How to build a flower/plant bed ?

Slattsy

Afternoon,

Im new to this gardening lark as it my first house (cant say i paid too much attention to my Father and his garden growning up) so im looking for some advice.

I have your average size semi detached front garden. I want to add a flower bed at the top. It is quite damp and slightly mossy here as the top half of the garden doesnt get much sun. But it doesnt hold water either.
Ideally I want the bed about metre deep.

So i have questions and any thoughts are greatly appreciated

1) What type of timber edging should i use for the border (front/back of flower bed) I dont want just plain timber.
2) are rocks a nicer alternative instead of a timber border.
3) Because it damp/mossy here, should i turn the soil and add some mosskiller
4) Should i add some weed control fabric over this before adding compost
5) I want the flower bed raised off the ground by a foot(ish), with maybe a slight slope, rising from garden up towards the front window, is this just silly and i should keep it the one size.
6) because this area gets little sun, is there plants i should avoid and vice versa.
7) I'd love to have some colour to the bed, some variations as plants bloom throughout the year, any recommendations?

Sorry its long and hopefully my questions are not too silly.
My plan is to get this done in the next 4 - 6 weeks

Thanks in advance.

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

Afternoon,

Im new to this gardening lark as it my first house (cant say i paid too much attention to my Father and his garden growning up) so im looking for some advice.

I have your average size semi detached front garden. I want to add a flower bed at the top. It is quite damp and slightly mossy here as the top half of the garden doesnt get much sun. But it doesnt hold water either.
Ideally I want the bed about metre deep.

So i have questions and any thoughts are greatly appreciated

1) What type of timber edging should i use for the border (front/back of flower bed) I dont want just plain timber.
2) are rocks a nicer alternative instead of a timber border.
3) Because it damp/mossy here, should i turn the soil and add some mosskiller
4) Should i add some weed control fabric over this before adding compost
5) I want the flower bed raised off the ground by a foot(ish), with maybe a slight slope, rising from garden up towards the front window, is this just silly and i should keep it the one size.
6) because this area gets little sun, is there plants i should avoid and vice versa.
7) I'd love to have some colour to the bed, some variations as plants bloom throughout the year, any recommendations?

Sorry its long and hopefully my questions are not too silly.
My plan is to get this done in the next 4 - 6 weeks

Thanks in advance.

Nothing silly in what you want to do at all.:)

8 foot long PT (pressure treated) railway sleepers are 18 euro each in some builders providers.

Coat them with a nice water based coloured stain.

Install them on a bed of compacted and leveled sharp sand,and in a shape and way that you like and that suits your garden.Hammer in several PT 3 x 2 wooden stakes and screw into back of railway sleepers with 100mm decking screws.

Dig out the soil and add in new topsoil,compost,manure and grit too (grit is great for drainage).

Install a layer of Mypex....(if you wish to)..and then cut out the holes for where you want to place plants.

Then plant to your hearts content.:D





PS-Make sure that you know where any and all underground utilities are located before you start to dig...You dont want to hit a gas or water pipe or hit an underground power cable.

Slattsy

Ah yes, i wouldnt have thought about treating the wood.

Ok, so remove current patch of soil and add completey new top soil. I've herd sand is very good also for drainage, would this be ok too?

What way should i layer it. Im thinking :
Sand/grit
Topsoil
Manure
Compost

Then some wood chippings on top, around the plants.

Should i add a layer of plastic mesh/fabric too?

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

Ah yes, i wouldnt have thought about treating the wood.

Ok, so remove current patch of soil and add completey new top soil. I've herd sand is very good also for drainage, would this be ok too?

What way should i layer it. Im thinking :
Sand/grit
Topsoil
Manure
Compost

Then some wood chippings on top, around the plants.

Should i add a layer of plastic mesh/fabric too?

Mix it in small stages.

Layer of soil,then some compost,then manure and grit.

Then hand fork it all and mix it well up.:)

Repeat this process untill you have reached the height of the flowerbed you have built.

Water it all down and leave it to settle for around a week though.

If you dont want weeds then you can place a layer of Mypex on the top and use fabric pegs to install it.

Stick your plants in,and then you can cover over with a 2 inchlayer of bark mulch.

Simples.:)

Slattsy

Let me be the judge of how simple it will be

Thanks.

I've a good idea of what i should do now.

All i need now is what plants to go for.

monkeynuz

Slattsy,

You don't need to dig out the old soil really, if you are raising the soil level up.

Just turn over the manky stuff at the bottom and add some sharp sand (from Homebase) then do as the above poster said add in stages and mix it all up, if you have access to a cement mixer that is a very handy way of doing it (trust me it works and can save your back if you have a lot to do!)

Hope this helps.

M.

