Issue 17A Garden From Scratch

COLUMNIST: ANDY PEASGOOD
A Garden From Scratch - Two Years OnTwo years of building and creating my new build garden has been nothing short of sheer pleasure, and nature’s perpetual sequences should allow for many more years to come.
The garden is real life cinema - honest, brutal, inspiring, and gripping. It gives in abundance for short periods of time, only to then take it away with just a silhouette and memory left behind. It is truly remarkable.
It Began with the SoilI began with several ‘areas’ of soil. Compacted clay was the core and when dug into, it was like a pass the parcel of builders’ surprises. The most common artefact found in my soil was the nozzles from silicone tubes, alongside various metal objects, a rather large metal attachment for some machinery, and an even larger portion of an old wooden telephone pole mast. All swept under the carpet, or should I say turf! This is where I had to start and I would recommend anyone to start with the soil.
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Drainage was key for me, and the landscapers I employed installed a perforated piping system that concluded in a sump in the bottom corner of the garden. It has been well worth it as I often see people asking on various forums about what to do with their turf which is now water logging since installation when the landscaper advised that there was no need for drainage. It is a real shame for those having that trouble who now have to pay out double for the issues to be rectified. So make drainage one of the first points of exploration.
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Our landscapers were employed for excavation, drainage, and laying of the path and patio only. Everything after that was, and still is, done by me. On our 8x6 metre plot, the landscapers work finished up within 5 days. It was quick work and it was lovely to have a patio to sit on so I could start enjoying the space. This helped me feel the garden and make more informed choices and vitally, it allowed my daughter to enjoy being outside safely.
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Soil ImprovementThe first real project I undertook was to dig out the borders - my back is still angry with me for this. Whatever planting scheme I was going to choose, I knew that was the opportunity to improve the soil as there was no planting in the ground. Armed with a spade, I dug out all the rear garden borders by hand and mixed in organic matter. To improve this I also bought some Lob Worms from an online retailer to put back into the garden so that they could take the organic matter around the borders.
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Prepped with the solid foundation of a garden, it was now time for me to be a gardener.
The Working AreaA dividing fence (post and rail style), sub base, gravel, potting shed, and raised vegetable beds were installed into the rear portion of the garden and soon took on the name of the ‘Working Area’. In our first year we grew baby carrots, baby corn, and salad leaves. There was a lot of work yet to do in the garden and we did not want to overwhelm ourselves.
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The following year we grew the bean ‘Purple Teepee’, raspberries, and salad leaves again. This year we will fine tune what we will seasonally eat as a family.
Planting and ProjectsIn the first spring I planted geum, nepeta, achillea, echinops, veronicastrum and verbena which soon created a rich tapestry of colour and shape, whilst Luzula nivea and heuchera are happy in some of the shadier spots.
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My personality does not see me sitting still for long and I am always on the lookout for the next project, and they soon came. In no particular order:

Sedum green roof on the potting shed

Wildlife wall

Two small container garden patches

Solar lantern lighting

Affordable privacy on fence panels

Two new cottage borders around the house

A walkway with bare root hawthorn hedging

A structure for climbing roses

Herb shelving

6One may look at my garden and say surely that is it, but it never will be, and I have barely even touched upon the vertical spaces yet which are vital for smaller gardens.
Advice to Get StartedIt is a sheer pleasure, but if I were to give some starting advice, I would say this:

before beginning any project, sit in your garden, watch the sun, and note where the light pools throughout the day as this may dictate where your seating areas will be as well as any raised vegetable beds

think about drainage, it could be a potential issue that may be difficult to rectify later on

some plants in containers can be useful tools as you can move them around the garden when you are deciding where you want your borders to be

think of the garden’s structure, and with this you will come to trees and shrubs which ideally should be planted before any herbaceous plants go in

do not underestimate the power of organic matter on your borders annually

and finally stop, look, and listen. The sound of bird song at dawn to the movement of the flower stems in the breeze creates the space that looks after nature and you.

Enjoy your garden, for it is tomorrow.
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AndyPeasgoodProfileAndy Peasgood is a former Principal Dancer with Scottish Ballet and a keen gardener. His performance career is fast-paced, and he finds balance in the garden with particular interests in planting for wildlife.In his regular column, Andy takes us on the journey of creating ‘A Garden From Scratch’. Follow more of Andy’s garden on his Instagram feed at @andypeasgood.Scotland Grows 17NavigationContentsEditor's WelcomeWhat's Gorgeous in the Garden?Quercus Garden PlantsThe Language of GardeningWool PotsA Planting Scheme For WildlifePlanting with Nature BookEasy-going AquilegiaSow Amazing AnnualsEmpathy RootgrowKeep your Hosta HappyHortiwoolHere Comes Hayfever SeasonQwickhose CompetitionA Garden From Scratch - Two Years OnPimp Your Garden CompetitionA Perennial BorderFeature Your GardenScone Palace Garden Fair 2023Scone Palace Garden Fair TicketsDesign a Kitchen GardenScotland Grows ShowHerb Growing PlansGlendoick Garden CentreGrow Your BusinessWild Garlic SeasonNo Room for Raised BedsLet’s Talk TomatoesCome and Chat About PlantsScotland Grows WebsiteWildly Edible BrambleScotland Grows TestimonialStarter Crop List for Aspiring Veg GrowersBuild Raspberry Support Structures from PalletsMenstrie Community GardenThe Indonesian CookLiberate Your LawnAll Change at the Top in The CaleyScottish Garden Design Competition FinalistsTackle the Decline in Scotland’s Iconic SongbirdsTop 5 Air-Purifying Houseplants for your BedroomScotland Grows SubscriptionListen to Your BodyPerthshire MagazineJobs AheadWhat's On In ScotlandThe Last WordNext IssueArchives