Planning for garden essentials
WHEN designing a garden from scratch, there are some ‘hard’ elements that merit being thought about in advance.
As described elsewhere on this website, a compost heap is ‘best’ designed as a series of bays – around which the heap can be moved, to allow air to get at it.
But there are several other elements, besides a compost heap.
They might be itemised, as follows:
- Greenhouse – The magazine, Gardeners’ World, begins its description of how to choose a greenhouse – here – by saying that a greenhouse is a “must for the keen gardener – it’s ideal for sowing seeds, taking cuttings, growing tender plants and crops and ‘overwintering’ tender plants”.
- Potting bench – To assist with several gardening tasks, while standing up. The magazine, Country Living, features (here) 15 different potting bench designs, each with links to tutorials on how to create them. Possibly ‘post-creted’ into the ground, for added security.
- Plant pots and cuttings trays storage
- Various fertilisers, grit and soil storage – Probably requiring the transfer of contents from a (relatively flimsy) bag to specially-selected storage containers
- Bits ’n’ pieces storage – such as firelighters (if there is to be a fire pit or chiminea), matches, twine, netting, tea light candles, electric tool chargers, torch, gloves, dustpan and brush, pH soil testing kit, etc.
- Wheel barrow storage
- Bags, boots and buckets storage
- Diary storage – To keep a record of what one has done, when.
- Tools storage – String attached to the handle of a tool allows it to be neatly hung from a hook on a wall.
- Cold frame or mini greenhouse – Says the Royal Horticultural Society – here – a cold frame or mini greenhouse has many possible uses, including exposing young plants to a degree of cold – to ‘harden them off’ – or to support the growth of tender crops.
- Cuttings storage (including in the dark)
- Lawnmower storage
- Water supply and hose storage
- Insulated (against sub-zero temperatures)
- Seed packets and bulbs storage – Perhaps in relatively narrow boxes; for example, old cassette tape drawers.
- Boxes, bottles and sprays storage
- Plus, of course, compost heap bays
Mike Wilson is a member of the PlaceDesignScotland team
Picture credit: PlaceDesignScotland
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