The section of the property alongside the east of the shed was a bit of a mess. This is the area I look out on when in the kitchen so I have decided to set too and see if I can clean it up a little so it is a more pleasant view. It initially had a full row of large fir trees along the boundary. These made it a really dark and depressing place to be and also stopped the sun getting to my solar panels until around mid-morning. I started removing them last year but this will be an ongoing job over a few seasons to get rid of them all.
Water Tank Dead Zone
There was a small area between the water tank and a small shed that was full of weeds and had accumulated a heap of rubbish, old tyres and other bits and pieces. This space got a fair bit of morning sun in the summer but was in shade for most of the day for the rest of the year. I had to leave access through the centre so I could check inside the tank if needed.
After cleaning out the rubbish and weeds I planted a run of Disporopsis arisanensis alongside the tank and Hostas along the shed. In the cente of the shed wall I affixed a mesh panel and planted a Clematis Barbara Jackman which being a group 2 Clematis, should give a nice show through spring and summer once established.
The area was finished off with a good layer of wood chip mulch to help reduce weed growth and to retain moisture. The hope is that these plants will establish themselves over autumn and winter to give a good show in spring and summer this year. A bit of fencing to keep out the chickens and rabbits until they are established finished it off.
Water Tank North Side
The area to the north of the water tank was also pretty desolate. There were a couple of tree ferns which were nice but very neglected and the rest of the area was just compacted clay, rocks and weeds. Spent a bit of time cleaning it up and removing the rocks and weeds. I then dug a small trench in front and installed some garden edging using edging stakes. Laid a couple of buckets of good quality soil on the area and planted two groups of Gladiolus at the back. The varieties were Gladiolus Zapora and Gladiolus Oriental Lady, both of which have pink and red tones. In the foreground a few Iris Tectorum were planted which are fairly low growing with lovely purple flowers. Finished all of it off with the obligatory bit of fencing to keep the rabbits and chickens out so now I just have to sit back and wait for spring/summer to see if it was effective or not.
Kitchen Window Garden
This area had a few Peruvian Lilies planted in it a couple of years ago just to put something there but they just got out of control and took over everything. Time for a clean up and a change. Biggest job was cleaning out the old plants and I know there is no way I managed to get all of the lily bulbs out. I can see this will be an ongoing battle for a while in spring. There were a few Geum that had taken well on part of the border and these were dug up and relocated toward the rear of the garden as they grow fairly bushy and large and have a display of lovely orange flowers held high on tall spires in late spring. A leggy Snowball tree was also there so this was pruned right back to see if I could get it to bush out a bit in spring.
Once the clean out was done a couple of buckets of good quality soil was added and a Clematis Andromeda planted at the back to grow up a couple of old frames that had been bolted to the wall. These have an abundance of large white flowers with a pink bar on each tepal for an extended flowering period from spring through summer. I had a few pots of Campanula Superba lying around so these were planted along the front as a border. These have a striking deep-purple flower and should look good once established. I still need to think about the rest of the free space but I had an old bird bath lying around so put that in the area as well. I will wait for a bit of inspiration for the rest to come later. Top everything off with a good deep layer of mulch and of course a bit of fencing to stop the rabbits and chickens as usual finishes it off.
Boundary Fence Garden
This area has been something I want to get cleaned up and changed as it is just awful. It is on the eastern side of the property and had originally been planted with some fir trees which which had grown huge and were shutting out most of the sun until close to midday. These had to go as it made a dark and depressing area with no sunlight and also did not allow my solar array on the roof to receive sunlight until mid-morning. This is going to be a long project over a few years as I cut them down.
I had cut down about five of the trees at the northern end of the tree line last year to give me a starting point and planted a few bits and pieces but the rabbits had decimated them all. This year I have focused on getting the rest of the boundary trees down and doing up one section by fencing it off to give anything I plant a fighting chance at survival. A run of weed mat was place along the fence line and attached around 20cm up the fence to deter the rabbits from burrowing under. A thick layer of cardboard salvaged from old boxes was laid over the rest of the area and then covered with a good layer of mulch. A run of Callistemon Endeavour were planted along the fence line at around 2m spacing as I love native plants and they will hopefully bring in some of the native honeyeaters. Between each of these I have planted some Prostanthera which are another floriferous native plant. The idea is that the Callistemon will grow to around 2.5 to 4m in height and give some privacy from next door and a lovely show of red blooms as a bonus. Their height will not be enough to affect the levels of sunlight on the property. The Prostanthera will grow to around 1.5m and bush out to give a mass show of purple flowers and fill in the spaces low down between the trees.
This section curves out a bit so a row of Dianthus has been planted on the border and I am growing some Lupins for planting out when they are a suitable size. Should make a colourful display in a couple of years and provide my newly acquired bees with a great source of nectar.
Funny how things go. After trying with the Callistemon for the boundary screen which are a favourite of mine that didn’t make it through the frosts we get in spring I had to find something else. I have opted to use an evergreen Magnolia Little Gem as these are good for Zone 9 which is where the property is so I am hoping they fare a bit better. Biggest issue for them is the wind.