New raised bed in my garden

[mark smyth]

I just Googled Sorbus cashmiriana and Camellia transnokoensis.

I know 4 people with S. cashmiriana and their trees are small, under 9 feet, after many years yet I see on some web sites it can reach 30 feet - gulp 

C. transnokoensis is 2m after 10 years. The problem is the new bed is on the cold north and east side of the house. Early sun will destroy frosted flowers.

I could plant my Rhodo. Lady Alice Fitzwilliam in the bed

or plant a climbing rose

I've also been Googling dwarf trees and like the following

Acer platanoides 'Marit'
Buxus sempervirens Elegantissima
Crataegus monogyna Compacta
Crataegus laevigata Pink Corkscrew
Deutzia crenata var. nakaiana 
Fagus sylvatica 'Mercedes'
Fraxinus excelsior Nana
Quercus robur 'Menhir'

[Martin Baxendale]

A rose would like the heavy soil and manure, and shouldn't compete with the bulbs too much.

[Ezeiza]

Lovely Lesley is right, you will have collection of rots. Even if throughly aged there is always the risk of a sudden rot outbreak in spring. If it is already in, sow some vegetable that would take a lot of nitrogen (manure is nothing but nitrogen in bulk) and next year try the first bulbs in. Leafmould is far better than something of animal origin.

[johnw]

The transnokoensis I've seen have been floppy spreaders more than upright and could chew up a lot of the bed.  Maybe it has a different habit in greater Belfast.

I dug manure into the vegetable garden one autumn and wound up with a severe nitrogen deficiency the next spring, obviously too much organic matter already in the soil and/or the manure was not fully composted. For the month of May and early June the leafy vegs sprouted but would not grow though they had terrifc roots. Ag Canada, after a stat soil test, said to add ammonium nitrate at a acertain rate. Things grew frightening fast within a week.  Remember Jõze Bavcon said snowdrops (Gn) avoid manured meadows!

johnw - +11c at 21:40 and a gentle rain falling for a change, 15mm expected overnight so the gentle may change.

[Lesley Cox]

That's interesting John. My transnokoensis is about 1.2metres high and only about 40cm across at the base, tall and slim - unlike me!

I also have a very nice form called Camellia 'Silver Column' which would do too. Again, slim and elegant. A sasanqua form so winter-flowering.

[Roma]

Mark, it looks fine for pottery.

When I worked at the Cruickshank Botanic Garden we made our own John Innes compost using usually 'builder's top soil' which could be variable in quality.  I remember one batch of 'soil' was such fine clay the Forestry Department had some of their african students showing others how to make clay ovens with it .  It grew very good plants as long as it wasn't allowed to dry out completely.  We used Irish peat which has an open texture and may have compensated for the stickiness of the clay.  I don't remember how good the sand was we were using at the time. 

[mark smyth]

Roma you have answered a question I was planning to ask but I went on a wild goose chase today.

I dont have enough of my own leaf mold or compost to use on the new bed. Yesterday I added 6 bags of grit to the soil. Should I add fine or ordinary peat?

[mark smyth]

off now for 3 days and weather permitting these are the last 3 days digging. Next day off will be setting out followed by planting

[angie]

Looking forward to see the planting. Its nice to watch all your hard work. Also will be nice to see it in the spring.

Angie

[mark smyth]

you'll not see much now Angie because all the bulbs are dormant. I have some small Geums which will be set around the edges but I'm not sure if I can stick to the idea of none or only a few perennials.

[Anthony Darby]

Roma you have answered a question I was planning to ask but I went on a wild goose chase today.

I dont have enough of my own leaf mold or compost to use on the new bed. Yesterday I added 6 bags of grit to the soil. Should I add fine or ordinary peat?

Isn't peat a swear word? Some local authorities in Scotland have a free supply of composted garden waste. You just turn up and fill bags and take them a way.

[mark smyth]

I've seen our local one and it's more of a mulch. It's too rough to dig in.

[mark smyth]

You're all probably bored by now.

Last stage in the making of my new bed. Ten bags of leaf mould. Thanks to the very kind Margaret Glynn.

[Paul T]

Not bored here yet, Mark.    Keep em coming.

[Anthony Darby]

Absolutely. There are many people, and not just those who dip in and out of the Forum, who will be only too glad of this step-by-step information.