Hotch Potch Garden...Will it work eventually

[DeborahJane]

This is the "hotch potch" garden i wake up to each morning. It's the backyard with the clothes line so not an area visitors see very often so i think l have thrown it together. It is also an area that has a lot of debris, bark, broken branches, leaves. I did buy lots of liriopes to form a border early on and some have grown well and others not. In the mean time I've planted so many different things I think I've lost count. It is shaded and yet too hot for hydrangeas, maybe just too dry but why have some liriopes done well and others not. I was recently given lots of yukkas so I've planted those in amongst it all, a really bright purple salvia from my neighbours garden and spider plants from my sister, hoping they'll fill it up. I had also planted plumbago, nandina, daisy type whose proper name looks something like oesteospernum, succulents, mona lavenda all from cuttings. Ooh, I've forgotten to mention dieties, from a friend, agapanthas and euphorbias. Do you think i just may have overdone it?

 

[Beverly]

It looks like the dieties didn't quite transfer over. But i like the casualness of it, looks peaceful and relaxed and natural like it doesn't require one to sit up straight. You and i are in very similar zones and can probably grow many of the same things although i believe Australia is very strict about what vegetation/seeds it allows into the country. I also have a friend in India in zone 10 half way around the world and we grow many of the same things. He sends me photos of his garden, i send him photos of my garden...mostly all the same plants I have an idea! how about growing a gum tree for the kookaburras?

 

[DeborahJane]

I am in the bottom half of Australia so we do have cold wet winters. It can snow here but it's not a usual occurrence. Some frost too but no comparison to Europe of course. You're right, there are strict rules about seeds. I've seen plants on this forum and made enquiries at my local nursery but told they are not allowed to be brought in. Bit frustrating.
Thank you for your comment on my backyard garden. You're right. I don't sit up straight in bed whilst I look at it, I'm all comfy leaning against my pillows. Mind you , I don't sit for long if i have an idea on how to fix it!

 

[Beverly]

I think at some point your garden will tell you what to do by which of all those plants do very well and which ones are less successful. I really like some of the vegetation that is already growing there, the idea of that bright purple salvia amidst the greenery gives me the chills, i am a big fan of salvias. What euphorbias are you growing? What do you want that you cannot have? The focus of my small garden is to provide habitat for the pollinators. I made a "must have" list of plants and it took me five years to track down the plants/seeds, mostly native to Mexico and Central America. So after 5 years, i had a bunch of plants, and a lot of happy bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, but not really a garden, if you know what i mean. After another 3 years, i finally had a vision of how it could all come together and then, the dirt really started to fly and i worked like a woman possessed. The space i see in your photos looks like it could be a lovely shady refuge during the summer months.

 

[Becky]

Do you think i just may have overdone it?

Not at all, I think it's lovely!

 

[DeborahJane]

Not at all, I think it's lovely!

Thank you Becky.
I'm hoping it will all come together. Patience, I know!!

 

[DeborahJane]

I think at some point your garden will tell you what to do by which of all those plants do very well and which ones are less successful. I really like some of the vegetation that is already growing there, the idea of that bright purple salvia amidst the greenery gives me the chills, i am a big fan of salvias. What euphorbias are you growing? What do you want that you cannot have? The focus of my small garden is to provide habitat for the pollinators. I made a "must have" list of plants and it took me five years to track down the plants/seeds, mostly native to Mexico and Central America. So after 5 years, i had a bunch of plants, and a lot of happy bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, but not really a garden, if you know what i mean. After another 3 years, i finally had a vision of how it could all come together and then, the dirt really started to fly and i worked like a woman possessed. The space i see in your photos looks like it could be a lovely shady refuge during the summer months.

Don't know the name of the Euphorbia. It was given to me and is the one that self seeds, not a really stunning one most of the year but when the bright green new growth comes it proves its' worth. Not a great deal of thought has gone into the planning of this garden I must admit, a bit of a "hotch potch" approach.
It's a different story with my other garden beds though.
My cottage garden has lots of bees and butterflies, even a wallaby at times. I think we may have lost him though. We had to put up a fence between the neighbours and our place to keep our dog in.The day we put it up the wallabay came through a drive way (we are about to install gates) but he must feel too exposed as I haven't seen him since. I was hoping he'd hop the fence, After all it is their specialty.

 

[Beverly]

Hi @DeborahJane I recall you mentioning that you have a lot of tree debris in your backyard garden and i was just reminded of "Hugel Bed Gardening" that uses tree debris as a base so i thought i would mention it to you. Do you know of this type of gardening? I have read a little bit but don't have tree debris or space to make it happen in my garden. You might want to take a look at this gardening concept to see if it would work for you or if you would even be interested in it.

 

[DeborahJane]

Hi @DeborahJane I recall you mentioning that you have a lot of tree debris in your backyard garden and i was just reminded of "Hugel Bed Gardening" that uses tree debris as a base so i thought i would mention it to you. Do you know of this type of gardening? I have read a little bit but don't have tree debris or space to make it happen in my garden. You might want to take a look at this gardening concept to see if it would work for you or if you would even be interested in it.

Thanks Beverly, I will look it up.

 

[DeborahJane]

Wow Beverly! I love the Hugel bed garden idea. As we have an open fire I won't use our large logs but have plenty of piles of branches, twigs waiting to be burnt. Such a waste and such unnecessary strain on the atmosphere. We do try to use our open fire sensibly. I just love it so it's our winter weekend treat.
I have several piles of debris like these doted around the garden so hope it will work for the Hugel kultur garden. I also have the perfect spot. Can't wait to get it underway.
Just love this forum. Thanks Beverly and thanks to everyone else

 

[Beverly]

Oh good! It is amazing how pretty it looks when you get all that debris in a nice round pile. I have a gardening friend in Indiana in the US.(a very different climate than the two of us have) who is just getting her Hugel bed started as well. Perhaps the two of you would be interested in chatting together?. It would be really great if you have the time to start a new "Hugel bed" thread in, i don't know, maybe garden projects to show your progress. Cindy is on a different garden website, but perhaps i can coax her to come and share feedback on your thread. Possibly there are people here as well who have done or are interested in doing or will become interested in doing a Hugel bed as well. I agree with your sentiments about this forum. Gee, i wish i had some debris

 

[DeborahJane]

I'll take some photos when I set my hugel bed up and put on a special thread like you suggest Beverly. It could be interesting to get advice on next steps. The neat round pile of branches and is actually what I call my burning circle. It has rocks around it so thats why it looks so neat. Plenty of other piles waiting to go on it so it will be good to utilise them in my new project. Hopefully your friend Cindy will join us here. Be sure to tell her what a good bunch we are.

 

[Beverly]

Hi @DeborahJane i checked in with Cindy and she is still brainstorming the idea but is thinking more of a berm for erosion control on a slope down to their creek. She did recommend the website www.permies.com for further ideas and information re your Hugel bed. Will be looking forward to your new thread Also, i did a GF search and there are prior conversations here re Hugelkultur from Cassie K and Jewel