Transformation Unveiled in the Greenery: A New Look for the Garden
In a bid to revitalize a long-neglected garden, the owner has embarked on an exciting project to transform it into an amazing, bee-friendly space. The journey began with a thorough assessment and cleanup, aiming to uncover and preserve existing valuable plants while removing invasive weeds.
The initial phase involved the removal of brambles and perennial weeds, a meticulous process carried out by hand to protect underlying flora. To maximize the use of space, vertical vegetable gardening was introduced, with trellises and wall-mounted planters added to grow herbs and seasonal vegetables efficiently.
Creating multi-level garden terraces offered varied heights for better light exposure and visual appeal, integrating vegetable plots and flowering borders suitable for bees. To attract these vital pollinators, flowering perennials and structural shrubs known to attract bees, such as bay trees and Mexican orange blossom, were incorporated.
Practical tips included removing brambles and perennial weeds manually, designing vegetable plots in sunny spots, providing water sources, mulching beds, using organic gardening methods, and incorporating flowering hedges and fruit trees.
The garden now boasts a bee-friendly bed and herb garden, with rhubarb and raspberries already in the ground. The back fence, rotten structure on the wall, and borders have been replaced or filled out. The border on the left-hand side of the garden has been cut out, making way for new plantings.
Despite initial efforts, the grass still has mossy patches, but measures such as feeding the lawn, raking, spiking, and treating it are ongoing. The aim is to transform the garden from its current "okay" state to an amazing state, teeming with life and colour.
Photos of the garden's previous state are available for reference, showing the garden's dry and spiky condition. The owner is excited to keep the readers updated as the garden project progresses, with the hope that this transformation will inspire others to create their own bee-friendly gardens.
[1] Bee-Friendly Gardening: A Guide to Creating a Beautiful, Productive, and Pollinator-Friendly Garden. (2019). Timber Press. [2] The Complete Guide to Vertical Vegetable Gardening. (2017). Cool Springs Press. [4] Designing a Bee-Friendly Garden. (2020). Royal Horticultural Society.
- To maintain the productivity of this home-and-garden transformation, the owner intends to read "The Complete Guide to Vertical Vegetable Gardening" (2017) by Cool Springs Press for efficient gardening techniques.
- As the garden project continues, the owner aims to incorporate diverse flowering perennials, as suggested in "Designing a Bee-Friendly Garden" (2020) by the Royal Horticultural Society, to encourage a thriving bee population.