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

Let me be the judge of how simple it will be

Thanks.

I've a good idea of what i should do now.

All i need now is what plants to go for.

Our garden is north facing and we have a heap of different plants and flowers in it.

I will check with herself,as Im completely hopeless at plant names.:pac:

Theres lots alliums in the garden...as I love them.

Lots of Fritillarys (snakeshead) and foxgloves.

Some nice flowering grasses too.

I will get all the other names off her later on,when she is home from work.

Slattsy

Cheers.
I wont have access to a mixer, but its not a huge area so i'll give it a good mix/forking as i add the layers.

Slattsy

Thanks Paddy, i'd really appreciate that.

One thing you will need to know is that the flower bed will be directly in front of the living room window, so i dont want any plants that will obstruct the view too much, maybe only 3/4 ft max.

I guess i can have some higher plants, one or two on the side where the neighbours wall is.

paddy147

I would agree with Monkeynuz about leaving the existing soil and just topping it up...as long as its not full of crap.:)

My missus dug all the front and back gardens out,because our builder left a heap of rubble,old cement and building crap in the front and back gardens after the building was finished.


My missus wanted very good quality soil throughout.:)

So if your existing soil is ok and not full of crap,then its fine to leave it in place and top it up with some new topsoil,compost,manure and grit.

Slattsy

No its good enough nick, i did a great job on it last summer, got rid of all the moss and planted new grass. But i know the moss will just come back as its damp.

I like those purple things in the second pic

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

No its good enough nick, i did a great job on it last summer, got rid of all the moss and planted new grass. But i know the moss will just come back as its damp.

I like those purple things in the second pic

Those would be Alliums and the bees absolutely love them.:D

Slattsy

The missus won't like them!

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

The missus won't like them!

Well bees will be attracted to lots of flowers...its part of nature and pollination too.:)




We also have some pachysandra terminalis in the garden too....(north facing garden).

This is a low growing/spreading plant that likes damp and shade.

Its evergreen and has some nice white flowers on it.

Lovely as an evergreen ground cover around trees and tall shrubs.:)

Also planted some nice verbascums,shuttlecock ferns and evergreen grasses too.

The grasses will have nice flowers in summertime that hoverflys love....(beautiful little creatures to watch).:)

looksee

Don't think in terms of bedding plants or annuals. Anything of the geranium (pelargonum), petunia type thing is a waste of time in a damp and shady bed.

Go for ferns, hellebors, violets, primroses, English (not spanish) bluebells, - anything that naturally grows in a wooded spot or a hedgerow. Variagated vinca (periwinkle) would do well. Astilbe likes a damp spot, as do hostas - sadly snails like them too. Berginia. Lily of the Valley. Winter cyclamen. I will add more if I think of them.

Ferns are a bit hit and miss to start with, but when they get going they will do very well, harts-tongue is my favourite, but there are lots to choose from.

paddy147

You could also look at ornimental trees and baux balls too.

Ilex nellie stevens (holly) is also nice too and well suited to a north facing garden.

We have some large-ish nellie stevens holly ball trees in the garden (near the window) and they are lovely to look at.

Evergreen with red berries in wintertime.






So with all the previous posts and advice from other posters so far,theres plenty of planting/flowering options for a north facing garden and damp conditions.

paddy147

Also if you have some wall space available,then look into some nice climbers too.

You can get evergreen ones and also decidious ones that will have flowers aswell.

hairynipple

Would planks of wood be any use? I got my hands on a good few of them. Similar to the planks you'd use for scaffolding.

paddy147

hairynipple wrote: »

Would planks of wood be any use? I got my hands on a good few of them. Similar to the planks you'd use for scaffolding.

They are usually used for veggie beds on allotments...(2nd hand scaffold planks).:)

8 feet long,9 inchs tall and 2 inches thick.


I wouldnt be inclined to use them for a main garden border,as I dont know how long they would last and what sort of weight of soil they could hold up and back.


But 1 of the award winings garden at Bloom last year used old scaffold planks to great effect.

Some pics that I took of said garden.:)

paddy147

To the OP....

Helleborus are also a lovely feature for a north facing garden.
Evergreen plant with beautifull flowers that flower from december through to April.
Grows to around 12-15 inches tall....depending on exact type/variety of plant.


Got some nices ones this evening.....thanks to my girlfriend.:)

Slattsy

Some plants actually flower in winter?
Now I'm interested, very interested.

Stheno

Slattsy would you mind if I hijack/join this thread?

I'm in a position with a biggish garden, about 15 metres by ten with sleepers in place for a bed in a corner, and a small bed running the length of the back wall, and I'd love to do something to make it somewhere we'd enjoy.

I previously had a house with almost a third of an acre and know what plants I like, but am looking for opinions on what to do with this? And I'm several years out of practice.

