I am starting a brand new garden from scratch

My memory can sort of smell and taste those generous ben conans, and juicy invicta and hinonaki red gooseberries.I cannot say "you lucky thing!" as you put much love into your gardening and you are reaping your rightful rewards.

What is your "yeti"?

sounds lovely Alexa.

I don`t know if I said but I have decided to give up the part allotment that I retained this year, very much the fruit and roses half, 50 x 10` but 12 miles away. I cannot live without blackcurrants, eat them every day all year round. I have 2 types on the allotment, Ben sarek 9 years old and can be planted close together and 2 small Ben conan, it produced the first good fruits this year. I picked ben conan a few weeks ago, branches full of fat luscious ripe berries, easy to pick because I pruned and pick the old way in one go. Ben sarek is ripening intermittently and the berries are not at all as large or luscious as ben conan. I have finally decided to move both ben conan to here, I have already ordered two of the same but no matter, I can keep the size under control by pruning

I cut my carefully pruned gooseberries invicta and hinonmaki reds, cut down from home pruned standards. The hinonmaki are young and will move easily, very spikey, birds don`t touch them. I already ordered 3 purpose grown invicta standards. Today I moved my 5 foot iron poles, so I am ready. Two moved hinonmaki and 3 bought-in standards. Plenty of new growth on the reds and the invicta on the allotment also producing plenty of new growth for whoever takes over

I am quickly shifting what I can when I can, may be getting a new car and want the donkey work done in my yeti. All collapsible cages are now here as are gravel filled weighted bags. Two more runs will do it but not yet, I am not giving up until I have harvested my apples, october

I will move 2 rhubarb roots, bocking 14 comfrey and 6 roses and son in law will have 2 blueberries and my hotbin. That is the big hotbin, I am being practical, one of me and so I ordered 2 x mini hotbins for here, to get quicker compost from a smaller amount of waste. One is almost full after one week but I am transporting comfrey, windfalls and chopped twigs to it

So my hydrangeas annabelle, not looking that happy in the garden, it is too hot and sunny, same all over the garden so they are going to have to go, I made a mistake. I will put my allotment roses in their space instead. The back garden will evolve but around my fruit, which has priority, that plus comfrey to feed everything. I will grow some veg too

My basic instincts, always has been, fruit and veg and then flowers to make a mix. I am waiting for the builder, he is going to build the patio but keeps putting it off. He will do it but his job on this site is tiring as it is.

Craftyone, I enjoy your gardening diary.

I planned my garden twenty years ago from a neglected big plot on a south facing slope. My house is a semi and I do like seclusion secret garden idea. The north, upper side is bordered by tall evergreens with a public path and green beyond them. One of my most useful screening trees is a deodar in the middle of the garden which I top pruned .

Most of the garden is covered with grass which I left uncut all summer for the frogs and other wild things. I have a jasmine in flower right now which I planted in terrible subsoil where an old garage once stood, right up against the boundary hawthorns. The jasmine has climbed up into the overgrown hawthorn trees and smells tremendous especially after rain .

My paths are slabs set into the grass. I did actually get them mowed by just one mower breadth on top of the slabs as they don't stand proud of the ground.

I can anticipate this path being of varying widths and meandering but still defining, one side for fruit and bee friendlies and the other for roses and hellebores

I need to be able to make some curvy informal paths, by myself and at long last have worked out how, after buying and moving a few 450mm pavers for my hotbins, I need space in front for shovelling compost as well as to stand them on. I only plonked them down roughly for now but will bed them down properly on sand in a few weeks, good enough for the purpose. I can handle these and use a spirit level

Back to my path idea, wonky shapes of various pavers in sizes I can handle with my 2 wheeled wheelbarrow. Various spacings and bedded as horizontal as possible, creeping thyme in between. No bark or cat-friendly gravel. I want to get cracking in the garden but it is too hot and too dry and I want my new patio laid before I can close the gate and potter without some kind hearted man offering to help

I like the split bamboo screening too. It is the one I would use if I were inserting screening into the soil because the willow would form roots pdq. Right now I am picking blueberries twice a day, so are the birds.

