Well, I'm impressed--but glad I don't have to do all the hard work! I think the fencing you got might actually work better--it makes your yard appear larger and will show off the roses more (when they get planted). Like you, I'm initially attracted to the white vinyl fences, but they are rather dominating features and just slightly oversized, if you want to know the truth. I mean, what do you want people to be looking at--an expensive white vinyl fence or a bunch of roses showing through the more "invisible" fence? I vote for the latter!

Thanks for the pics. We love watching these kinds of projects progress. And yes, I have transplanted roses as hot July was coming on, but I had to spend a lot of time watching and watering them so they would get through the hot months. Ideally, fall transplanting would be better. Well, in my region, March is the best time to transplant--the dormant roses hardly even notice they were moved. But the seasons don't always work out the way we want, so it would be nice if you could at least wait til fall to transplant most of the roses.

We look forward to your next installment of pictures. : )

Kate

I love that fence; it's beautiful! Everyone has white fences but this is so charmingly different. I'm sorry about your knees; it gives me the ouchies just thinking about it, probably because mine seem to be starting on a downward path.

It's going to be wonderful seeing pictures when your roses and other plants are installed. I must admit that tree was dwarfing everything around it. What are people thinking when they plant huge forest trees in their suburban back yards?

Ingrid

So much work! You'll get it done eventually. It will be beautiful! The fence is really nice. You should be pleased with your self.

Looks and sounds like a lot of progress to me, annececilia. I spent the first 2 or 3 years here just doing demolition and removal, it seemed (took longer than I thought it would, too), and the yard was in a constant state of disaster. The "vintage" harvest gold hot tub, the lurid purple ice plant (1000 sq ft of it!), the English ivy (even more than 1000 sq ft!), the scaly oleanders, the privets, and at least a score or more of other inappropriately sited/chosen trees....oh the memories.

I can answer your question about what people are thinking when planting huge forest trees in their yards, Ingrid -- they don't, or at least have limited imaginations. :-) This from someone who had to have removed a 40', 4' diameter trunk Monterey pine that had been planted in the 10' median strip between our driveway and the neighbors and 10' from the corner of the house about 30 years ago. It had buckled the driveway and the garage floor and, infected with pitch pine canker disease, constantly dripped pitch on the cars in the driveway in the summer....

I'm sooo glad your blue spruce is gone, annececilia. In Amherst, Ma, the tradition was to plant them about 6' away (or less!) from the living room window, guaranteeing that in a few years there would be no view. You are well on your way.

This post was edited by catspa on Sun, Jun 30, 13 at 19:50

I love your fence, where did you get it from? Any info. is appreciated. You installed it yourself? WOW ! it looks really nice.

Oh, I am glad that you think I made a good choice on the fence. Kate - you are absolutely correct. It is more of a background than a feature...sort of "elegantly understated" eh? And when I sit on the patio, although I am somewhat screened from neighbors' views I can still see out perfectly well. Yes, I am happy with the fence choice - and I am so delighted by all your comments - Thanks!!

Strawberryhill, I got it from my local Lowes; it is also available on their website. It comes in two-panel packages and the panels are powder coated steel. Installation was quite easy. I held up a panel, marked out where the "feet" would hit and pounded a sort of "tent stake" (a set comes with each panel) in the correct spots, doing it one panel at a time. The hollow tube of the steel frame just sits down over the tent stake. Each panel hooks together to the next panel with a sort of hook on one side and rings on the other. Simple. For a gate, since the manufactured one is no longer available, I used a hack-saw and removed the "foot" on one side of a panel and it swings on the hook and ring on its other side. I keep it closed with a very short, black bungee cord. It is plenty sturdy. I don't think it would hold up if I was going to keep my two rambunctious dogs INSIDE it, but since they are outside and only need it as a barrier from getting to the plants, it works fine. (It would probably be just fine to hold a tiny dog inside but mine are 30 and 60 lbs.) It has been through several windy days, a thunder storm, and had the dogs bump into it during a game of chase and wrestle - and no problems. :-)

Oh - and on one side of the patio there is a clematis that thinks it makes a wonderful trellis. I'm thinking it will be great for tying rose canes to as well!

Here is a link that might be useful: No Dig Steel Fence Panel

Oh my goodness----you are amazing----I love your fence---I agree with Kate--it is a nice addition for showing off your roses

I can't believe how much you have already done and with two bad knees----keep up the good work---I will be following your progress with great interest
Thanks so much for the pictures---I've been thinking about you and applauding.

Florence

Oh my goodness----you are amazing----I love your fence---I agree with Kate--it is a nice addition for showing off your roses

I can't believe how much you have already done and with two bad knees----keep up the good work---I will be following your progress with great interest
Thanks so much for the pictures---I've been thinking about you and applauding.

Florence

Yes, I like the fence too. It was a good choice as was taking down the tree. Good luck with the rest of the planting. You are well on your way to the garden of your dreams!

