil seeds, foxglove seeds and poache egg plant seeds. some of the plants are sunloving so I cut a bit of Robinia down in the centre of the garden to shed more light. However need long handled loppers to get at high branches. can bring pruning saw next time and cut it down as other trees will remain.
I also sowed Evening primrose that I had saved from another clients garden (Fairshares Ethic) and planted some surpluses from my window sill - gooseberry and mallow, creeping jenny for edge. Pigeons were hanging round pecking so I had to cover the seeds with lawn cuttings and hope they'd forget about them. (see photo) Altogether the plants and seeds cost £40.
Weeding - lots of weeds in lawn, stony strip in South and in planting area, mainly Green Alkanet, goose grass and dandelion., see above pics. Weeds are going in the compost and log area under Holly tree.
Watering - very minimally as took 5 or 6 trips with large watering can to water in new plants, neigjbour's hose does not reach and may be hard extend due to spray attachment on end. Inserted upturned bottle for wise watering near the roots of crab apple and planted an empty flower pot near lupin for similar. J has been carrying bottles down with a friend but ideally there would be a supply nearer and easier to access. (How about a water butt filled with run off from shed roof?)
The lawn - neighbour's son had done 2 weeks ago but is not able to do frequently so looks a bit overgrown. (See above photos) Saw some prunella growing in it so this might improve its look.
A bench - this was discussed as J would like wrought iron bench for corner but at the moment too expensive.
She'd also like some gothic stonework to go in somewhere when she's found something.
Observe and interact
- honeysuckle survived so I tied it up and dangled string from a hook in wooden fence for it to climb. Could do with some one more (as per design) at other end.
- pigeons pecking away at new sown seed, so used lawn cuttings as mulch, may also keep moisture in
- J has bought mainly sun-loving plants so next time will cut down dying Robinia in centre of lawn to create more sun
Planting - J had bought some plants, some that I suggested and others that she liked and thought would be good for wildlife. She bought Lavender, Solidago, Verbena bonariensis, lupins x 2 and packets of bird friendly seeds, plus birds foot trefoil seeds, foxglove seeds and poache egg plant seeds. some of the plants are sunloving so I cut a bit of Robinia down in the centre of the garden to shed more light. However need long handled loppers to get at high branches. can bring pruning saw next time and cut it down as other trees will remain.
I also sowed Evening primrose that I had saved from another clients garden (Fairshares Ethic) and planted some surpluses from my window sill - gooseberry and mallow, creeping jenny for edge. Pigeons were hanging round pecking so I had to cover the seeds with lawn cuttings and hope they'd forget about them. (see photo) Altogether the plants and seeds cost £40.
Weeding - lots of weeds in lawn, stony strip in South and in planting area, mainly Green Alkanet, goose grass and dandelion., see above pics. Weeds are going in the compost and log area under Holly tree.
Watering - very minimally as took 5 or 6 trips with large watering can to water in new plants, neigjbour's hose does not reach and may be hard extend due to spray attachment on end. Inserted upturned bottle for wise watering near the roots of crab apple and planted an empty flower pot near lupin for similar. J has been carrying bottles down with a friend but ideally there would be a supply nearer and easier to access. (How about a water butt filled with run off from shed roof?)
The lawn - neighbour's son had done 2 weeks ago but is not able to do frequently so looks a bit overgrown. (See above photos) Saw some prunella growing in it so this might improve its look.
A bench - this was discussed as J would like wrought iron bench for corner but at the moment too expensive.
She'd also like some gothic stonework to go in somewhere when she's found something.
Observe and interact
- honeysuckle survived so I tied it up and dangled string from a hook in wooden fence for it to climb. Could do with some one more (as per design) at other end.
- pigeons pecking away at new sown seed, so used lawn cuttings as mulch, may also keep moisture in
- J has bought mainly sun-loving plants so next time will cut down dying Robinia in centre of lawn to create more sun
Next session Friday 20th June
Plant: chop down Robinia, weed, bring borage plants from w sill (oops forgot! 20.6.14), sow some more seeds, coincide with Kathys x 2!
