Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 May 29, 2010 5:09 pm We've got 2 areas where I was hoping to plant hellebores & the like. They face south & east. However, the existing 'soil' (for want of a better description) is pretty much rubbish. Also, there is pretty much no 'soil' underneath. Obviously, we need to import soil. In summary, the depth of any imported soil won't be enough to support anything much at all Unfortunately, we can't build up the beds much because of the brick weep holes. South bed : Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ East bed : Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Has anyone got any suggestions for plants that would survive with little soil ?? I am stumped. Can I say though, that I am not a fan of succulents. Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 2May 29, 2010 5:51 pm I think long term the only way of getting successful plants in that is to put in some elbow grease and improve whats there. Read some of Fu's posts on improving soil- loosen the whole area up, add organic components, cultivate through. The site soil you have there is probably the sub-soil as a result of the depth of the excavation in your site cut, therefore not much topsoil left. It will be poor draining and plants put there will probably not last long. And digging it out and just replacing with imported will mean the roots will hit a wall once they hit that hard patch again. Better to improve what's there and have plants that grow successfully Planned Landscape Constructions http://www.plannedlandscape.com.au Find us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= ... 9907611509 Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 3May 29, 2010 6:40 pm Yes, I realise that PL. Sorry, didn't explain myself properly . What I'm saying is that we've hit a hard layer (possibly sandstone) underneath the c**p that you can see. It's just too difficult to dig up, if at all possible . The good soil we bring in to dump on top, won't be very deep. We can't build it up because of the weep holes. So all I can come up with is a pebble garden with plants than can survive in minimal soil depth. But what plants ? Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 4May 29, 2010 7:49 pm If you think it's impossible to dig and improve then how about putting those plants you have (Dracaena) in some nice ceramic pots, strategically placed and maybe pebble (or mulch) the beds. Perhaps use the 3 sizes of pebbles for some interest? I would add some more plants in nice pots perhaps some smaller ones in groups of say 3? The South bed might be nice with a collection of bromeliads in nice pots. I would be thinking of things with an interesting form and shape and some colour, just to add interest to the area. I think that it would be nice. That's just what I would do, I am sure others will have different ideas. edit - typos www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 5May 29, 2010 8:11 pm How about a nice trough filled with Hellebores since you were hoping to have them there (South side) ? www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 6May 29, 2010 9:15 pm I was hoping you'd reply TM . Guess what ?? My DD (the one you met) suggested I do just that with the Dracaenas & pebbles and she doesn't garden My worry is my poor track record with pot plants - I forget to water them I adore hellebores TM & the trough idea is a thought . Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 9May 31, 2010 12:07 pm I'm hopeless with watering pots too, but my outlaws have a wonderful reticulation system with tiny thin lines dripping into their many pots. I don't know how they did it exactly, just wanted to say it's very possible. Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 10May 31, 2010 2:01 pm Hi englyn, I did think of this. Great idea if the pots are not high. However, I'm looking at 2 tall pots, maybe 1metre high. To have a watering system, it would have to be up on the wall of the house & that wouldn't look good. Unless, someone has a better idea. Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 11May 31, 2010 5:39 pm What about improving the soil & planting native ground cover / rockery plants, they would not need a deep soil. Eremophilia 'Kalbarri Carpet', Grevillia 'Gingin Gem',Callistemon "Rocky rambler,or in the southern one Viola hederacea. Is that a rainwater tank next to the first bed ? Sure you could rig up a dripper of that, just a matter of turning a tap. Or if you go the pots you could route the line on the ground and have a riser behind the pots to the drippers in the pots to hide it ? Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 13May 31, 2010 6:46 pm Just a totally random comment: I really like your bricks, Southies. Sorry, that's no help with your problem at all. Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 14May 31, 2010 7:18 pm OK, now my brain has kicked in.... what about some large planters - kind of long rectangular jobs or something? Steel, timber or ceramic...? Or do a cheap painted terracotta one like my herb planters. The plants would still need watering, but if the planters are nice and big, they'd hold water longer than most pots. You can sit them out from the wall a bit, so no worries about blocking the weep holes. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 15May 31, 2010 7:20 pm themax How about a nice trough filled with Hellebores since you were hoping to have them there (South side) ? www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 16May 31, 2010 7:24 pm themax themax How about a nice trough filled with Hellebores since you were hoping to have them there (South side) ? OK, maybe my brain hasn't quite kicked in yet. I've had a very bad day..... Re: Horrid Garden Bed Soil 18May 31, 2010 8:12 pm kek Just a totally random comment: I really like your bricks, Southies. Sorry, that's no help with your problem at all. so do I kek - I like that kind of random comment Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade I am not sure whether Perth has its own way of doing things in regards to this. Most of Perth has class A (sandy soil), except for some areas near rivers or hills. 2 13107 We were lucky in that our old house was so small (86 square metres) compared to the new house, they were able to take enough readings around the old backyard house before… 8 37160 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair I'm in WA and our sandy soils make drainage a bit easier but this is what I'd be doing. Dig down to your footings and let the wall dry out. Clean it all well by brushing… 1 5197 |