Grindle's Blog

Hi Grindle, I've got to dig over a small part of my patch again. Although it was hard work the first time I enjoyed it and am looking forward to digging again. This time all the builder's rubbish won't be there so it should be easier and I'm contemplating double digging after seeing a video of Monty doing it - that probably says more about the smallness of the patch though :o)

I would recommend double digging. Although it is extra effort, it pays off in the long run. My gaden is VERY heavily planted but everything is doing fine as every border was double dug before any planting was done. It all gets a general feed every year in early spring now. The only border where I didn't do it had to be emptied and redug after six years.

I would seriously recommend that you draw a rough plan of each area so that when you plant, you know the height and space that each plant will reach. Also you have the opportunity to colour code (such fun!) I really enjoyed planting my new border, and will soon have the chance to create another one where we had to remove a bramble-infested escallonia hedge - it's going to be purple, white and gold :-)

all the borders that have been put in I've been able to dig them over well, a hard job as it's very stony, but I have noticed the plants that have been put in are doing much better than my last garden, I think the ground is pretty fertile here.
Spritz love the colour combi. I'm trying to get trees and shrubs establised first then I will move perennials into their final planting positions, it's nice at the moment just to have anything growing here.
Peter, don't you just hate builders rubbish :(