Garden Make over

Doddy

I have just dug my garden up put in raised beds, patio's the works however I have no clue about planting plants or putting lawns down. At the moment every thing is a muddy mess could any one advise me on my next step? I have a garden plan with lovely expensive plants very nervous about planting this time of the year should I hold of until spring and if so when?
Also should I kill all weeds that are starting with round up or just dig in.

Sonnenblumen

Usually site clearance and ground preparation are scheduled at the initial stages of a project, doesn't sound like you've got the sequence correct or implementation plan ?

How can you complete groundworks if there are still weeds in the garden? And did you not know that weedkiller such as Roundup is not very successful at this time of year- temperatures falling, weeds not absorbing and also generally too wet.

In regards to planting, it is a good time to do planting, but no matter what time of year, proper ground preparation is an essential pre-requisite for successful planting.

Planting specs will determine what ground prep is required.

artieanna

This is the ideal time of year for planting shrubs and trees. Bareroot trees are also less expensive than container grown ones.

What is the soil type you are working with?

This time of year freshly dug ground can be sticky and wet, I reccomend picking out all the weeds you can and raking the soil to even it off.

Could you post your plan to give us an idea of what you are thinking of....

Doddy

Thanks Artieanna, for your helpful reply. It's a fertile clay soil. We haven't done a Ph test yet, but plan to & then adjust to our requirements, if required. The patio is complete & the sleepes for the raised beds are in place & ready for planting. We are at the research stage with the planting - hence the post!! We were going to wait until the new year anyway, to be sure we have things right.

It's a fairly extensive plan (for my novice standards anyway!)

Here's a list of what's on the plan (doc attached also)

Carex Evergold x 21
Phyllostachys Aurea (Bamboo) x 15
Dicsonia Antarctica (Australian fern) x 5
Acer Bloodgood x 3
Pittosphorum Tom Thumb x 3
Betula Jacquemontii Birch X 3
Enoymus Silverqueen x 3
Enoymus Elatus x 3
Hydranges Petiolaris x 2
Heuchera Plum Pudding x 2
Boston Ivy x 2
Prunus Cerisfera (Cherry Tree)
Levendula hitecote
Cordaline Australis Variegata
Crocosmia Lucifer
Convolvulus Cneorum
Lithodora Diffusa
Phormum Jasper
Doronicum
Acorus
Minaure Apple Trees


Any comments gladly appreciated.

Doddy (& Auds)

beolight

hard to see any details on attached jpeg

was curious so done some reading

1.japeneese grass

http://www.tesselaar.net.au/plantprofiles/carex_evergold.asp
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=S140

2. junglegiant bamboo

http://www.lewisbamboo.com/aurea3.html
http://www.junglegiants.co.uk/acatalog/Phyllostachys_aurea.html

4. red maple
http://www.tripleoaks.com/wpgdisplay.php?id=62
http://www.fujiyamagarden.com/Bloodgood.html

6.Whitebarked Himalayan birch/silver birch?

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/betula_jacqemontii.html
http://www.landform.ie/product_details.asp?botanical_name=betula%20pendula%20jacquemontii&plant_id=90
(good source for trees/shrubs)

7. silver queen

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/shrubs/euonymus_fortunei-silverqu.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/6407.shtml

8. burning bush

http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/2006/10/truth-about-burning-bush.html

9.

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=D370
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/397.shtml

10. plum pudding

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=a209
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=a209

11. boston ivy

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/savanna/plants/boston_ivy.htm
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/savanna/plants/boston_ivy.htm

12.cherry plum

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/prucer/prucer1.html
http://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductID=11378

Irish Gardener

Doddy wrote: »

I have a garden plan with lovely expensive plants very nervous about planting this time of the year

Doddy, contact your original garden planner.
Any horticultural consultant worth his/her salt will have carried out a PH test and selected plants/soil ammendments accordingly. And I have spotted one or two very PH fussy plants on the drawing.
The horticultural consultant should also furnish you with a process of works or at least run through this issue with you, as pointed out by Sonnenblumen.

Doddy

Thanks guys for the replies, all very helpful.

I tried to get in contact with the designer, however he's on holidays until January, so it will have to wait till then. Will let you know how I get on anyway.

Thanks again,
Doddy