Design Advice

Question:

We have just moved to a village in Cambridgeshire where the garden hasn’t been touched for many years. All we’ve done so far is cut the grass and clear away the brambles to reveal a small stream and a field. The view is great but we don’t know what to do next. We’d like to save the grass, as we have rabbits and feel a new lawn might be a waste of money. Also there is a high terrace next to the house which needs to be lowered. What should we do first?

Answer:

As a rule you should always deal with hard landscaping first. This will avoid any work carried out on the planting being ruined by workmen. Therefore I would have someone in to lower the terrace and carry out any additional hard landscaping you may need. You also need to consider the brambles which have a habit of reappearing if not dealt with properly. Although this may take some time it will be worth it in the long run. There are two ways you can deal with them, one a lot easier than the other! The easiest way of dealing with them is to let them grow a little and apply a weed killer containing glyphosate e.g. Weedol 2 – An economical weed killer that can be used all round the garden except on lawns, unless you want to kill them. Weedol doesn’t harm the soil so planting can be carried out immediately after treatment but keep away from children and pets. 12 sachet carton treats 204m?. Please ensure you read the manufacturer’s instructions before using. If you don’t fancy the thought of using weed killer you can dig over the whole area and remove the plants and roots by hand. Don’t be tempted to use a rotavator because this will chop up and spread the roots far and wide from which the brambles will re-grow. Once the area has been cleared you can begin planting up, however, can I suggest that you prepare the site very well before planting. Dig over the area and water well, cover with a weed suppressing membrane. Cut crosses in the fabric and plant through the holes to help suppress any future weeds. If you don’t want to replace your lawn you can carry out some routine maintenance to help it look its best. Visit my lawn page for more details http://gardeningregister.co.uk/NonProductPages/Articles/Lawns/lawns_home.htm