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Railway sleepers down, now which plants to buy. Help!

Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
in Plants
Hi guys, railway sleepers down as to can see!
need advice on which plants, bushes and shrubs to choose. Something perennial and pretty please. I’m new to gardening. 
Thank you. 


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  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    It's looking good!  Have you put new topsoil/manure into the beds to top them up yet. If not, what is the soil like and what kind of plants do you like?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50

    getting some multi purpose compost to top up beds. Some plants and shrubs or bushes that look nice and have a bit of colour and hopefully perennial and not too much labour to
    look after. Im planting a load of various bulbs tomorrow. Can’t wait!
  • ForTheBeesForTheBees Posts: 168
    edited August 2018
    What's the hours-of-sun situation? 


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You'll need to make sure the soil is adequate to support what you plant. The beds are narrow and you also have a hedge along one of them. That means there's a lot of competition for water and  nutrients. Loads of soil and manure,not compost is needed,  to give the beds heart. Compost alone will just settle down and you'll find the beds will only be half filled by next spring/summer. 
    I know you want to get going and get planting, but take time to prep the area well. It will pay dividends.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    I echo what Fairygirl says, above.  Those 50l bags of well-rotted farmyard manure you can buy at garden centres are great, mixed together with topsoil which will give new beds the perfect start.  Multi-purpose compost is fine for adding to heavy soils but isn't sufficient in itself for permanent planting as it has no nutrient value - those are artificially added to MPC and only last for a couple of months.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    If your beds get some sunshine, I would choose some hebes, penstemons, potentillas nepeta (catmint) erigon karvinskianus (pretty little white/pink daisy flowers) and rock roses. If in shade and moist, go for iris sibirica, astilbes and hellebores. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    edited August 2018
    I would be putting down a generous layer of something like horse manure (or similar) before any topsoil. Personally, I would use topsoil rather than multi compost as the goodness in multi compost is very quickly spent.  Looking good though! 
    You can get hose manure for free from many stables, or buy it. It does not smell when rotted down and provides nutrients for years to come. 
  • Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
    Hi all thanks for your advice!
    im looking for some local horse manure now and once purchased going to purchase plenty of bags of top soil and mix into the beds as advised. I’ll keep you all updated. Tjanks!
  • ForTheBeesForTheBees Posts: 168
    I think some lavender is legally mandatory...
  • Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
    Hi all. Is it ok to put fresh manure into the soil before it’s been seasoned. I’m planning on putting any plants in yet. 
    Thank you. 
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