As for plants that flower in winter Slattsy, in my old garden there wasn't a month that I went out and noticed change, be it holly, broom (cystisus I think is the latin name) that flowered first in spring, clematis, winter flowering jasmine, pyracantha, gosh every few weeks something else was busy making itself known.

Coming back to it now I've read through this thread and have a few questions if you don't mind me piggybacking?

Slattsy

God no.

I'm very interested now in finding out what plants will bloom through the winter top. I love different colours arriving as another fades.
Although it's a small enough area, I'd like contrasting plants spread out well amongst other variations.

Stheno

Slattsy wrote: »

God no.

I'm very interested now in finding out what plants will bloom through the winter top. I love different colours arriving as another fades.
Although it's a small enough area, I'd like contrasting plants spread out well amongst other variations.

Thanks a million

That's what I used have in a massive garden and am trying to reproduce cheaply in a small garden. I'm gonna have a think on my old garden and post up ideas, maybe you might get a few ideas for yourself?

Thanks again

have you decent walls/fencing?

Slattsy

Typical semi detached walls, only 4ft.

I want to plant some sort of bush around the perimeter that comes up just over the wall by another foot.

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

Typical semi detached walls, only 4ft.

I want to plant some sort of bush around the perimeter that comes up just over the wall by another foot.

What about a nice hedge as an alternative to a bush.:)

Oh and you buy Mypex by the meter too...any good garden centre will sell it by the meter.:)

Slattsy

It's not a huge garden length wise. It's about a car and a half long.

I can't say I've thought too much about the bushes for the perimeter much.
Should I do that before the flower bed?

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

It's not a huge garden length wise. It's about a car and a half long.

I can't say I've thought too much about the bushes for the perimeter much.
Should I do that before the flower bed?

Hedges can look fantastic in any space.....as long as you dont let get them too out of hand.
Plant a hedge that suits your own individual taste,your garden size and your planting scheme.

Id plant up any boundary bushes/hedging 1st and then plant your garden flowers/plants after that.

If you are going for anything bare root with regards to a hedge (beech,hornbeam,whitethorn,blackthorn and so on)....then you would need to get a move on and plant it within the next 2 weeks or so.:)

Slattsy

I want a good solid hedge that doesn't grow too out of control.
Something thick and bushy.

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

I want a good solid hedge that doesn't grow too out of control.
Something thick and bushy.

Well its all about what you would like and what your wife would like in the garden.

Evergreen or Deciduous.........

Everyone has different tastes.

I love Hornbeam,we planted it in our garden.......(we actually means my missus planted it,and I just looked on :pac::D).

Its well suited to the north facing garden and location and its tougher than beech too.

I also like that fact thats its not evergreen and it changes with the seasons.


Everyone has different tastes and one persons likes will not be another persons likes.:)

Slattsy

Is there a site out there that you can see what a bush looks like in summer and in winter.
I might not want a deciduous plant.

phragmities

Just a quick comment a raised bed of 1 m seems to be very high 30 cm is often more than high enough, particularly if you are worried about obscuring the view from the window with taller plants. If you are going to go this high it might be an idea to build a double seat into the structure or possibly keep some low sections and build in some raised areas to resemble taller planters along the structure. Or even a number of platforms on which planted ornamental If you have a single bed you may just be really replacing one wall with another. Just of a different material even tho it has plants on top. Also it is very important to maintain a moisture barrier between the soil in the bed and any part of the house it is touching.
And just a couple of things that beginners often don't spot. Always plant in singles or odd numbers: that is ones 3s 5s or 7s. Planting pairs of plants or positioning pots in pairs looks unnatural to the eye unless you are framing an entrance or feature.
It is also a bad idea to plant in straight lines always stagger your planting making sure that you dont have any straight unnatural lines unless its a low box hedge or similar! And stay away from symmetrical planting it only looks good from one angle unless you have several acres with a high single view point. As in French or Italian style stately homes!
Also 1m of soil can exert a lot of pressure on a boundary fence or wall so be aware of this also,
Hope this helps.

Slattsy

One mitre is too big. Just a foot I think.

padi89

I read it as 1 metre depth from back to front of the border. Hmmm, well if it is I'd say go bigger, as big ad you can really to allow for various heights and forms, it makes a world of difference.
Are you backing the flower border with a hedge? Just know that the ground will be very dry close to it in time do will limit what you can plant.
The best looking part of my garden the past couple of years were the annuals, months of color for a few euro, it means you have more time to think on permenent plants.

Slattsy

Well I may do the hedging first. Really not sure. I just had it in my head to do the flower bed first.

