Making a bank out of turf
Last post 21-12-2008 11:38 PM by russian. 2 replies.
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19/09/2006 02:42 PM
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- Zoe
- 19 Sep 2006
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7
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Hello all,
As I am widening all my borders I shall soon have quite some turf to do something interesting with. I know I could stack it and leave it to turn into topsoil, but what I'd like to try is to make a bank out of it, and then to fill the bank with bulbs. I'd really appreciate any tips or suggestions as to how to go about this. One particular concern of mine is what to do to help stop the bank from drying out too much (ie what can I do about the construction to help retain water). I have just received a ton and a half of rotted manure, and I also have a few sackfuls of soil from digging out paths.
Looking forward to hearing ideas from you,
Zoe
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19/09/2006 10:16 PM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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Hello Zoe, You certainly have an ambitious plan try not to make your bank too steep or water will run away and it could be difficult to mow, i would imagine that all the muck you have obtained will hold plenty enough water in the springtime for bulbs.good luck my friend
digger 
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21/12/2008 11:38 PM
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- russian
- Hants
- 25 Nov 2008
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27
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I did several steepish banks in my old garden. One was north facing and caught the westerly wind & sun a bit. I mulched with large bark chips ( large to be heavy enough not to blow about). I got the chips from a log cutter. I put wet card underneath as well. I put in many bulbs, narcissus,muscari,fritillaria and even tulips. It was all held together with low spreading perenniels like pulmonaria & geranium. Forget-me-nots and brunnera also good here. I did have a small berberis but no other shrubs. Some decorative trailing ivy. But I made the mistake of putting in wild strawberries and although they grew well they were a bit unstoppable and I took them out in the end. Hellebores were also good. The other banks were south facing, full of alliums, tulips, lavender, oregano, lambs ears, catmint, veronica, dec grasses and again geraniums, penstemen,trifollium (decorative flowering clover) and alliums. In the first years I used stones dotted about and bits of wood to stop the earth falling down until the roots held it all together. Low trailing plants with the occaisional tall plants like fennel and grasses combined well. Poppies also. Bulbs are OK, but they need something else mixed in for later in the year and to cover up the dying leaves unless they are in grass.
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