Summer is over, my lawn is getting scattered with falling leaves, lots of tidying up to do. The winds have been raging around the garden for the past few days so plenty of sweeping up to do. But.......on the up side I have received my first gardening catalogue so have been browsing through and planning what to do next spring. Following on from my raised beds I thought I would increase them and try my hand at growing strawberries. Also might try the little basket stawberries, anyone tried these? I have loads of new ideas for the garden next year, there is never a dull moment is there, always something to discover in the garden, I love it
That first gardening catalogue....ahhh. That's when the first REAL plans for the coming season begin for real, isn't it? What are some of your idears for your garden next year? I'm always curious what other folks do in their gardens. Good luck with your strawb plans.
Well Sjoerd, firstly I am widening some of my beds to give me more planting space. I am considering using more drought resistant plants next year as, despite the spells of heavy rain, we have had long dry periods. I will really 'make it up as I go along' so to speak so will keep you posted with any new developments. The trouble is that some of my garden is under tall conifers and large hawthorns. I have shrubs like rhododendrons, camelia and weigela which seem to like those conditions, especially as we have quite an acid soil in that area but I am looking for some hardy perenials which will also suit that area.
Is it your raised beds you're increasing, GG? You surely did get a lot from the ones you had this year! I am also beginning to think about cleaning up now that it's cooling off here. That will feel good I think. It all looks a wreck at the moment.
I've already started moving some of my plants around. Dividing up the hostas and moving them along the drive. I have bought some alliums, just trying to figure out where I can plant them that rabbits won't chew them down. This has been my biggest problem--RABBITS. Darn things won't stop chewing my flowers I plant out in my front gardens. Wanting to divide the Irises and the lillies yet also.
Yes Daisybeans it is my raised beds I am increasing. We have done quite well with them, not bad for a first year attempt. We just have the baby leeks left now and maybe a dwarf bean or two. Weather wasn't too bad today so carried on preparing my beds for planting. Was a bit hard going in view of the lack of rain but managed to dig over parts that hadn't been dug for quite a while. Now just hoping for some rain to help break down the clumps.Have been dividing my phlox and delphiniums and also sorting out the Saxifraga urbium (London Pride) as it has taken over in some places. A little story regarding this as my Dad used to grow it and we took a piece from his garden when we moved to our first home in 1961. I have kept it going all this time and brought a clump to our present home in 1992. So memories of my Dad's garden are still with me.
Ahhhh...I see, GG. I like to do things as I go along, although I have so much room that I must do some planning, otherwise I'd be running around like a chicken with it's head cut-off come spring. It is good news hearing that you will increase the size of your raised beds. You had such good success that I am sure that you will be over the moon with your successes next year. That's a nice story about your Saxifraga urbium. That must be a fairly sturdy type of Saxifrage. You know GG, I was wondering about that acid area in your garden--I wonder if you couldn't place a few blueberry bushes there. They lurve acid conditions. Do you like blueberries?
I like your story about your Dad's flowers too, GG... I'm a total emotional gardener! I love those connections.
Wonderful to hear what everyone is doing and planning. I love the ideas shared and they really spur me on...to growing my beds. Where else am I going to plant the new starts?
Unfortunately Sjoerd I am not a fan of blueberries even though I know they are considered to be a 'super food'. I was thinking though, would fruit bushes grow happily under trees as the acid area in my garden is the area that I call my 'copse' as it is mainly conifer, hawthorn, laburnum, rhododentron, yew, weigela and another little tree that I cannot identify, it has small hard green fruits about the size of a gooseberry so I don't like to pick them. Even the birds leave them alone so I imagine they are not edible. It does bear pretty white flowers in the spring so I am reluctant to get rid of it. The rest of my acid bed nearer the front where it catches the sun in the morning has heathers and a few bedding plants dotted around.
Well, that acid bed sounds nice--lots of good things growing there. The heathers are a very nice touch. Well, I guess that blueberry is out then. hee hee hee. Do you also not care for cranberry? ..and what a curious-sounding little bush you described. I wonder what it is. I believe that I have seen such a little bush here and there over here, but they are generally planted on places where the council plants things. I may enquire the next time I see one. I had thought that it was a sort of Mispel, but then it's a bit small. The ones here are fruiting at the moment, I have noticed. If I see someone near the bushes I shall ask if they know the name.
New garden plans I'm glad that others have also started picturing their next year's gardens. I garden in my head all year long. I'm moving some plants in my long border this fall, Delphs, Oriental lilies, Cannas. Also plan to find a small tree to create a "micro-climate" for some plants that didn't like the strong full sun I have here. I'm determined to grow some Phlox. I saw your raised bed garden and it did seem to flourish so I can imagine you look forward to more and better next year. Good luck!
