Following this link will provide the (very) short history of Martin and Judy’s new garden.
Have I created a self seeding paradise at Martin and Judys ? Or has it become just plain hard work, weeding out pernicious weeds with my hori hori by the bucket load ? Couldn’t I just doing something way more interesting and less labour intensive?
Thankfully none of the above occurs, and these are very good reasons why.
1. As a gardener I will not use any chemical weedkillers.
2. This monthly weeding maintenance job , provides a great opportunity, to take in the plant combinations from ground level upwards. Through allowing certain non invasive plants to self seed, we have a created a great sense of garden maturity within a very short time period.
3. This job allows me to keep an eye on the self seeding tree plants, which are growing in the borders adjacent to the pathways . Rowan, Silver Birch and Cherry tree were spotted and will be transplanted into the garden at the front of the house in the autumn.
4. Oh yes, It enables me to remove pernicious weeds !
The garden is now heading into its third year. With imported top soil being the main growing medium, we decided to incorporate the plants which naturally grew from the original seed bank into the garden . This is what it looked like 3 years ago , and here it is three years later.
I garden monthly, and my time is spent joyously watching this garden mature . We do have pernicious weeds, and it’s my job to keep them at bay, but it is not hard work as I thoroughly enjoying being a part of transforming this garden . Images from 26th April 2025.
Sally Wicks 