I went and got another kg or so of blackcurrants from the allotment yesterday. It is like selling my other house, I feel as though the allotment is starting to release me and I am glad of it. I will go back again when the weather cools down in a few days, I want to start moving things slowly, such as these stakes which I love
www.harrodhorticultural.com/steel-plant-stakes-rust-finish-2-pack-pid9441.html
my son in law would like my old bigger hotbin, so I need to empty that this autumn, rinse and crudely pack in large plastic for him to transport. I bought myself a mini hotbin and have already filled it from the allotment. It will be very hot inside the hotbin, in a few days and I will be making compost for here. I will need another mini here because I can keep a mini topped up but not the bigger one, not efficiently, my garden will be too small to provide enough for it

I can`t do anything else right now, much too hot to plant anything, too dry

Craftyone, I've used not willow but split bamboo cane screening for adding to a 'gazebo' from the garden centre to make it more of summer house and it has been really successful. I put the same screening on fence panels around my patio and it has lasted for years and still does the job and looks good. My son used willow and he's pleased with it.

Alexa it isn`t beautiful yet but at least now I know I want to work in compartments or `rooms`. That plastic trellis is with a planter, from wayfair, it was easy to put together and yesterday I put a good trough into each planter for ease of use and I unrolled willow screening, I bought 1.5m tall willow and plastic ties from primrose, it was easy to fix and will let the wind blow through and is now giving me the privacy needed for that one area. I also put together a plant stand from wayfair by poppy forge, so now the structure is in place for that area and I will start to fill with plants and tulip bulbs later in the year

I ordered a very nice bird bath, rspb, from amazon and have decided to put a solar pump in there, so the water bubbles and to make it easy for little birds.

Re trellis height Alexa, I don`t think you can be stopped from putting in a non permanent structure for screening

Craftyone, I am interested in trellises to stop being overlooked. Trellises look pretty in themselves and unlike screening trees are effective immediately. I have wondered if planning allows one to have a trellis twelve feet high if it's not at the boundary. Your planting scheme sounds really beautiful.

It really is a work in progress Canadiangran, I have just ordered the new hotbin mini because I have had the old design on my allotment for very many years and it has produced wonderful compost, I never had to use manure because that compost with added comfrey leaves did actually produce black gold. I am leaving the old one on the allotment. This new one is only 45 x 45 cm and the same height. I also ordered a seating storage box from costco because I have decided to give up the remaining half of my allotment next spring, I have net covers to move here and several plants etc. It looks as though the box is another thing for me to assemble but ok, I manage fine ding that. I will need the storage

So I have one more half barrel sized pot to use, made of plastic but it looks exactly like a barrel. I already have 6 with thriving blueberry plants, I think I will put an allotment blueberry into that barrel, it will take 3 large bags of ericacious compost, I know they grow well here. I then have 6 salt pots to fill, small to medium sized and 3 quarter sized barrel designs in plastic and that is it, as well as the two large rectangular planters,so much better than the 42 salt pots that I had to keep watered. I can see a mass of tulips in the rectangular planters, followed by easy pelargoniums. Son is here for a couple of days soon, he can help me move a few things, I need to get the positioning right because once filled, they will be too heavy to move

The other side of the plastic trellis seems to be evolving as well as the utility space behind the garage, which thankfully is paved. I am expecting the willow screening to arrive tomorrow, it will disguise the trellis somewhat

I picked off the ben conan blackcurrants last week, the easy way but taking out the old branches (pruning). They were all black and very large berries, ben sarek is still not ready to pick. I am glad I have chosen ben conan for here and two plants is ample. I will move the two rhubarb plants and see if I can get at half a dozen roots of bocking 14 comfrey, which the bees are loving

No point in me keeping the half allotment now, somone else will love the fruit and shed and storage etc but a round trip of 24 miles each week is too long and I cannot justify it for the future as I can grow most things here. I did a massive amount of apple thinning last week, disturbed dozens of damaging earwigs. Weighing up the cost in miles v me buying apples for a couple of years. I am thinking of bocking 14 along the wall at the back, it is very lovely.

