So, I listened to everyone here and I took on the task of widening my north facing border to start with (I'll sneakily do the other border later too... haha). See photos below. It's now 4ft wide and this is 18ft long.😁
It was a lot of backbreaking hardwork but very satisfying now that I have finished it. I raked in a good amount of compost and manure as advised as well.
Now I need help with planting in this bed. Below are the plants I currently have for this border (mostly shade loving plants . Could anyone please help me with the arrangment and placement of these plants in this border to help me achieve a fabulous look. Also, I don't have to put all these in this border especially ones that can tolerate a bit of sun since I have another border to plant up (East Facing) .
Thank you as always for all of your input . It means a great deal to me .
Plants for North facing wall
Helloborus Hybrid Emma
Hart's Tongue Fern scolopendrium
Holly Fern Fortune I
Snakes Head Fritillaryl x3
Euonymus Harlequin x2
Belis Habanera Mix X 2
Cowslip Lime and Orange x2
Anemone Hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
Anemone Hybrida 'Konigin Charlotte's
Fragaria ananassa 'Red Ruby's
Vinca minor 'Ms Jekyll White'
Hardy Fuschia x4
Bush Fuschia x2
Verbena Bonariensis
Have had a look ! Blimey, you've got a fair list there . Off the top of my head, l would think the magnolias are a bit too big. Vinca and hellebores near the front, and the same for the snake heads. The Vinca will spread quite a bit, you may want to put that to one side for now. Now this thread has bumped up again, others may advise. My advice is, look at the labels for size and spread, and the time they flower (if applicable). Using these as a guide, you can set the pots out on the bed, and move them around until you get the result you like. Remember to allow for growth, you don't want to be digging them out again in a year or so. Hope this helps, you could post a photo on here when you've got the pot layout done before you plant, maybe .
Thank you AnniD. I do have a lot of plants don't I? Oh dear! Anyway, I have planted most of them now. Looking at it, if I have to dig some up in a year (much against your advice), I'll have to put it down to learning on the job then. (Head in hand). I just wanted to get a move on with things I suppose.
I have drawn up a plan though as advised. It's rough and I need to use colour pencils and all. Once that's all donw, I'll share.
All those shrubs are still very small but some can eventually grow very big. I hope you've taken that into account when deciding planting distances.
IMHO - bedding plants like pansies just look odd in neat little lines with bare soil between. Plant instead in groups of 3 or 5 in a triangular formation or a curve. Looks more natural and has more impact too plus saves water loss from evaporation form the bare soil .
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)."
How about taking a line from the corner of the end of the bed to the second fence post along so you have a larger triangular area in that corner to plant one or two of the larger shrubs? The Magnolia might do better there as it would offer some shelter, depending on where your prevailing winds come from. I see you have added an arched trellis there, though so presumably are planning to plant a climber?
Personally, I would lay off the bedding plants and allow your shrubs and perennials space to settle, otherwise, I agree with Obelixx, plant in groups of three or fives otherwise it will look bitty and uncoordinated.
I’m a bit befuddled by your long plant list, not sure how you are going to fit them all in!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Thank you Nollie. Your suggestion of a larger triangular area is very interesting and welcome as I have been thinking along the same line. I put the arch there as I was trying to visualise an idea in my head.
Here's the idea so far.....the arch is to serve almost like an entrance into that corner bed which will be made wider, leading to a 2 seater bistro area (this will be very small). I will have climbers on the arch and perhaps climbers on the fence behind so my bigger shrubs can surround this area.
This is my attempt at trying to create a little space or area that offers something else to explore so that you don't see the whole garden from the patio as we want to keep quite a large part of our lawn making the whole garden quite exposed.
I'll follow your advise re the bedding plants. Also, please don't be befuddled by the plant list. I have said earlier in this discussion that thankfully, I don't have to plant it all as I can return them to my local garden centre for other plants/items there. Also, I still have the other side of the border to plant up which is longer than this one.
Thank you so much for your input. I highly appreciate it.
Posts
So, I listened to everyone here and I took on the task of widening my north facing border to start with (I'll sneakily do the other border later too... haha). See photos below. It's now 4ft wide and this is 18ft long.😁
It was a lot of backbreaking hardwork but very satisfying now that I have finished it. I raked in a good amount of compost and manure as advised as well.
Now I need help with planting in this bed. Below are the plants I currently have for this border (mostly shade loving plants . Could anyone please help me with the arrangment and placement of these plants in this border to help me achieve a fabulous look. Also, I don't have to put all these in this border especially ones that can tolerate a bit of sun since I have another border to plant up (East Facing) .
Thank you as always for all of your input . It means a great deal to me .
Plants for North facing wall
Helloborus Hybrid Emma
Hart's Tongue Fern scolopendrium
Holly Fern Fortune I
Snakes Head Fritillaryl x3
Euonymus Harlequin x2
Belis Habanera Mix X 2
Cowslip Lime and Orange x2
Anemone Hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
Anemone Hybrida 'Konigin Charlotte's
Fragaria ananassa 'Red Ruby's
Vinca minor 'Ms Jekyll White'
Hardy Fuschia x4
Bush Fuschia x2
Verbena Bonariensis
Osmanthus Burkwoodii
Vibernum Davidii
Syringa Madam Lemoine
Magnolia Stellata
Magnolia Soulangeana
Latest Update!
It's backbreaking work so I stopped here .I will continue later!
Thoughts on plant choices and positioning? Note, it's a north facing wall.
I have drawn up a plan though as advised. It's rough and I need to use colour pencils and all. Once that's all donw, I'll share.
Thank you once again.
IMHO - bedding plants like pansies just look odd in neat little lines with bare soil between. Plant instead in groups of 3 or 5 in a triangular formation or a curve. Looks more natural and has more impact too plus saves water loss from evaporation form the bare soil .
Thank you for he insight about the planting of pansies. I'll adjust those.
Could you please suggest other annuals or bedding plants that can work in this space to fill up space for now please?
Thank you so much.
Personally, I would lay off the bedding plants and allow your shrubs and perennials space to settle, otherwise, I agree with Obelixx, plant in groups of three or fives otherwise it will look bitty and uncoordinated.
I’m a bit befuddled by your long plant list, not sure how you are going to fit them all in!
Here's the idea so far.....the arch is to serve almost like an entrance into that corner bed which will be made wider, leading to a 2 seater bistro area (this will be very small). I will have climbers on the arch and perhaps climbers on the fence behind so my bigger shrubs can surround this area.
This is my attempt at trying to create a little space or area that offers something else to explore so that you don't see the whole garden from the patio as we want to keep quite a large part of our lawn making the whole garden quite exposed.
I'll follow your advise re the bedding plants. Also, please don't be befuddled by the plant list. I have said earlier in this discussion that thankfully, I don't have to plant it all as I can return them to my local garden centre for other plants/items there. Also, I still have the other side of the border to plant up which is longer than this one.
Thank you so much for your input. I highly appreciate it.