New additions include hebe great orme, buddleja buzz x2, rosemary (hopefully fair better in the ground than outside in a container), french lavender and fuchsia Mrs. Popple.
Looks good but I agree with the others that maybe you were expecting a bit too much too soon especially with the long, cold and wet winter we’ve had.
Most of my perennials that have been in 2-3 years currently look much like your plants did but I know that by summer they will be 3 feet tall and in full bloom.
I have fertile but quite damp soil and find that plants that like poor, well drained soil like lavender and erysimum will put on plenty of growth but do not flower all that well and rapidly get leggy and woody.
How quickly would you expect the hebe, buddlejas and rosemary to grow? Obviously they'll eventually get to a decent size but I'd like to fill in some of the gaps, stick with some nice annuals?
Rosemary are slow growers so I don't expect much movement in one year. Depending on the type of Hebes, some take a while to establish the first year, but after the first year they can suddenly put on a lot of growth. Buddleias grow the fastest, but will need pruning yearly. They tend to get 'leggy' without pruning, and you will end up with sparse leafless branches further down the plant.
In the first year, look into fillers that can cover the ground. Plants like Campanula Portenschlagiana, Nepeta Racemosa 'Walkers Low' and even consider shrubs like Cotoneaster Horizontalis/Dammeri. They have almost evergreen coverage, late spring flowers and berries into the autumn-winter time. Some even turn red in the autumn and colder months. They look great climbing/trailing up/down walls/fences.
Should rosemary be ok over winter since it's in the ground? The potted ones I had (3) all died but I'd like to think since this one will get a full growing season it'll help, could always mulch too?
Rosemary should be fine, but make sure the soil is free draining. If you have damp soil, add in grit or more compost mix in with the soil. They don't need feeding, they do well in dry and sunny conditions.
Hebe should be fine too, and that one will fill out quite big.
Another wee update just to show how things have progressed. Chucked in californian poppies, osteospermum and some lovely vanilla african marigolds among others to help fill in some gaps-
It's a constant buzz of activity, really chuffed how it's all turned out.
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New additions include hebe great orme, buddleja buzz x2, rosemary (hopefully fair better in the ground than outside in a container), french lavender and fuchsia Mrs. Popple.
Most of my perennials that have been in 2-3 years currently look much like your plants did but I know that by summer they will be 3 feet tall and in full bloom.
I have fertile but quite damp soil and find that plants that like poor, well drained soil like lavender and erysimum will put on plenty of growth but do not flower all that well and rapidly get leggy and woody.
In the first year, look into fillers that can cover the ground. Plants like Campanula Portenschlagiana, Nepeta Racemosa 'Walkers Low' and even consider shrubs like Cotoneaster Horizontalis/Dammeri. They have almost evergreen coverage, late spring flowers and berries into the autumn-winter time. Some even turn red in the autumn and colder months. They look great climbing/trailing up/down walls/fences.
Should rosemary be ok over winter since it's in the ground? The potted ones I had (3) all died but I'd like to think since this one will get a full growing season it'll help, could always mulch too?
Hebe should be fine too, and that one will fill out quite big.
Pretty sure it's free draining given it's sandy soil.
Put it this way, I know Bowles Mauve needs well drained soil and it's definitely thriving so I'd hope the same would extend to the likes of rosemary.
It's a constant buzz of activity, really chuffed how it's all turned out.
Almost tempted to scatter a load in amongst the stones at the top of the garden at some point.