A Garden Update

48/365: the final fence panels in place

The fencing was finished off yesterday. I love the way it has changed how the garden looks and feels, a bit like a courtyard garden, and it's spurred me on to plan the rest of the changes I'd like to see this year.

R, the fencer/landscape gardener, will return some time in March to sort out the patio - pointing, pressure wash, and protector - all of which should make a huge change to the look of the garden. Before he returns I want to sort out the pots; some of the annuals flowered long after M's last visit so, to reduce the number of pots that have to be shifted around when he's working on the patio, I want to empty out all the dead annuals and store those empty pots in the garage out of the way until they are needed later in the year. Neighbour S has offered to help me move them and he's also going to replace the fixings to support the climbers.

The two other big expenses this year will be the purchase of the arches and replacing the solitary leaking water butt with two, maybe three, larger ones. I still like the arches I have chosen so my nephew is going to measure up for me so I can budget for the cost but it's something for later in the year. I'm sorting out the water butts first. The arches will need a climber or two but that may have to wait until next year as it also means buying some suitable pots. I do know that I want a potato vine and a clematis as the climbers for the arches.

Last year the focus was on the flower beds but this year I want to review the perennials currently growing in pots. Looking back at old photos has made me question whether I want quite as many pots around, especially as the arches will reduce the amount of free space on that side of the patio when they are installed. Some of the perennials are doing well but there are some that aren't and a couple that no longer fit in with my plans so there may be some swapping or gifting with family later in the year. The spring bulbs are mostly in pots and they can be moved out of the way once they have flowered, and the pots for the summer annuals brought out to replace them. I haven't finally decided on the annuals yet but it's likely to be cosmos, marguerites, sweet peas, and maybe some more dwarf sunflowers. I'd also like an annual that has bigger flowers if you have any suggestions please.