I hope you are able to post a photo of your garden! What a lot of work it's been, but sounds very rewarding.

I think I would be at a loss if I had to start from scratch. Our small back yard has been a work in progress for many years, with hard-scaping done with salvaged bricks and cement blocks; plants added and subtracted as they worked or got eaten by our many local deer.

So much inspiration can be gotten from books at the library, or magazines. Yours sounds a lovely mixture of fruit and flowers.

Interesting about the white Dutch clover. I am not having a lawn, otherwise I would be interested. I have made the bare bones of a sanctuary of sorts on my patio, just one small area, already bordered by 6 very big blueberries in very big pots that look like half barrels

Its the only place in my garden where I am overlooked and only from one direction so I bought 2 on ground planters with trellisses from wayfair. I put them together, they are push fit plastic and about a metre wide each and 1.5m tall. Instead of filling the planters I have found the right size troughs and will put them in the planters, to make it easier for me. I am also getting willow screening to put on the back of the trellis, will look nicer than plastic

A gorgeous bistro set of round flat table and two seats with mesh bases and backs arrived from john lewis, expensive but beautiful quality and very comfortable. I moved 3 large heavy salt washed pts into that area and a royal garden plant stand.

I have to add the plants next. I want more permanent plants in the salt pots, 2 are tall and straight like chimneys and the other is a large trumpet shaped pot. East facing close to a wall if anyone has any ideas

I'd say avoid pea gravel and go for large stones. Cats love using fine gravel as litter. I'd also think twice about bark paths, especially near any grass, as blackbirds just delight in scattering it everywhere when hunting for insects. As I get older my garden is less manicured and turning into a natural woodland and wildlife sanctuary. Why did I spend so long gardening when I could have just sat and appreciated it a lot more?

For barren subsoil , white Dutch clover as an alternative lawn will nitrogenate your soil and look and smell pretty and please the bees. It can also be mowed, although I personally prefer it long and floral.

A few foxgloves look good in a patch of wild flowers, like cornflowers, poppies, salvia, lungwort etc giving height. But I think they spread.

craftyone I love your garden ideas.
I posted on the 7th to say how much I am enjoying the metamorphasis of your plot.
Its better than live TV !
Please, please try to post some pictures.

oh Gordon Bennett, not foxgloves, I maeant hollyhocks. Are they worth it?

The whole garden is still covered in weed fabric and the first plants will be put in the first week in september, I had notification that the apples will be sent then. I have 6 very thick strong stakes and some rubber ties, will need to get at least one post in before then. On a slant and thumped in as deep as possible. Hope I don`t need two per tree. So far, plans are only on paper, I still need to work out where to put 3 x standard invicta gooseberries, 2 x Ben conan blackcurrants and one transplanted hinnonmaki red gooseberry, which will be a very sharp sprawly bush when grown. I`ll have to prune regularly, to keep the centre open and I will try to form a short leg

I was given a small pot plant by a visitor, I don`t want to put it in the ground so have finally put it into a salt pot today, I think I can neglect it, called fleabane. I might split in time and transplant next to patio edges, not sure

I am also going to transplant 2 hydrangia annabelle from very hot and dry to shadier, also will transplant 6 beautiful DA roses from the allotment, have already got the sharp pointy shovel, will need to prune down and cut a diameter of 16 inches.

I am going to make another rose bed in the front with them and a new rose bed in the back, between the patio and apples, plenty of room for a wiggly loose triangle shape. I have plenty of hellibores and echinacea to transplant by the apples. I will also make a small comfrey bocking 14 bed. It doesn`t move, had mine on allotment for 9 years, loved by bumblies and makes the best compost

I saw lots of foxgloves locally this week, they look majestic and stunning, never grown them and are they worth the effort?

Oh Craftyone, what a wonderful diary of your gardening endevours.
I have enjoyed every minute of the planning and dreaming. And I marvel at your stamina.
I used to enjoy gardening on a much smaller scale than you but age and health issues have finally reduced DH and me to pots and plants.
Please could you post some pictures of your garden.
I can't be the only GN longing to see what you have achieved.

