Back Garden - Phase 1.2

P and I have had another very busy day! I'm not sure if you guys remember, but this is what the garden looked like last year when we first moved in:


The trees and hydrangeas were in full bloom but the rest of it was just a large expanse of grass.

After talking to several colleagues and friends who have much more experience with gardening than we do, we decided to dig out two main planting areas. The sunny spot is by the left fence so that is where we will place our bench while the right side is much shadier. We dug out shapes that are both easy to maintain but that will add a bit of interest i.e. not just straight borders. P also nailed up two trellis on each side of the fence so that we can grow some climbers to add height to the garden. We will have a mixture of shrubs of varying heights and bedding plants with lots of flowers.


Digging up planting beds is surprisingly hard work. Just doing the two sides took us both six hours plus two trips to the dump to throw away grass, soil and garden waste. I added in compost to the earth and tossed it about to aerate it. We are also not supposed to plant in it for a few weeks as you have to give it time to settle and for the nutrients to seep in. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. But we welcome the break, that's for sure!

You'll see from the more detailed pic that we also gave the shed its first coat of primer. I have tacked up a shabby chic rose fabric in the window. A friend of ours suggested making the shed a feature in the garden as it is so huge. After another coat of primer, we will paint it a light duck egg blue colour. I'll also arrange some potted plants around it but as we are going on holiday soon, we will only plant once we are back.


It will look much prettier in a few months once the plants are in and everything is in full bloom. We are still in early spring after all so the trees are just about starting to bud now. We are not planting close to the house as we may add on a conservatory next year. If we do, the patio will move outwards and eat into the garden. I don't want to bust our guts landscaping, then have to dig it all up later!

To complete Phase 1, we need to finish the painting and lay down the stepping stones which we have yet to buy.

It's 6.35pm local time and both P and I are knackered! I am yawning away. :-) We are still going to our friends' house for dinner. She is making laksa, yummy! Thank goodness they live close by and I don't have to cookzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........