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Plants around Lilac

NewGrowNewGrow Posts: 17
in Plants

Dear members, I'm trying to make this nearly bare patch at ground level to something more interesting.

This patch would get good 5-6 hours of sun in the summer through the square trellis on the left.

You can see we have a big tree which is Lilac and then 2 other small ones next to it on far side.

We have 3-4 lavenders and about 8 small variety of Roses (Patio Roses?) next to them on the near right.

My questions are

1. What plants should be avoided in this bed technically due to Lilacs if that is a thing to consider at all.

2. A bit of newbie question -  can you put acid loving plants like Azalea, Rhododendrons etc. in same bed with plants which like normal / neutral soil conditions? What is the rule around this thing? Or is it simply a case of putting in some Ericaceous compost in and around the acid loving plants planted along with other plants in same bed?

3. Can I move this small roses to pots? They didn't give much of blooms last year - don't know why although I did give them some horse manure feed last season.

4. I'm looking forward to make it not look like it does right now ever - so would like to add some evergreens and perennials for which I have bought the seeds already.

Can you please suggest

A) some interesting evergreens

B) Something to give the fence on the right a bit of cover.


Thank you.


Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Lilacs and lavenders prefer alkaline to neutral soil.  Azaleas, rhodos, camellias like acid so are not compatible.

    Clear your weeds, pile on plenty of well-rotted garden compost or bought in compost and manure and then plant something like euonymous, osmanthus, sarcococca for a variety of foliage and flowers.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    There's no rule to say you can't plant roses into containers, but small roses doesn't necessarily mean smaller pots. Some can scramble far and wide and need space for their roots.  Some roses only bloom once a year, so that could be the reason. Other reasons include the amount of sun and whether you have pruned them in early spring to allow for more fresh branches to develop.

    Also, depending on where the border is facing, with a lattice style fence so close to the border, it could be that your border may have dappled shade which would mean sun loving plants like Lavender may not thrive as well. A lilac tree/shrub will cast shade over the border at intervals too, so think about semi shaded plants like Aguilegias (which can gently self seed), Astrantias, Geraniums, Coreopsis and Alchemilla Mollis. Into the autumn, Japanese Anemones adds colour. 

    Test your soil to be sure about acid loving plants. No point in trying to grow Azaleas in the ground if you don't have the right soil. Far better to have them in pots if you really like those plants.
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