.png)
Common Garden Issues
I have heavy clay soil, what can I grow in it?
Regular conditioning of clay soil will help to improve its structure and texture. Mixing in well-rotted organic matter such as horse or cow manure before planting, will break up the solid chunks, add in more nutrients and improve drainage. A yearly top up of organic mulch will enhance the soil as worm activity will continue to assist in this.
Many plants thrive in clay soil as it retains nutrients well. Trees such as magnolia, birch, apples and pears all do well. Hydrangeas, viburnums, asters, anemones, hellebores and geraniums provide a range of colour, size and shape throughout the year.
How can I introduce more wildlife to my garden?
Providing a range of habitats will encourage a variety of wildlife to any garden. Adding trees, shrubs and perennials which flower at different times will attract insects and invertebrates, which then provide a reason for birds to visit. The mix of planting allows for cover and hiding places for smaller creatures to nest or hibernate. Introducing water, whether pond or bird bath, provides somewhere to bathe and drink. A pond gives more biodiversity of plants and creatures throughout the year, in a more naturalised setting.
Where should I put a compost area?
Compost is great in a garden as it recycles the kitchen and garden waste into brilliant soil improver. If you are using it for kitchen waste it should be somewhere fairly close to the back door, so it's not too far to go. However, try to screen it from view (they are not very pretty to look at) and not too close to a seating area (in case of strong smells in hot weather). Don't put it at the end of the garden, or in direct sight line of house windows. Tucked away at the side is better but you still need to be able to access it for emptying.
How can I create privacy in the garden?
Privacy can be created through careful placing of trees, hedges, pergolas and seating areas. Consider where the neighbours' windows are, and where you would like to sit. They may be directed to the same position, in which case the design needs to include a method of screening or misdirection of view, so the eye is drawn to another area.
Where in my garden should I put a pond?
In general terms, a pond should be positioned where it receives around six hours of sunlight a day (in April or September) and not under trees. This is so the leaves don't fall into it and the trees' roots aren't disturbed during the building of it.
A formal pond should be positioned on lines of symmetry, either with the house or within the garden and can be raised or in ground. An informal pond should be in a lower area of the garden, where it may have naturally formed, and should be irregular in shape.
My garden is too shady. How can I get more light? What plants will grow in it?
Shady gardens usually occur either from large trees or surrounding buildings. If the tree branches can be thinned or their canopies raised, this will allow more light to filter through. If buildings are the cause, then use of materials or colour will help the area to feel lighter. Painting walls or fences a cream colour and using pale paving or gravel, bounces the light around the space, reducing the darker feeling. Using white flowers will also help and they seem to glow in the evening, as the sun sets, so they appear to last longer. Variegated leaves will have a similar effect.
Dry shade plants include alchemillas, anemones, geraniums, viburnums, skimmias. Damp shady plants include hostas, ferns, astilbes, geums and acers.
How can I get a sensory experience in my garden?
Sensory gardens can be achieved through a mix of planting and features. Textural plants such as stachys, ornamental grasses, ferns and acers provide visual and touchy-feely experiences. Roses, lavender, fruit trees and bushes provide a mix of scent and taste. Water fountains, wind chimes, bamboo and taller grasses give an audio backdrop. Different surfaces also play a part: scrunchy gravel, smooth paving, moss and lawns give a sensory experience for walking on.