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How do you get into your borders?

LG_LG_ Posts: 4,107
in Problem solving

Dear all, 

I'm currently redoing my garden and I've increased the depth of two borders to about 4-5 feet from the fence. Until now I've been walking on them because the lawn was newly laid and I couldn't walk on it, but now is the time to get them sorted. The walking has compacted the soil so I'm forking it over and will be adding a load of topsoil and manure (am also raising the level).

So as I dig and fork I've been musing on how I'm going to get to stuff at the back, how I'm going to deadhead the roses climbing up the fences and so on. Once I've loosened it all up and planted it I don't want to squash either the soil or the plants.

What do you do? Just tread carefully? Have strategically placed stepping stones in amongst the plants? Only venture to the back when stuff is dormant? Or do you have a brilliant method I haven't thought of?

I can't believe how much this is taxing my brain!

'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
- Cicero
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Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,148

    I'm always treading on stuff



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,501

    I sort of bound into mine like a long-jumper.

    I keep telling myself to stop as I've no idea what I'm treading on but before I know it I'm back in again. Got a compacted path that needs planting up this weekend so that's the end of that. Hoping the roses somehow tie themselves in at the back. That would be fab?

    Wearside, England.
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,178

    Grows by the millimetre, killed by the foot.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,030

    I have two rows of stepping stones in the widest part of my border. Apart from that, I simply take care where I tread.

  • franco6832franco6832 Posts: 105

    use a thick cane for support and to steady the body and look for a vacant space where your feet will go, otherwise you will either thread on everything or fall among the plants and destroy everything

     

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,768

    I use hoes as much as possible - I have a long handled pointed carrot hoe which is useful (looks like an instrument designed for an especially gory murder) and apart from that  I clamber over things, trying to avoid planting my size 7.5s on anything too special. 

    As the Shady Bank is quite high OH watches with trepidation thinking he's going to have to come and rescue me as I balance on one foot looking for the next toehold while clinging onto a waving honeysuckle shoot. As the pond is below part of the bank it is all a bit precarious - but we manage.  image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508

    haha, this thread has cheered me up no end!

    I have one particularly deep border and it's pretty much a case of balancing precariously on one foot, and as has already been mentioned, getting as much done before the perennials get fully into their stride.

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,670

    I have stepping stones in the widest beds. But when everything has grown I often can't find the stepping stones!

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Snow MaidenSnow Maiden Posts: 862

    We have a few stepping stones carefully placed and hidden behind lager plants with a hoe this works well.

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