Path reconstruction and lawn preparation

With the main frosts gone, which lift one’s paths whether they be flagstones, gravel or tarmac, a review of paths has been necessary.

One path in particular, from Peto’s first Oriental garden to the Cloister, has got out of alignment with where it should be in terms of garden design.  Since Iford is all about design, we’re re-cutting the edge with a simple half-moon tool, and re-levelling it using Cerney “as-raised” gravel.  It is crucial for us to get a particular level of clay in the gravel to allow surface binding and drainage, and a Cotswoldy colour to the particles.  It goes down now, because whilst rollers won’t squash it down properly, the feet of 10000-or-so visitors in a year will do so nicely and we open to the public in a fortnight.

The other challenge is grass: the lawns are not looking terribly happy after a rather wet and very cold winter.  Anywhere where the drainage is poor the grass has taken on a jaundiced, chlorotic colour, with a very high moss level.  The historic lawns are difficult to drain properly because of the adjacent tree and shrub roots and so we have to make do with spiking, scarifying and new grass seed.  This year we’re using one of the golf green mixes which is hard wearing but which can be cut very short – not very bouncy, but good for the footfall and picnics in the summer for the Arts Events.