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Ask a Gardening QuestionGarden Design: Garden Design QuestionsNew Build not coming together!

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New Build not coming together!

#1 · 5th February 2024, 2:58 pm

Hi all, I'm a relatively new gardener so my knowledge is heavily 'google' informed.

We moved into our new build in 2019 and had a big square lawn on hard clay soil, heavily laden with left over rubble. So it's parched. I've added mulch, top soil and have been digging it over spring/autumn.

I've added a few shrubs over the last 24 months (2 red robins together, hedge veronica, lavenders, smoke tree bush, mock sweet orange) but it just seems very disjointed. It's a L shaped border and these shrubs are Left to Right, not clustered. Is this the problem? Should I buy more of the same shrubs and 'cluster them' to bring it all together?

The other oddity is that our dog has 2 spots that we are 'not allowed' to plant anything. He simply removes whatever it is... rose climber, conifer you name it. Not allowed. This adds to the gappy, disjointed feel of the garden.

Any ideas are most welcomed!! Thank you.

#2 · 5th February 2024, 3:05 pm

Hi @grottie2000

Do you have some photos so we can all take a look?

Thanks

Lee Garden Ninja

#3 · 5th February 2024, 3:42 pm

I shall take some this weekend when it is daylight (I work til dark). Also, please bear in mind it's colder months' so some of the plants are without leaves.. but yes, I will gather some images. Thank you,

#4 · 5th February 2024, 4:08 pm

I'm keen and not very patient - sent husband out to photograph!!! ha!

Attached Left to Right. Left - lot's of gappy area. Cherry tree failed to take, currently has a young climbing rose on it's first rung of the climbing fence trail. Then we have the dark green Ceonothus (?) which seems happy. Then I have Hydrangea (dormant), lavendar (woody) and a Sweet Mock Orange (fails to flourish). Then in the left corner, red robins, also failing to flourish (working hard to get anywhere). The middle photo shows a dormant climber area for some clematis, with a which never seem to grow and a fuscia at the base. This autumn I have mulched the area and am hopeful that next year i'll see something grow beyond 6inch. To the Right - Davidii Virburnum, Hedge Veronica, Common Pear Tree and a young lavender. I'm trying to create height (pear tree and red robin) but nothings happening, it's all very slowwwww. These were all plants 2/3 years ago (with the exception of those mentioned as 'young').

I've read your blog on common mistakes and I'm thinking I could do with deeper borders. Add in more of the same shrubs..? Any thoughts to share?