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Help with new garden and plants to choose

Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
in Plants
Hi all. 
Having my garden borders re done with the classic railway sleepers look in August. I believe I have sandy soil (please see picture). 
Im in the military and spend a lot of time away and my wife looks after our two toddlers. Any idea what plants/shrubs we should be buying to fill our new beds! Some things that are easy to maintain Can be planted in August and will last. Maybe with a bit of colour thrown in! I was thinking heathers, lavenders and English wildflowers. If a big no no let me know please. 
sorry it’s a lot to ask I know but any help will be very much appreciated. 
Cheers. 
William. 

Posts

  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Heathers and lavenders can be tricky. Heather prefer acidic soil (yours is probably neutral). Lavenders need full sun and a fair bit of moisture at least until they establish.
    Good news is that there are thousands of different plants that can be suitable. With any plant you need to look after the soil and watering. When you build your raised sleeper area put some manure in with the soil, be generous. If you do, then almost anything will grow well if it is watered. All plants need watering in. When you plant them soak them then go back once a week for the first season and water. After that they will be "established" and most plant's will look after themselves.
    One trip to a garden centre and a bit of pro advice - there is soooo much to choose from. BTW plants are either annual (comes once and then die) or perrienial (grows back next year or evergreen) 

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    With two little children, you need to be aware that many popular garden plants are poisonous if eaten.  I think the Royal Horticultural Society publishes guidance on that.  You might also want to avoid thorny plants, and the euphorbia family whose sap can cause skin irritation.  Many people think it's good for children to understand where their food comes from, so maybe some currant bushes or raspberries?  They take two or three years to start fruiting, by which time your young ones will be big enough to enjoy gathering them.  For colour you could sow cheap and cheerful annuals such as poppies, marigolds and nasturtiums.  You only need to sow them once, after that they will self-seed year after year.
  • Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
    Thanks a million. I’m 100% pro perennial 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited July 2018
    Lavender could be fine with sandy soil and lots of sun. With little kids, choosing plants that can withstand footballs and sword fights might be important. Not stuff too expensive, brittle or unforgiving. There are lots of hardy bush salvias that might be good. Colourful, drought tolerant, perennial, the leaves smell nice, bee-friendly. Linaria, borage (which self seeds happily after the first planting), oregano, agastche, perhaps some clematis up trellis for height. Stachys byzantina (cos they feel so nice), rosemary, geum.



  • Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
    Wonderful advice guys. Thanks so much. Will. 
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