Anne

People plant cedars in their small yards here all the time, huge, massive, wide-spreading trees with branches to the ground, and then spend bathtubs of money every year having trucks with cherry pickers come to prune the side branches shorter. Sometimes they top them too, a practice as horrible as it is pointless. I love trees greatly, but they need to be in the right place. In justice to certain clueless owners, I must say that it can be difficult to imagine how big that twig you're planting will get, and in not too many years, too.
I like your fence, too. And I understand about the knees; I have to be careful with mine as well. Good luck on your project. It's going fine, and in normal fashion.
Happy gardening!
Melissa

Your home is lovely, the garden will be beautiful. Looking forward to more pics in the future.

I LOVE that fence! So much nicer than white vinyl and you'll get a breeze through it.

What an attractive fence! Looking fwd to pics of the clematis and rose adornments.

Landscaping is certainly grueling and ardeous labor. Your vision is special. It looks to me that your fence choice will be enjoyed for decades. I can certainly envision rose blooms amongst the strong black fencing.
Thank you for sharing your progress.
Jeannie

Thank you, Anne, for the info. about the fence from Lowe's much appreciated. I'm thinking about a fence like that for my 19 feet opening, which deer come to eat my roses. Does the fence come with a gate? Thanks in advance.

Looks terrific AnneCecilia - it's testament that the heart of a great garden is all the "ground" work (literally) that goes into it. Sympathies on digging out the ditch lilies. I tried to get every piece as you've described, but in my experience it's worth waiting a year or so to see if a piece you've missed decides to pop up. Those little buggers are persistent, and it only takes a small deeply rooted piece to come back with a vengeance. Better to wait and make sure they're gone than try to dig them out around a rose.

Speaking of roses, which ones are you planning to plant with your wonderful new yard? Gotta concentrate on that carrot to get you past the stick process at the moment!

Cynthia

Anne Cecilia

You are an impressive gardener! This part of garden creation is the hardest--starting from scratch, removing, and installing. I, too, adore your fence! Now that it's installed, I can share that I prefer it to a white vinyl one. I'm all about scrolling metal work. Yours will be an elegant trellis for all kinds of lovelies.

Once again, I'm thinking that someday someone should post an invitation to share "My Biggest Garden Transformation." There are some doozies on the forum, and it's so encouraging to see great change happen...like your creation of a rose garden.

I'm sending green thoughts for your rosy transplants! Please keep us posted on progress.

Carol

Beautiful fence. I think a panel or two would make a great trellis for a couple of my clematis since it is fine enough for them to catch hold of . thanks you for showing all the pics of all the work you've done. It is lovely, and will be magnificent.
kay

Hi Anne: I re-read your info. about the fence, and how you modified it to have a gate. That's great.... sorry I didn't catch on. I repost Anne's link to Lowe's No Dig 44-in x 36-in Black/Powder-Coated Steel Fence Panel, only $23.

Here is a link that might be useful: Anne's fence sold at Lowe's

Oh, good, Strawberryhill. I'm glad you saw that part about the gate. It's a pity they don't carry the pre-made gates any more; they list it on line but apparently it no longer exists, according to the in-store folks. And remember, you get two panels (or 6 ft. of fence) for that price. The only thing is you have to plan for it to come out to a run that is divisible by 6; there is no way to cut down a panel that I can see.

I am really and truly touched by your support, everyone - many, many thanks. I love this forum! Every comment that is left has made me feel so much better now about the rate of progress. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will this garden, LOL, not even in a year apparently. But as long as I keep moving forward, I will try to be satisfied...and you can be sure I will continue to post update photos when there is something new to show you! :-)

This post was edited by annececilia on Mon, Jul 1, 13 at 21:08

About the "charming white plastic fencing", we fought that one, as well. DH wanted it, I said it's got to be too good to be true, let's watch it for a while.

The charming fencing in a public garden near the river took less than two years to have mold on its shaded side. It took them two more years to realize that the mold wouldn't go away by itself, but needed scrubbing at least every other year.

Closer to us, more conventional 'horse' white plastic fencing went up and got moldy within a year. Then it was hit by a car or truck and three units shattered. It took them five months to get the right replacements.

Now imagine scrubbing that lovely formerly white plastic through thorny rose canes.

(Do you all use "stump rot" to speed up the rot of cut off stumps? It worked really well in New Orleans and more slowly here.)

You're doing a great job.

Ann

I like your fence. Since it's no-dig I might try it in my side yard where the tree roots made it impossible to put in posts for a traditional fence. I wonder if it would deter armadillos.

Hi Anne: I really appreciate your pics. of the fence. That's a lot better than the $850 quote I received for wooden fence to close the 19 feet gap. We use strings to keep the deer out, but it's a nuisance to crawl under the strings.

I try to convince my husband on your fence. Below is another shot of the steel fence at Lowe's, posted by another reviewer:

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:283564}}