Hi,

My existing lawn goes right up to the side of my garage and I found it
hard to mow up to the side of it. So I have removed the lawn (2ft x
7ft) and have dug a hole about 1 spade depth. I then bought a couple
of large bags of top soil & 1 of manure.

I woke up this morning planning to empty all 3 bags in the hole & put
in a few plants. Sea Holley, berberis & some 60 bulbs (gladioli &
iris)

But with last nights rain & snow, the hole is full of water & doesn't
look to be going away. Its quite heavy clay!

Stupidly I emptied one of the bags into the hole thinking it would
soak up the water but that didn't seem to work so I have used a bucket
& emptied most of it out.

BUT does this mean it wont be any use as a flower bed once Its filled
in with soil?

Thanks for your help.

"tom" wrote in message
news
Hi,

My existing lawn goes right up to the side of my garage and I found it
hard to mow up to the side of it. So I have removed the lawn (2ft x
7ft) and have dug a hole about 1 spade depth. I then bought a couple
of large bags of top soil & 1 of manure.

I woke up this morning planning to empty all 3 bags in the hole & put
in a few plants. Sea Holley, berberis & some 60 bulbs (gladioli &
iris)

But with last nights rain & snow, the hole is full of water & doesn't
look to be going away. Its quite heavy clay!

Stupidly I emptied one of the bags into the hole thinking it would
soak up the water but that didn't seem to work so I have used a bucket
& emptied most of it out.

BUT does this mean it wont be any use as a flower bed once Its filled
in with soil?

Thanks for your help.


Better to plant Bamboo as they will love the moisture

On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 11:39:39 +0000 (UTC), "nambucca"
wrote:

I''m interested in bamboo for pots but thought against the idea of
using it in this boarder because I thought the roots may weaken the
garage wall foundations.

Better to plant Bamboo as they will love the moisture

On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 11:46:51 +0100, tom wrote:
I have jut read an article where it advises putting lime in the bottom
of the hole, than turning the turf I have removed upside down and
putting it back into the hole.

I also have a bit of builders rubble which I am thinking of lining the
hole with.

Will this help?
Hi,

My existing lawn goes right up to the side of my garage and I found it
hard to mow up to the side of it. So I have removed the lawn (2ft x
7ft) and have dug a hole about 1 spade depth. I then bought a couple
of large bags of top soil & 1 of manure.

I woke up this morning planning to empty all 3 bags in the hole & put
in a few plants. Sea Holley, berberis & some 60 bulbs (gladioli &
iris)

But with last nights rain & snow, the hole is full of water & doesn't
look to be going away. Its quite heavy clay!

Stupidly I emptied one of the bags into the hole thinking it would
soak up the water but that didn't seem to work so I have used a bucket
& emptied most of it out.

BUT does this mean it wont be any use as a flower bed once Its filled
in with soil?

Thanks for your help.

tom muttered:

Hi,

My existing lawn goes right up to the side of my garage and I found it
hard to mow up to the side of it. So I have removed the lawn (2ft x
7ft) and have dug a hole about 1 spade depth. I then bought a couple
of large bags of top soil & 1 of manure.

I woke up this morning planning to empty all 3 bags in the hole & put
in a few plants. Sea Holley, berberis & some 60 bulbs (gladioli &
iris)

But with last nights rain & snow, the hole is full of water & doesn't
look to be going away. Its quite heavy clay!

Stupidly I emptied one of the bags into the hole thinking it would
soak up the water but that didn't seem to work so I have used a bucket
& emptied most of it out.

BUT does this mean it wont be any use as a flower bed once Its filled
in with soil?

Thanks for your help.

Plant a load of moisture loving plants like in a bog garden, hostas, Iris
Siberica, bog primulas ferns, it will be wonderful )

"tom" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 11:46:51 +0100, tom wrote:
I have jut read an article where it advises putting lime in the bottom
of the hole, than turning the turf I have removed upside down and
putting it back into the hole.

I also have a bit of builders rubble which I am thinking of lining the
hole with.

Will this help?
Hi,

My existing lawn goes right up to the side of my garage and I found it
hard to mow up to the side of it. So I have removed the lawn (2ft x
7ft) and have dug a hole about 1 spade depth. I then bought a couple
of large bags of top soil & 1 of manure.

