Allotments 4 All

Hi everyone

Do you think this is taking things too far, before I mention it to my OH.

We are in the process of moving which will be a huge wrench after 10 years of building the garden from scratch.  We have found a beautiful cottage with a good sized garden in an area of clay.  Perfect for me as I love Azaleas, Rhodies and Camellias and have always wanted to grow them in the ground rather than in pots.

Now I've found out that the garden is on a ridge of Limestone and Chalk with a v thin top soil, the garden at the moment features few plants other than Ribes and Lavendar.

I'm tempted to walk away because I will never be able to create the garden I want - does that sound COMPLETELY obsessive?

What would you do?

I was told I couldn't have an allotment unless it was over the back fence... so when child no2 was expected and we decided to move it was a major factor in selecting houses...  ;D

If the area is generally clay there will be other houses come up...  :-X

The allotments were the other factor but the kind lady at the council has said that I wont be evicted if I move out of the borough as long as I stay within the county.

However I may have my hands chopped off by OH if I say I dont want the cottage because the soil is the wrong PH......

Then don't say... but keep your fingers crossed that something else happens, a better offer from another buyer, a poor structural survey, a better house comes up... dither until it's gone. It's not worth falling out over. Research into what others grow on chalk... look at gardens in the NGS for inspiration. Often what we think we want isn't what we do best with... (House or garden....)  :-X

The garden was a big factor when I chose my current house, its still not big enough tho, but was the best I could find in the area - and with the right house attached to it  :D
I don't know much about gardening on chalk and how or if you could improve it - no doubt it will take some time to do so, maybe someone on here can advise?

I do think it does also depend on how much you like the actual house  ::)

I know nothing of chalk but if it is something that requires and can have "improvements" done to the soil...you could factor it in if the house is a good price that allows you to get  soil improvement done at the outset when you move in ( I may be talking drivel here )

Perhaps I should have mentioned that I've got around 20 pretty large Rhodies ( around 4-6') all in large tubs buried in the ground, needing contunuous water and sulphur chips.  Our current soil is a highly alkaline clay (rare!) and I know that its better to just go with the soil rather than attempt to change it.

Next time I go househunting I'm taking my PH meter with me!

Our current house was purchased mainly because of the space around it....a bigger 'blank canvas' garden for me, and a garage big enough to be used as a workshop for OH. The house was secondary really!

IMHO the house would have to be exceptional to overlook the garden being far from ideal.......is this a 'final move' property? Your priorities might change over time....... :-\

Alkaline clay is not that rare....we have highly alkaline clay here over a large area. Pots will still be the only way to go if you want to grow acid loving plants on the chalk there is no way you could improve the soil for that many plants.
The problem is that if you want to live in a particular area it's likely that the soil will be similar over a large area.

you can work the soil but its harder to change a house.  House first, soil second!

I think it would be easier to change the house than the soil,  maybe I'll make a visit to Beth Chatto's garden which I think is on chalk and gravel and maybe I can get inspired.

As an ex-estate agent - do not settle for it if this problem will irritate you for your lieftime!

It costs thousands of pounds to move - do not settle for something that is not right.  There will be a house out there with your name on it house will be 100% perfect and soil and garden  will match!  Stick with looking for your "ideal home".

Good luck - whatever you decide!

Incidentally I think it better to say something to OH as if you go down the purchasing line and then say something at the end - she will have a field day for having a go at you and not being honest and it will have cost you lots of money too!

Old Bird

:D

Thanks OB that is good advice indeed.  OH is not as keen a gardener as me and would just say 'well grow different plants' but also throwing in the fact that the dream cottage has a 'Flying Freehold' and I'm starting to think its not for us.

Right, estate agent telephone number, map and PH meter at the ready.....