You are lucky, craftyone! this sounds a great challenge.
We used to have a large garden, mostly fruit and veg. I'm no good with flowers.
Now moved house and downsized massively, but with a little space left over I'm planning to put in some herbs.
I'll see what they've got in the garden centre - not sure my favourites would survive here.

I am going to make `rooms` in my garden. First one in design stage, on the large patio, outside kitchen. 6 Very large tubs with tall mature blueberry plants already in place. Ordered a tall solar feature to stand on a separate tray which I will fill with grit and will put small planters in there containing a mix of mini ferns and the like. 2 tall planter/trellis structures ordered as I have only one overlooked area, I will sit on the inside of that `room` and will be `hidden. Bistro table and 2 chairs ordered for inside that room and I will put lush planting in pots in there

Outside I have marked spaces for the 3 apple trees, makes a nice wide and shallow triangle. Lots of garden left. Inside the apple trees for bee friends and outside for roses etc

ooh, it is almost all systems go, had an e mail yesterday and my 3 fruit trees will be with me first week in september. Crabapple called jelly king, 3-4m tall, apple on M26 howgate wonder and apple on M26 christmas pippin. M26 will grow to 10 -12 feet. Strong stakes and good gentle ties are ordered, I want to prep the spaces by then. 2 low angled stakes to each tree

I will be moving 2 new hydrangea annabelle into the empty back garden, need a shadier spot. Will be liasing with sis when she arrives, she might inspire me more than I am inspiring myself. Once those trees are in they will stay in. All at least 5-6 feet from any fence. I have M26 on my allotment and 5` works well

Next step is the patio addition and maybe at last a post for my rotary airer. Evolution is happening and some height will be appearing. I will be ordering 4 1x1m plastic raised beds only 15cm tall. Had several for 89 years but gave them all to dd but they were all 2 x1m, for veg, leaving some bare areas for beans etc

I have cut my standard hinamaki reds down from standards on the allotment and will let the base shoots grow, will bring one here as birds don`t eat them, very prickly

compost is all I use on my allotment, that plus comfrey and I have the best produce. So I am still at it, prepping the foundations of my garden. Just an hour left on the patio base, raking, measuring and leaving it for thr builder. A bit of soil fluffing to be done on the actual garden, covering with horse manure compost and composted bark, then weed fabric and that is it until spring, It will be full of slow worms by next spring

I am looking forward to ordering more roses later in the year, pot roses from David Austin again, for delivery in march/april

Oh I forgot, my apple trees and fruit bushes and standards are arriving in november. So I will make slits in the fabric and get the posts and ties ready for planting. I will have to get the basic structural design sorted in 5 months

If you can find a corner for a compost heap it will repay you over and over. Put all your peelings, tea bags, egg shells, grass cuttings (not straight after weed and feed) leaves etc. But not meat. Ours is not big but provides us with many barrow loads of compost throughout the year and it is full of worms which is good for our sandy soil. I think we are living on a sand dune! I just throw the compost onto the borders and the worms do the rest. DH suffers from compost heap envy. Have you seen Monty's on Gardeners World?

on the 27th I started to prep the patio base and found out that it needs to be 6" deep. I did a lot of hours on it yesterday and so far another 5 hours this morning. To my horror, the top spit is ok, lumpy stoney soil but below there is the chamber of horrors, a large amount of stone all over but big stones in the second spit down, embedded in nasty stuff coloured beige and it has to be acrylic render which is tough, like damp tight clay. All that compacted down by the big earth movers, a nasty difficult job and utterly boring. I think I am already gatting stronger, not so much aching today, probably because I am varying the muscles and implements. I am grateful for the builders dump, am allowed to use it and also grateful for my 2 pneumatic wheeled wheel barrow

16.2 sq metres and I have done 1/3. Later, when the patio is laid then I am going to tackle each tree and shrub space, one at a time with everything crossed for there not be that awful beige gunk that earthworms are hating

The roses in the front are looking fab but I am watering every day and will be top dressing with more manure based humus next month