Blog: Slow and steady wins the race!
Revamping a small front garden can be daunting and often a paradox: it’s our face to the world, yet we often ignore it, and I’m guilty of that sin! Our house faces a busy main road, not somewhere you want to linger. It’s a place that’s passed through, usually without thought. As a contrast, our side/back garden is completely enclosed and private, and that’s where we spend our time and effort.
The state of the garden is all my own fault – a combination of bad planting decisions and ill health. The offending plants that overran everything were ivies, Paddy’s Pride and Hedera canariensis. They were originally planted to cover the low boundary wall decades ago. Why, I have no idea, as it faces south – I could have my pick of most climbers. Although slow to start, once they got going, they were absolutely rampant. They started to climb into the lovely weeping cherry, and while that gave us more privacy, it cut off light and swamped the small tree. Two or three years of illness and not cutting back excess growth led to a ridiculous situation.
Facing the problems
Another ‘red flag plant’ was the Phormium. Planted over 20 years ago, it was the huge type you see on council roundabouts, trendy at the time, when no one knew how big they grew. They’re very hard to cut back, having very fibrous, fleshy, strap-like leaves. The only good thing about the rampant ivy is that it covered the Phormium, which started to rot, making it much easier to remove.
Another problem with the garden is that it is covered by a foot of large-gauge gravel, with thick plastic underneath it – a nightmare to plant into. It long predates me, and with the garden facing south, plants can bake. This surface was almost completely covered by weeds. Where to start?
How to clear an overgrown garden
Revamping a small front garden can be done at any time, but it is easier in winter, when plants are dormant. Like any task that seems overwhelming, the key is not to look at the job as a whole. Concentrate on one small thing – filling one rubbish bag, etc. I began by pruning the berberis and dogwood. This created more room to move around. As I can’t stand for long, I have to be able to use a small garden seat for prolonged work.
Then came the ivy – a horrendous job. Some of the stems were as thick as my wrist and needed my Bosch cordless saw to cut. On the subject of tools, this job would have been impossible without my STIGA cordless cutters and continually sharpened secateurs. At the same time, as the Phormium was uncovered, it was removed. I made it a rule to fill one bag a day whenever I could get outside. I ended up filling 38 large sacks, which filled my partner’s work van to the ceiling!
Lastly, came the weeding and new planting. Now it’s a matter of keeping the new and replanted specimens watered until established, and regularly raking the gravel, as lots of weed seeds are germinating.
Revamping a small front garden – Other ‘problem’ plants that were kept
- A cream climbing rose: Planted far too close to the front door, this was cut back, moved to an open area with an umbrella framework to train it over.
- Tall purple Berberis: Planted over 30 years ago, what I thought was a small shrub turned out to be a monster! However, it takes hard pruning well, so it’s been cut back to 4ft.
- Acanthus mollis (bear’s breeches): Another early choice, I love its glossy, large evergreen leaves and unusual, upright purple and white flower spikes. However, once established, they are impossible to move. The deep, brittle roots readily form new plants from the tiniest of slivers. I chose to remove a little of this patch, but left the rest.
- Self-seeded bronze fennel: I love these airy, tall plants, but most had appeared too close to the path. Large clumps were removed, split and replanted in the new bare area.
- Self-seeded foxgloves: Replanted on the shady side of the path.
- Variegated dogwood: Allowed to get far too big, this attractive shrub has been reduced to four main stems carrying cloud-pruned tops.
Surviving plants
An old red rose, cotoneaster, and the weeping cherry now have space to grow and be seen at their best. Three Ebony blackcurrant bushes, left over from an attempt years ago to have a productive front garden, had a decent pruning. Path edging of chives, golden marjoram and lady’s mandle were split and replanted where necessary.
The shady side of the path was replanted when a new fence was put in three years ago. Planting here includes climbing rose Woolerton Old Hall, clematis Taiga, lavender, foxgloves and a self-seeded rose of Sharon.
Revamping a small front garden – New plants
In the bare spot where the Phormium was, I’ve planted the hydrangea Fiesta, an eye-catching purple and pink. This is next to the replanted cream rose and bronze fennel, so there’s a long flowering period and plenty of different leaf forms and colour.
There is also a new dwarf Buddleja Butterfly Candy Little Ruby near the front door, where the rose was, reaching a maximum of 90cm. Its hot pink-red flowers are loved by pollinators. It will enjoy the full sun and well-drained soil.
Change like this doesn’t happen overnight – this took three months, with help from Gary and Vanessa. It’s one of the most satisfying projects I’ve done. Seeing the beauty of the weeping cherry in full bloom out of my front window has made all of the grafting worth it.
