Hi Claire

How much sun does your plot get? Which room do you view the garden from?
How will you use this space?

Hi Gill

The plot gets loads of direct sunlight, theres not much shade at all, and during the winter the ground gets really boggy, its a nightmare. I have just spent the weekend clearing it of brambles! I look out onto it from the first floor from my bedroom. I dont intend to sit out in it or spend loads of time there but I want it to look nice, would like a small shed out there and am thinking of paving/decking some of it but I would like to have some plants/herbs growing, ideally i want something low maintenance but that I can potter about in at the weekends.

Any ideas?

Hi Claire

Yes I have a few ideas. I email again in a couple of days if thats ok.

yes please, i look forward to it!

Claire

I forgot to ask, do you know why your garden is so wet. Are you near any water?

no not near to water to my knowledge. It just seems to get really boggy underfoot during the rainy months. I am not sure how this can be incorporated into a nice garden...

Claire

I wonder if you would mind if I have a go at designing your garden for you as a personal project. I'll explain.... some friends and I have spent the last four 4 years designing and building show gardens for Gardeners World Live at the NEC. Last year was really hard work, the heat was unbearable and my own garden was looking neglected, so I said no more. However I really miss the researching, designing and drawing of the gardens which I really enjoyed. If you want to see some photos before you decide I can put some on the gallery. There will be more questions to answer if you say yes!

Hi again Gill

That sounds great!!, the only thing I will say is I have no idea how much this sort of thing costs and don't have a huge budget to sort the garden out so dont want to be wasting your time!...but if you could give me some more info on what you would need from me then I am all ears!, in fact I have recently been out to the mess i like to call a garden and taken a few snaps, just cant seem to attach them to this website as they are not URL's but if you want to see them to get a better idea perhaps i can email them to you.

Hope to hear from you soon
Claire

Claire

I understand about limited budgets......... If there is anything in the design you like (I hope there will be) you can just do them as and when you can.

If you go to the gallery section, create a folder then follow the instructions you will have your own gallery rather than trying to attach them to threads.

morning Gill

well i have set up an albumn, just waiting for it to be checked then will let you know when its ready.

Thanks

Claire

I have seen the pictures in your gallery. Its a bit of a challenge isn't it?!

Here come the questions:

Are you keeping the wire netting?
Are the conifers staying?
Do you know if the soil is acid or alkaline?
Is the path just for plot holders or does it lead somewhere else?
Can you identify North?
Which part of the the country do you live in?
Do you have easy access to garden centres/nurseries?

Dont worry if you cant answer any of them.

Hi Gill Here are the answers as far as I know:

I would like a reasonably priced fence to replace the wire netting (or perhaps keep it and put a fence around it.

The conifer in the middle when you are looking from my bedroom is actually in my neighbours garden, the one in the far right corner I planned to keep, just to keep the cost lower

I am unsure of the soil type, do you know how I can find out?

The path is for plot holders only, there is a leafy/ brambly area behind my plot but that also is unused.

If you are looking out onto the plot from my bedroom, North is to the left.

I live in Hainault, Essex

I have easy access to garden centres and my own transport.

I agree, the garden is definitely a challenge! another potential problem is that the other 3 gardens surrounding mine are kept neat but are not used as gardens and are purely grassed areas.... hence why I am not wanting to keep it quite basic and easily manageable for me. Still interested??!!?? how long do you think it will take for you to plan it?

Thanks for your answers Claire

I am relieved you are having a fence. I was wondering about access for clearing the grass and weeds from neighbouring plots.

The soil type can be determined by a soil testing kit from the garden centre. I think they cost around 99p.

I have been considering shrubs with nice leaf shapes and colours, berries and flowers. A paved path and an open area for your pottering. Do you have any preference for the position of the shed? The smallest one I can find is 6ft x 4ft.

OK Great,

I will try and get hold of a soil testing kit asap and let you know!

As for the shed, i think it would be best in the far left corner if you are looking out from the bedroom. The reason I say that is thats where my neighbour to the left has hers (she has the whole long plot rather than split in half like mine)

The plant ideas sound lovely!

Cheers

Claire

Thanks for the info. I'll start work now. Probably take a couple of weeks but I'll keep in touch.

HI Claire

Check out the link for more on soil testing kits.

Good luck!

(web editor)

Hi y'all
This could turn out to be competition for the peppers thread.Hope it works out.
Bazza

Hi Claire

Any luck with the soil testing yet?

I have the hard landscaping drawn out and a plant list in my head.

Hi Gill
Sorry for the delay, i have been rather busy at work so no time to email, plus I am off to Thailand on my hols 2 weeks today!

I am hoping to get the soil kit during bank holiday weekend, and in the meantime I will ask my next door neighbour as she is a keen gardener and had hers done recently...this may sound very stupid but will her soil be the same as mine or do i need to test mine aswell?

Thanks
Claire