Plants for contemporary border design
Hello all,
I'm currently re-landscaping my back garden and I've got to a stage where I'm starting to think about plant selection.
I've got a relatively extensive border along the West edge of my rear garden - dimensions are shown in the diagram below.
The border runs adjacent to my next door neighbour whose garden is about 0.5m lower than my own. I therefore want to offer a decent amount of screening for both their and my benefit.
I'd like something foliage heavy along the lines of the following:
goo.gl/igSsqt
I've been thinking of using things such as - Cotinus coggygria, Choisya ternata, polygonatum x hybridum, maybe Cornus sanguinea,
Any further plant ideas would be much appreciated.
I'm located just west of London so the ground is heavish clay.
Posts
Along the fence, I would plant bushes that can be pruned right down to the ground and that grow back quickly, as fences sometimes need work done to them. I would choose something like the ribes genus.
You have a mixture of deciduous and evergreen plants there. Does it matter if the shrubs are bare stems in the winter time? Also, what types of heights do you want your plants to reach.
For a border that length, you need to decide whether you want repeat plantings or create a border of block planting with definite form for each area.
The Polygonatum is otherwise known as Solomons' Seal ; a woodland perennial which dies down to nothing in the Winter .
Not really good screening material , but a worthy plant all the same .
Thanks for the responses so far, any thoughts on plants to achieve an effect similar to that in the following link, I think you might need to copy and paste it- goo.gl/igSsqt
Borderline - the plants at the rear of the border really want to grow to (and be maintained at about 2 - 2.5m tall.
Al M, there are plenty of shrubs available for your situation. Your list of plants are ideal too. I think, keep the Polygonatum nearer the front or middle of border. Not really ideal for the back.
Cotoneasters are great border/hedge plants. Can be hard pruned or left to grow more loosely and shaped in a more informal way. Lacteus and Franchetti are great evergreen shrubs that have flowers and berries. Bullatus is a deciduous variety, but makes up for the sheer number of bright berries throughout winter.
Ligustrums Vulgare and Ovalifolium are great shrubs that can be again shaped or what I prefer to see, a more informal and relaxed shape. They are generally evergreen and have lovely flowers. Another shrub to consider for a more constrasting look is Nadina Domestica. The leaves are semi evergreen and often changes colour in the winter time and has very delicate bright red berries that last right through the coldest months. Have a look and see if these additional plants are interesting for you.
Last edited: 02 February 2018 16:58:57
For a different and informal evergreen hedge :-
Pittosporum tenuifolium , Griselinia littoralis , Rhamnus alaternus 'variegata' , Prunus lusitanicus 'variegata' .
Cotinus coggria grows fast and big - we're forever having to cut it back. Escallonia is evergreen with either pink or white flowers, or you could try Carpenteria californica - slightly tender but should survive in London, evergreen with stupendous big white flowers by June. You don't often see it in gardens, can grow to 10 ft I'm told but I keep mine down by pruning occasionally. It can get a bit untidy but it's worth it. A tall Rosemary would also look good if you've got sunshine, a nice colour and structural effect.
There's also evergreen Ceanthos, Have a look at Hillier's book on Shrubs, a classic on shrubs for other ideas.
What fun!
Thanks to everyone who has provided advice so far - this is where I've got to.
Thoughts please.
Unfortunately I can't read them all but you have some nice plants in there. If you need a bit of inspiration for some planting idea's gardenia.net is a good site to browse through, its mainly about herbaceous perennials but does have some shrubs/trees.