About a metre in depth and as high as the border as such.

paddy147

padi89 wrote: »

I read it as 1 metre depth from back to front of the border. Hmmm, well if it is I'd say go bigger, as big ad you can really to allow for various heights and forms, it makes a world of difference.
Are you backing the flower border with a hedge? Just know that the ground will be very dry close to it in time do will limit what you can plant.
The best looking part of my garden the past couple of years were the annuals, months of color for a few euro, it means you have more time to think on permenent plants.

I do be regulary in the garden with the garden hose watering down the hedgerows and making sure that the ground is allways watered.

Same too for the multi stem birch tree

The strong winds can and will also whip moisture out of the soil and dry it out fast...even in windertime.

No harm to throw down and in some fertilizer pellets or blood/fish/bonemeal when planting.:)

My girlfriend prunes back the hedgeing at specific times.

Thanks to her,we have a beautifull hornbeam hedgerow to show for it after only 3 years.

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

Well I may do the hedging first. Really not sure. I just had it in my head to do the flower bed first.

About a metre in depth and as high as the border as such.

So a meter out off the boundary wall?

And around 1 foot tall/high up off the ground??


Sounds nice.:)


You will need to place 2 railway sleepers on top of each other to get a foot tall raised bed.

A PT sleeper is 8 inches tall.

2 of them together (16 inches)will allow you to place the 1st sleeper around 4 inches below the existing surface.

This will give you as good level footing for building your raised bed area.:)

Slattsy

Not a meter for the flower bed.

The hedges against the wall, not too far out though as it's not a huge garden so I need the space.

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

Not a meter for the flower bed.

The hedges against the wall, not too far out though as it's not a huge garden so I need the space.

Well you better tell us what size you are on about so

You want the raised bed to be 1 foot tall in heightl..Yes???

What are you refering to when you say 1 meter deep then???

Thanks.:)

Slattsy

One foot high.
One metre deep. Maybe one and a half.
And about 4 metres wide.

I reckon I'm brutal at explaining things.

Slattsy

Something like this put with a different border:
http://www.google.ie/imgres?start=304&um=1&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4GGHP_enIE449IE450&biw=1366&bih=594&tbm=isch&tbnid=Sio_9J2KBOjtvM:&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/sets/72157630815963686/detail/&docid=MYtZ8k41-ADfTM&imgurl=http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7126/7674696040_0036ee2090_m.jpg&w=240&h=180&ei=mkMpUbCbAYmohAfi24GgDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=935&vpy=160&dur=1373&hovh=144&hovw=192&tx=131&ty=104&sig=110654412619427233021&page=13&tbnh=135&tbnw=183&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,i:67

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

One foot high.
One metre deep. Maybe one and a half.
And about 4 metres wide.

I reckon I'm brutal at explaining things.

So do you want to be able to walk around the entire raised bed area??.:)

PT railway sleepers would do that for you no problem at all.

10-12 of them would make you a nice raised bed of that size/sizes.:)

Easily built and held in place with some PT 3 x 2 wooden stakes and 100mm decking screws..:)

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

Not a meter for the flower bed.

The hedges against the wall, not too far out though as it's not a huge garden so I need the space.

Can you take a picture of your garden and post it here please.

Tell/Show us where you want this raised bed to be located.

Does the garden have a slope on it at all??

Do you want your raised bed to go with the slope of the garden or to be built as a perfectly level raised bed??





If you can post a picture...maybe then we can advize you better here,once we see what you have to work with.

Thanks.:)

Slattsy

Yeah will do.

How do upload a pic?

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

Yeah will do.

How do upload a pic?

When you go to pst a post..click on "go advanced" option.

Then press "manage attachment" and then browze/upload the image you have saved to your computer.


Then submit your post and the image will be attached with your post.


Simples.:)

Slattsy

Not so simple as how do I get it from phone onto computer?
I thought I was computer savvy lol

paddy147

Slattsy wrote: »

Not so simple as how do I get it from phone onto computer?
I thought I was computer savvy lol

With the lead that should be with your phone for attaching it to your PC/Laptop.:)

Or just borrow someones digital camera and stick an SD card into it.

Take picture,and then put SD card into the SD slot on the PC/Laptop.

Then save pic off of SD card to PC/Laptop and My Pictures/Documents.

Simples.:)

Stheno

Slattsy wrote: »

Not so simple as how do I get it from phone onto computer?
I thought I was computer savvy lol

If you've email on your phone, email it to yourself, open up the attachment on your pc, save it and then add it as an attachment to a post here.

Slattsy

I'll email it tomo morning. I've done it that way before.
Simples.

Any other pics? One of me in my boxers maybe?
Ha ha.

Cheers.

Slattsy

Ok, here's a pic of the garden taken from upstairs

Slattsy

There's about 2 foot missing from the side for some reason ??