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Gardening

New house garden advice

(33 Posts)
Shez1955 Tue 09-Apr-19 15:28:17

My daughter has just moved into a new house. Large rear garden that has been turfed. The lawn slopes down on the back and on one side (sunniest part). The other two sides are quite shady. I want to move 2 shrubs from her old garden to plant on sunny side. Any advice on preparing planting space for these? Also suggestions for two trees to plant in the back border.

SpringyChicken Wed 10-Apr-19 22:35:04

Shezz, whatever you eventually plant, spend some money on improving the soil first with plenty of compost or manure. The plants will grow so much better for it and it will be money well spent.

Smurf44 Thu 11-Apr-19 03:04:51

Shez55
Lots of good advice here. Do NOT plant any sycamore or Eucolyptus trees! I have removed thousands of self-set tiny sycamore seedlings in the last 30+ years. Seeds will grow anywhere and everywhere, even in the smallest crack in a wall or path, and soon become a major problem. The trees are far too big for any normal modern garden and the roots are as wide as the tree and can ruin house foundations etc over time. My son has a eucalyptus tree (very cheap to buy) planted by the builder, which grows very fast and is also far too tall for a small modern garden. A friend had to remove his when the Eucolytus roots destroyed his drains - very expensive! Be warned. A small pretty tree may grow to over 100 feet tall and become a major problem! Eg Cupressus × leylandii are definitely to be avoided. Often planted as cheap, fast growing hedges, they can grow to be much taller than your house, and so wide they kill any plant life growing near-by as they suck all the moisture from the soil.
Definitely research any bush or tree BEFORE buying to avoid problems later.

Doversole Thu 11-Apr-19 08:21:54

If it’s feasible (might not be in the OP’s case) better to wait till late autumn/early winter to transplant or plant a tree. The ground is still warm so,the roots will grow, but the top of the tree is placing less demand on the roots for water, and there is more chance of rain so less chance of the newly planted tree drying out.

My suggestion: standard cotoneaster - not too big, year round interest.

Good luck!

loopyloo Thu 11-Apr-19 09:50:20

is there a patio area anywhere? Before you do any planting is there somewhere that could be levelled for a seating area?

Suzyhea56 Thu 11-Apr-19 18:23:45

I have a beautiful acer tree which will be 16 years old, would it be possible to move it, as I’m hoping to be moving house really soon

littleflo Thu 11-Apr-19 20:06:00

Do it now and put it into a pot. I had a garden makeover two years ago and moved lots of plants and trees.

Water it really well and put it into a pot big enough for the roots then you can just replant when you move.

craftyone Fri 19-Apr-19 05:50:58

first check that she has not got any covenants of tree heights, it is quite common in new builds to have a restriction over 2m

A lilac and a crabapple or a small rown tree