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[CLKD]

It's sad - I would like to move from here but won't leave my garden and ponds  but eventually, push will come to shove.  I didn't see the link you mention but read over the weekend about how someone needed to leave as the garden was becoming a chore.

[dahliagirl]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08y6792/gardeners-world-2017-episode-16

It didn't work very well because I glued 'link' to the url 

I want to put new shrubs in but my husband doesn't because they will cause work in future years...........  I think he wants a flat lawn and a wall. 

[purplenanny]

dahliagirl, thank you for posting the link. It was so interesting and very thought inspiring. She is so right about the builders feet - made me chuckle!
PN x

[CLKD]

Do you need your husband for the digging part, if not .........  I am 'into' hydrangeas currently 

[dahliagirl]

I need him to take the old ones out too    (leylandii, mostly  )

[CLKD]

Oh get rid of Leylandi certainly.  Then decide ;-)

[dahliagirl]

Oh I can't wait 

The downside is that it will reduce our screening from next door considerably until something grows.  There are old deciduous shrubs staying there - Philadelphus, Weigela, and Deutzia.  I am hoping to do it in Sept, give the new ones some time to establish then hope they romp away first thing in the Spring.

I have lined up: ligustrum (privet, but you can get some nice varieties and it will grow fast where needed), Viburnum tinus (Eve Price), Eleagnus (variegated), irish yew (might be a bit slow) and I have already planted a Pittosporum with bright green variagations which is about 3ft now.

I need to think of some smaller, pretty, evergreens now.  If any one has any ideas it is for Really Dry soil.

[bramble]

Once the conifers are out, dig plenty of compost or manure into the soil. It will have become impoverished with the conifers.

[CLKD]

I agree bramble.  Don't plant too close to the other shrubs as they will spread, I made that mistake  . Hostas do well in shade/damp but disappear in the Winter and I forget and generally put a fork through them ......

Is there a fence between the gardens?  I have 2 spindle trees which are good for the birds, our Yew tree was rescued from a hedgerow years ago and is now huge!  Needs taking down by half but haven't had time.  We have privet in flower right now, bought for the stick insects 15 years ago but they didn't like it 

[dahliagirl]

We have a see-through wire fence between us and a six foot panels next to the house.

My garden designing friend wants me to plant them closer to each other so that they merge and to 'layer'

Husband wants to plant them far apart and for them not to grow more than 6 feet, so that they do not need pruning. Ever. 

I want a nice garden.

We have Hostas in pots.  They are very pretty.  If I plant them in the ground, the snails are so desperate for green juicy stuff, they eat them before they get out the ground 

I would build a pond for frogs to eat the snails but it on the end of a very long list of all the things I would like to do........

[CLKD]

Frogs don't eat snails - ducks do but they are messy   

Plants don't layer.  They get wild and woolly and .......... wigellia are nice, fast growing - I have two, a dark leaved that has dark red flowers and a variegated ...... with pink/white flowers on.

A hop plant would ramble along wire if you keep it twined in or it goes upwards.  It dies right back though in the Winter.  Roses are OK but again, need things doing to them.  Have a look-see in gardens in your area ;-)

[bramble]

I know what your friend means when she says it would be nicer if the shrubs were layered ie higher ones at the back to medium ones down to smaller ones at the front. What is it with men that they want to have acres of bare ground between plants - I have a neighbour just like that. In my garden it is very difficult to see any bare ground at all.
I think now that the conifers have gone and esp if you dig in lots of compost and/or manure in the autumn, you will find that the ground will return to a more normal state - it has just been very dry because the conifers have sucked all the moisture out of it.
 
Smaller growing shrubs that will require minimal maintenance would be euonymus, hebes (bonus flowers), viburnum judii with equisite scent, philadelphus Belle Etoile, rosemary, lavender etc.

[dahliagirl]

I like that viburnum and hebes grow very well round here.  I didn't used to like them, but they are growing on me ( ) and there are plenty sizes and colours.  I have some in the front garden and they seem to be doing ok.

CKLD, roses do not do too well round here, although I have a Gertrude Jekyll that I am nurturing on the other side of the garden.  It is new.  I was wondering if I could get (very tough) rambling one to grow up a tree, but I need to get the trees sorted by a tree surgeon first (another one for that list  )

[CLKD]

If they don't 'do' then don't bother.  We tried roses in the front garden 25+ years ago and they sulked  .  Not too bad in the back garden which we spent hours digging over and putting home-made compost and spent mushrooms on . 

Hebes hail from New Zealand and there are now lots of different sizes and colours available here. 

[CLKD]

  15-20 mins. weeding and I have to sit down for 2 hours.  Fortunately it's warm enough to sit outside.  But this means that I can see all the chores that I haven't the energy to get on with  and there's a greenfly on the screen!  A few wasps are about, lots of greenfly in the air, a large Autumn spider keeps spinning her web - we spend hours each week watching her. 

I can see a honey bee :-).  I can hear tits because I am sitting close to the feeders  , the spindle and rowan have their Autumn berries on show.