The next priority is to decide how much space - if any - you want to devote to food growing, and to work out exactly where to site the vegetable plot and herb garden, if you want these areas.
Herb growing is becoming more popular, since not only are herbs used in most forms of cooking, but their medicinal properties are also being rediscovered. They grow in interesting shapes and the form, texture and colour of their leaves make them attractive plants. Many herbs, such as rosemary, purple sage, santolina, rue and golden balm, can be included in the mixed border as decorative additions or a herb garden can be sited on its own. But clearly it is sensible that herbs should be as close to the kitchen as possible. As many of them originate in scrub or downland, they can exist in fairly shallow poor soil.
To give some indication of the amount of space which vegetables take up: an area of 84 sq m (300 sq ft) would provide a family of four with sufficient lettuces, runner beans, peas, carrots and turnips in summer, and with leeks, cabbages and sprouts in winter. But of course great pleasure can be obtained from growing your own produce, even if you do not have enough space to make the enterprise really economic, and the fresh taste of homegrown vegetables is reward in itself.
Lawn running right up to the flower beds is attractive, though maintenance is easier when a line of paving runs along the edge, so that mowing stops about 400 mm (1 ft 3 in) short of the border. Convenience of mowing should be taken into account when planning areas of grass. Allow room to turn the mowing machine and, if you plan a grass slope, bear in mind the maximum gradient of 1 : 1 or 45 ˚ for cutting with a hand mower and 1 : 1 or 33 for a smaller power-driven machine.
Ground cover such as heather or ivy is an alternative soft ground surfacing, especially over areas which are too small or steep for lawn but where you want to keep maintenance to a minimum. The use of ground cover need not be restricted to filling in spaces between beds or within beds. It can he employed to create bold areas of pattern, possibly combined with paving stones. At this stage in your planning there is no need to decide on the exact varieties of trees, shrubs and plants.
If possible, allow enough room not only to get out of the car without landing in a rose bed, but also to wash the car down; do not forget provision for a water point and for drainage. If there is not room to turn the car round, you will need to leave clear lines of vision for reversing out.
Herb growing is becoming more popular, since not only are herbs used in most forms of cooking, but their medicinal properties are also being rediscovered. They grow in interesting shapes and the form, texture and colour of their leaves make them attractive plants. Many herbs, such as rosemary, purple sage, santolina, rue and golden balm, can be included in the mixed border as decorative additions or a herb garden can be sited on its own. But clearly it is sensible that herbs should be as close to the kitchen as possible. As many of them originate in scrub or downland, they can exist in fairly shallow poor soil.
To give some indication of the amount of space which vegetables take up: an area of 84 sq m (300 sq ft) would provide a family of four with sufficient lettuces, runner beans, peas, carrots and turnips in summer, and with leeks, cabbages and sprouts in winter. But of course great pleasure can be obtained from growing your own produce, even if you do not have enough space to make the enterprise really economic, and the fresh taste of homegrown vegetables is reward in itself.
Lawn running right up to the flower beds is attractive, though maintenance is easier when a line of paving runs along the edge, so that mowing stops about 400 mm (1 ft 3 in) short of the border. Convenience of mowing should be taken into account when planning areas of grass. Allow room to turn the mowing machine and, if you plan a grass slope, bear in mind the maximum gradient of 1 : 1 or 45 ˚ for cutting with a hand mower and 1 : 1 or 33 for a smaller power-driven machine.
Ground cover such as heather or ivy is an alternative soft ground surfacing, especially over areas which are too small or steep for lawn but where you want to keep maintenance to a minimum. The use of ground cover need not be restricted to filling in spaces between beds or within beds. It can he employed to create bold areas of pattern, possibly combined with paving stones. At this stage in your planning there is no need to decide on the exact varieties of trees, shrubs and plants.
If possible, allow enough room not only to get out of the car without landing in a rose bed, but also to wash the car down; do not forget provision for a water point and for drainage. If there is not room to turn the car round, you will need to leave clear lines of vision for reversing out.
0 comments:
Post a Comment