Update on the Canary Riverside garden

- The garden now and what we can expect over the coming months:

The gardeners are endeavouring to create a pleasing environment within the restrictions of imminent scaffolding for cladding remediation and building works. To this end they have been instructed by Parkgate Aspen to focus on the flowerbeds that will remain unaffected by the scaffolding.

They have been busy planting spring tulips and daffodils along with some late winter/spring bedding plants. They have planted these in the gaps they have seen at the end of summer before all the herbaceous plants were cutdown.

The overall plan for the season ahead is to bring some much-needed early colour into the garden - something we missed out on last spring as the new gardeners took over after the due planting time. This planting scheme along with all last year's new herbaceous plants (which will be a bit more fully developed and show more colour as they have had time to mature) will begin to come to life starting at the beginning of March and continue up until the end ofOctober. 

As with all herbaceous planting schemes, the months of November through to the end of February can look a little bare. This has been exaggerated by some of the hard pruning that has needed to be carried out during the winterseason (per the photos below).

- The shrubbery:

It has been necessary to carry out extensive pruning on many of the laurel shrubs as they had previously been pruned from underneath thus leaving unnatural bare areas and giving a high hedge appearance. 

This level of pruning gives the erroneous impression that the plants have been removed. The reality is that thepruned shrubs will allow new growth which will give the flowerbeds a definition between the lower and theraised flowerbeds. This will give the beds a more layered/

stepped appearance, something that was missing last season. This is especially true of the long central flowerbed.

A greater variety of plants that will help create more abundance of colour and textural interest have been planted among the evergreens shrubs towards the back of the central flowerbed. 

- Tree works:

Tree surgeons were engaged to assess the condition of all the trees.  Their report confirmed that:

a.      Two of the horse chestnuts opposite the hotel on the raised flower bed need to be removed. Their removal and the replanting of healthy trees was planned for this season but this has now been put on hold until all the scaffolding and building works have been completed.

b.      The trees that overhang the lawn and walkway looking out to the river need to be pruned back. The requiredwork will be carried out on 23rd March. This will give the lawn and the flowerbeds in that  area some much needed light and help improve the overall look and health of the plants and lawn.

Please see the photo below for the planned tree pruning works. 

Planned tree pruning

The Manager took the decision not to waste money on new planting in the beds abutting the residential buildings as they will be used when scaffolding is erected in order to carry out the cladding remediation works, external repairs and cleaning works (expected to last approximately 18 months). There are a few small trees bordering the buildings that will need to be pruned to allow for the installation of the scaffolding.

Garden works to be carried out in February: Shrubs/trees in the lower garden will be trimmed back to allow the scaffolding to be erected.

Garden works to be carried out in March: The irrigation system will be serviced and ready to go live. Continue to monitor the flower beds and implement any further requirements.

 We look forward to seeing the colour return to the garden. Please click here for a pdf version of this update.