CREATING A PICTURE OF PERFECTION
Notes from a small A dominant shrub has had to go so that a new tree can become a vision of loveliness!
SFollow Naomi’s progress as she gets to grips with her tiny urban garden on heavy Bristol clay tarting work on any garden means changing the established order of things. In a mature garden it may mean maintenance and replanting, while for a newbuild, breaking ground and ge ing something – anything – growing is the order of the day.
In this small garden the existing plants were mainly left alone for a while, while I concentrated on transforming the fake grass desert into habitable, plantable space. Yet they kept on growing and, over time, my Spiraea japonica went from a welcome splash of green to a great, hairy triffid that defied restraint. It sprawled sideways at head height from the raised bed, pushing passers-by off the path and shaking drips to anyone heading to the compost bin. So, reluctantly, out it had to come. But its removal has heralded a new dawn for that area of the garden. Raised beds, particularly if based on a hard surface, essentially act like large pots, so this is a prime opportunity to refresh the now-weary and depleted growing medium with a wellmixed combination of leaf mould, top soil and a li le fresh compost and grit, too. The idea is to provide a mix that’s nice and freedraining, but which also has good water and nutrient retention. This should give the surrounding planting a boost, as well as ge ing new additions off to a good start.
I’m replacing the dominant shrub with one of my favourite crab apple trees, Malus robusta ‘Red Sentinel’ which, planted now, will hopefully se le in and get going vigorously in spring. It makes a small, spreading tree but, because it has a clear stem, it should eventually do its thing above head height. I can also prune it fairly flat along the line of the fence, so it’ll make the garden path much more user-friendly.
With flowers and long-lasting fruit, it also has several seasons of interest and, as it gets bigger, it will be a lovely focal point but, unlike its predecessor, it will be tall and airy enough to let light and water onto the soil beneath. The existing planting will go back in and hopefully do much be er without the fearsome competition from the spiraea.
And, with the roses fed, improved soil and the tree underplanted as a vision of woodland loveliness, very soon this corner will be pre y as a picture!