Renovating a tired bed

Looking out from the kitchen window is a raised bed that we have not done anything with since moving in a couple of years back. Now with the hot weather upon us we thought it was time for a raised bed makeover.

Andrew, the Head gardener enlisted the help of Clive, to do most of the heavy digging.

The bed is approx 5 foot wide and 12 foot long.

The earth was covered in a woven material with a couple of plants pushed through it and gravel over the top. It was a half hearted idea by the previous owners who never carried the idea right through to the end.

After the plants were removed, the woven sheet was removed, only to find a mass of Mares Tail weed. After 3 black bags full of weeds removed, 2 bags of well rotted horse manure was added along with the gravel, all well dug in.

The obelisque that Charlotte and Andrew made a week ago was placed centre stage with 4 clematis (Madame Le Coultre, white and Ernest Markham, Red) planted at the corners. Dry sand was then used to mark out the areas for the other seeds to be sown. Then Candy Tuft, Convolvulus, Californian Poppy and Godetia seeds were sown in a geometric semi circular pattern after.

Towards the back of the bed 4 penstamens were planted that had been hanging around in pots for a few years outside of the greenhouse( always new they would come in handy one day).

All in all a good afternoons work was had by all including Jacqui, Clives wife, who helped paint the newly errected fences.