Waterlogged soil caused this gardener to become addicted to her plants and plot in a small back garden
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'I found that developing the garden was such a great stress release and very rewarding.'
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I only started gardening last February, when I decided that I wanted to dig up the grass in the back garden as it was constantly wet in winter and would take weeks to dry out in summer. I live on a hill, which used to be an old quarry. The soil is clay and can be very waterlogged at times, especially in winter. Living in this part of Scotland we never have any water shortages.
Dug up the grass
I dug up the grass in February last year and used stones from an old wall on the other side of my garden (still to be developed) to edge plant borders. I then laid down stones in keeping with the colour of the walls of my house. I read lots of gardening magazines, and especially like looking at other readers' gardens for inspiration.
I bought one packet of seeds (mixed cottage garden perennials) and small plants from local garden centres. I did not have a lot of money to spend, so I shopped about a lot. I found that developing the garden was such a great stress release and very rewarding.
Second-hand greenhouse
I bought a second-hand greenhouse at the end of summer, and this year I have started growing lots of different perennial plants. I have also added more arches to the garden after seeing some other readers' gardens where they have used height to great effect.
I am still very much learning about plants and gardens, but I'm so addicted that, every minute of my day, I am either looking at gardening magazines and books or thinking of what I'd like to do next.
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Designing around the dog
I recently got a dog, which means I have to redesign the garden from last year and look at putting in more architectural plants with flowers in pots, so that when the dog decides to have a 'mad half hour', he does not take all the tops off my flowers.
As you can see, it is a small garden but I managed to pack it full last year and intend to do the same, if not more this year.
The 'before' photos were taken in February 2006 and the 'after' in June (after returning from holiday). All the flowers bloomed well. I had to deal with the odd pest, such as earwigs on my dahlias, and greenfly, but I try to be as organic as I can.
I also have two compost bins at the moment, which are full, and l am waiting on two more to be delivered!
Thank you for a great magazine and website - let's see LOTS more readers' gardens.
Submit your garden makeovers
I'm always on the lookout for descriptions and photographs of garden makeovers, including 'before' and 'after' shots. We publish the best in
Gardens Monthly magazine as well as on Gardening.co.uk. Why not upload yours to the
Gallery, or
email me with your digital images and text. Alternatively, send text and photographs by snail mail to Sarah Brocklehurst, Magicalia Publishing Ltd, Berwick House, 8-10 Knoll Rise, Orpington, Kent, BR6 OEL.
denotes Subscriber-only content | Wednesday 23 July 2008 | Help | Glossary 