Plant: chop down Robinia, weed, bring borage plants from w sill (oops forgot! 20.6.14), sow some more seeds, coincide with Kathys x 2!
June 2014
Sorry no photos as forgot camera.... (teenage domestic drama meant distracted!)
Observations
What I did in 1 1/4 hours
No time to weed as meeting a guest at J's at 11.30!
Observations
- Although sunny, less light seemed to be reaching the way at back so higher sun not necessarily providing more sunlight in morning.
- Hardly any weeds in the planted area, just in lawn which had been mowed recently (Green Alkanet grows faster than lawn it seems!)
- Nigella and Solidago doing well
- Slugs ate both lupins
- Lavender a bit dry as well as Crab Apple, which fox seems to be pawing at.
- No sign of Poached Egg plant seedlings or Evening Primrose.... did the birds get them first?
What I did in 1 1/4 hours
- used long handled loppers to thin lower branches of Sycamore in East and Robinia in centre of garden.
- planted a donated comfrey at the back of beds for mulch and bee fodder
- scattered Calendula seeds harvested from St Saviour's Edible Garden this morning (Fairshares!)
- trimmed the rose bush in the centre so it doesn't get too large and dominate the garden.
- installed two more watering pots by Crab Apple so that water gets channelled straight to to plant roots (saw they had done this in Wandle Park Community Garden on my way to J's)
No time to weed as meeting a guest at J's at 11.30!
- Notes
J likes the Nigella, especially as seed heads may attract birds. Asked if any other evergreens possible. (More Honeysuckle in Autumn perhaps)
Advised good time for planting would be Autumn but still possible now if plant available in garden centre.
Next time?
Weed green Alkanet, Throw more seeds in? Email J with some suggestions for more planting (but no sun lovers!), Bring borages from Window sill?
February 2015
Another long break since last visit, due to illness and my being away, design nearing completion however!
This visit, I planned to spend some time observing what was happening now in J's garden, weeding out prolific alkanet, thin any light -obstructing plants, (see photos above) feeding soil with fertiliser and planting what I had growing on windowsill (sweet peas, poached egg plant and lovage). (all of which I did).
This visit, I planned to spend some time observing what was happening now in J's garden, weeding out prolific alkanet, thin any light -obstructing plants, (see photos above) feeding soil with fertiliser and planting what I had growing on windowsill (sweet peas, poached egg plant and lovage). (all of which I did).
We agreed today future sessions would be on a gift basis as J has some additional expenses due to a change in circumstances for J at home. This means travel costs and other expenses (not sure what they would be!) will be paid plus whatever J thinks is suitable giving her income and how mcuh she likes the way garden looks.
Observation
What was going well?
Pyracanthas and Crab apple looked happy, as well as Solidago, Nigella seedlings, Verbena bonariensis, Chives, Teasel, Buddhleia and a few crocus came up. The cuttings from last year were still small (honeysuckle, gooseberry, redcurrant, quince) but surviving.
2 blackbirds and a robin visited - perhaps they feel safe there
Only weeds were in the lawn mainly - green alkanet
J can see the garden quite well still from her window.
Could be better?
More ground cover, gaps between plantings.
Patches appeard in lawn especially after I'd weeded the alknanet out
Shade from large ivy covered tree in West
Sunny spot in NE corner where stoney path is and fence going to waste.
More plants in middle of growing area around
30cm high and much more prostrate habit ground cover
Something for understorey of little false acacia tree in lawn
Stop fox digging round base of crab apple exposing some roots.
More light on crab apple.
More ground cover, gaps between plantings.
Patches appeard in lawn especially after I'd weeded the alknanet out
Shade from large ivy covered tree in West
Sunny spot in NE corner where stoney path is and fence going to waste.
More plants in middle of growing area around
30cm high and much more prostrate habit ground cover
Something for understorey of little false acacia tree in lawn
Stop fox digging round base of crab apple exposing some roots.
More light on crab apple.
Next achievable steps
- suggest plants /seeds and email J (borage, purnella, creeping Jenny, speedwell, wild marjoram, alpine strawberries, birdsfoot trefoil)
- grow some at home to transplant
- lawn seed March/April
- something for crab apple understorey to prevent fox digging there