I woke up this morning planning to empty all 3 bags in the hole & put
in a few plants. Sea Holley, berberis & some 60 bulbs (gladioli &
iris)

But with last nights rain & snow, the hole is full of water & doesn't
look to be going away. Its quite heavy clay!

Stupidly I emptied one of the bags into the hole thinking it would
soak up the water but that didn't seem to work so I have used a bucket
& emptied most of it out.

BUT does this mean it wont be any use as a flower bed once Its filled
in with soil?

Thanks for your help.


Plant the bamboo in large deep pots with decent drainage holes .......this
way they dont run and cause trouble
Choose Black Bamboo or one of the other non invasive varieties

"Magwitch" wrote in message
...
tom muttered:

Hi,

My existing lawn goes right up to the side of my garage and I found it
hard to mow up to the side of it. So I have removed the lawn (2ft x
7ft) and have dug a hole about 1 spade depth. I then bought a couple
of large bags of top soil & 1 of manure.

I woke up this morning planning to empty all 3 bags in the hole & put
in a few plants. Sea Holley, berberis & some 60 bulbs (gladioli &
iris)

But with last nights rain & snow, the hole is full of water & doesn't
look to be going away. Its quite heavy clay!

Stupidly I emptied one of the bags into the hole thinking it would
soak up the water but that didn't seem to work so I have used a bucket
& emptied most of it out.

BUT does this mean it wont be any use as a flower bed once Its filled
in with soil?

Thanks for your help.

Plant a load of moisture loving plants like in a bog garden, hostas, Iris
Siberica, bog primulas ferns, it will be wonderful )


My thoughts too .. Dieramas ... maybe a gunnera too big and too tender!

In article , tom
writes
Hi,

My existing lawn goes right up to the side of my garage and I found it
hard to mow up to the side of it. So I have removed the lawn (2ft x
7ft) and have dug a hole about 1 spade depth. I then bought a couple
of large bags of top soil & 1 of manure.

I woke up this morning planning to empty all 3 bags in the hole & put
in a few plants. Sea Holley, berberis & some 60 bulbs (gladioli &
iris)

But with last nights rain & snow, the hole is full of water & doesn't
look to be going away. Its quite heavy clay!

Stupidly I emptied one of the bags into the hole thinking it would
soak up the water but that didn't seem to work so I have used a bucket
& emptied most of it out.

BUT does this mean it wont be any use as a flower bed once Its filled
in with soil?

Thanks for your help.

Last night's rain will take a day or so to drain away. If the lawn
against the garage wall was not a quagmire, then it'll be OK for a
flowerbed. If you are worried, you could raise the flower bed a few
inches by heaping the soil up - but watch out for any damp proof course.

When you come to plant up, don't plant any plants that say they need a
well drained position, or dislike winter wet. Your sea holly would be
happier elsewhere.

There's lots of other things than bamboo which would be happy there.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Sounds like my garden. I am on clay, and after it rains there are or were
puddles lying on the surface. You did not have to dig a hole. Three
suggestions:-

1) check where drainage from garage roof goes. That could put a lot of
water in one spot. I have ducted mine away to a gravel area.

2) If you are on clay it is worth improving the soil, with sharp
sand/grit./10 mil gravel, and digging in plenty of organic matter.

3) Turn it to your advantage by planting damp loving plants. I grow
hydrangea, astilbe, monada, perenial lobelia, lythrum, eupatorium etc. It
looks fantastic.

best of luck Peter

On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 20:38:28 GMT, "peterlsutton"
wrote:

Sounds like my garden. I am on clay, and after it rains there are or were
puddles lying on the surface. You did not have to dig a hole. Three
suggestions:-

1) check where drainage from garage roof goes. That could put a lot of
water in one spot. I have ducted mine away to a gravel area.
It all goes into a water butt that i use for the greenhouse.

2) If you are on clay it is worth improving the soil, with sharp
sand/grit./10 mil gravel, and digging in plenty of organic matter.
I have empteid my compost bin into the hole and mixed it in with the
topsoil as well as adding a bag of sharp sand. But it still seems very
wet as its just bucketed it down!!
3) Turn it to your advantage by planting damp loving plants. I grow
hydrangea, astilbe, monada, perenial lobelia, lythrum, eupatorium etc. It
looks fantastic.
I think that this is what i will do as I bought 2 astilbe from Netto
last week so I guess thats a good place for them, plus i have a fern
to plant as well. I was just a little worried about the garage
foundations being damaged.

best of luck Peter

Thanks for your help