Well, it was as useful a thing as any I suppose, in that April 2020 when we all found ourselves stuck at home. We had a lot of soil at the bottom of the garden which was hogging the space which we wanted to begin planting trees in. And so in those unbelievably warm spring days in that lockdown year I moved the soil from the bottom of the garden, and put it right, smack bang into the middle of the lawn… and until now it’s looked kind of ridiculous except in our imagination. Well, it’s still a work in progress, so please bare with me and use your imagination too on this one.
I thought I’d share it on this weeks post with a little before and after picture.
We have very slowly been planting it up over the last 3 years, we have planted woody shrubs and trees at the base on the west facing side; a magnolia tree, a lime green flowering quince, a tree peony, and roses in garish reds and candy stipe reds- why not go for the outrageously clashing colours if you’ve built such a mound? In the mid layer we have planted grasses and autumn flowering nerines. The east side is covered in forget me nots and tulips dotted throughout.
This weekend Simon added the steps up and two small cone shaped yew topiary, so now it’s starting to feel like its settling into its place in the garden and becoming less of a random pile of soil in the middle of the lawn and more an actual mound!
Mounds in gardens are an old tradition usually in formal gardens built by the very wealthy for the purpose of viewing the grounds or the surrounding landscape, often these gardens are extensive with lakes, large trees and knot gardens and topiary’s. So our mound is kind of funny in the garden of what some have once described as ‘that poor poor cottage’ and it makes us chuckle.
The cool thing about making a mound, not only for the fact it used up all the soil we wouldn’t otherwise have know what to do with, is that it also significantly increases your growing space. I’d say if the mound was flatted, it would be around double it’s foot print. It’s also a great way to add height if your garden is one level like ours… last year I planted sunflowers at the base of it and loved being able to clamber up and be looking down on the sunflowers. We also have a lovely view from the mound over the hedge and out into the landscape which we otherwise can’t see now that the hedges are mature from inside the garden- so it’s a treat to go up the mound and see the view out as well as see the garden from a different perspective. It would also be really good for planting plants which require really good drainage too if that was required.
I’d love to know what you think of the mound, do you have a mound in your garden, how did it come about and what do you grow on it?
Have a great week, with love, Rebecca