Duluth - Georgia - USA - Zone 7b
 

Back Fence Area

July 2003
When we first moved here the back fence was a mass of Chinese privet, Chinese honeysuckle and other invasive plants.  We cut all of these out, reclaiming at least 8 feet of garden all along the back fence.

November 2003
This shows the back fence area before we started moving soil around.

February 2004
I spent many hours on this little tractor, moving soil around.  I flattened an area which would eventually get a retaining wall and pond and piled this along the back fence.

February 2004
Another view of the earth moving.  I then created a slightly raised area to the left and a ditch running along the back fence for rain water to run.

April 2004
Here is the raised area where I planted 2 apple trees, a Redhaven peachtree and 3 Hanson Cherry bushes.  To the right of the fruit trees is the rain water ditch.

May 2004
Everything nicely tilled to about 10" down.  The retaining wall in place and planning for the pond in progress.

April 2005
I completed the back fence bed by placing cinder blocks and cap stones continuing from the retaining wall.  The back fence is still a mass of Poison Ivy, Honeysuckle, Crossvine and Trumpet Vine.  I hope to remove all of this and put in a solid wood fence some day.

September 2005
The creeping purple Mazus is filling in nicely.  Just a few more bald patches which should fill in next year.
I'm going for a tropical look along the fence so I planted several Cannas and Elephant Ears.

May 2007
The Mazus was a solid carpet of purple this Spring.  I just have to pull it back every 3 months or so as it does like to spread.  Now the yellow Evening Primroses are just starting to bloom.  I put in a trellis for my new Asian Pear tree which I am going to espalier.

May 2008
This is the second year that I have been training my Asian Pear to a triple tier espalier.  So far I only have a two tier cordon.  The next tier will be formed next year.  I have another Asian Pear growing 30" away from the back wall of the house which I am training in a candelabra espalier.  And I have an apricot tree I am training as a fan espalier.  It is a lot of fun shaping the trees, but they do require frequent attention during the growing season.  The great thing about espalier is that the trees take up very little room.

April 2009
Here is the third tier of my Asian pear just starting.  In February I cut the top of the main trunk off, after picking two healthy-looking lateral buds.  They sprouted and are now forming the last two cordons.  I am still letting the tips of the other cordons grow somewhat upwards to keep the sap flowing and have them elongate some more.  After blooming beautifully in late April I have 4 little pears getting plump.
The iris's gave a wonderful show this year but I had problems both with bacteria and fungal infections.  I took a soil sample to my county extension service and they determined that my soil is too alkaline and lacks nitrogen, which is probably why they were susceptible to infection.  I have put out sulphur and nitrogen to remedy this problem.

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Copyright Reserved - Created September 2005 - e-mail Jane