Why pull up the daffodils? If you plant them deep you can plant other plants over them which will hide the dying daffodil leaves when the new growth starts.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
If you find it difficult to identify something to flower in a particular month you might find the appropriate play list from my youtube channel helpful. I do favor having things flowering throughout the year and to help see how this works through the different months of the season I have made a playlist for plants flowering each month of the year in my own garden. Some things may flower outside the month they are listed on the playlist as well and some plants like erysium bowles mauve or geum seem to flower for most of the year. If you have enough varieties you will likely have something flowering throughout the year but expecting a spectacular display with no gaps for all 12 months from just flowers is expecting a bit much in my opinion. Some plants with other attractive features like interesting variegated leaves and colourful stems and buds might also help things look better when less flowers are in season.
Thank you so much everyone for your helpful replies!
@Kili Bulbs I am pretty good with through previous years of trial and error (mostly error) so there will be plenty of those planted next autumn. I just don't seem to do a very good job of mixing up the planting to go through from May until September (let alone past that which I haven't even thought about!).
@Busy-Lizzie that's a great idea - especially as for cost reasons it's going to take a while to really build out my flower beds. Considering how bad I am at actual garden design I've had surprisingly good experiences with growing things from seed, so cost wise that would also be a real help to get some colour in the first year.
@Papi Jo - I plan to use a mixture though am still searching for shrubs I like! @madpenguin - for some reason I'm just not a fan, I think because I haven't yet learnt how to properly incorporate them so they don't just look plonked in a spot. I'm going to do some research and try to find ones I like and think will go well. @Papi Jo I absolutely LOVE white flowers - they are actually my all time favourite, so there will be plenty in there. Your garden is stunning - it looks seamless and natural in a way that seems to allude me!
@Nollie you've listed lots of my favourites! Echillia, salvia, agastache helenium etc. It's reassuring to know it is a skill that takes a bit of time. I've only been gardening for about 5 years (and had a tiny water logged clay mess previously) so I'm still very much a learner.
@robairdmacraignil thank you, what a great idea. I had started to write notes previously about what was in flower when, but seeing photos is much more helpful. I think you're also right about thinking about the foliage as much as the colour - if I can find some things that have long lasting interesting foliage then it will help to make the garden presentable all year round. More research for me to do!
Thanks again everyone - this has been super helpful and I have lots to go away and think about
For small spaces, the "easy" solution is bulbs + plants with long flowering season + evergreens. With a larger space, you have more options and the opportunity to play with succession but it's always trial and error. You could still use some plants with a long flowering season to connect the planting together and to have something that is always in flower. I have several plants which flower from May to September or even October. Annuals are also good for this, they can go for ages as long as they are watered and fed.
I agree with the use of shrubs, either evergreen or purple-leaved shrubs to create the structure/backdrop to perennial flower borders. Ones that work well for me are Nandina Domestica (evergreen, but autumn colour and berries too), the ever-purple Loropetalum Black Pearl and Euphorbia Blackbird, plus deciduous Berberis in both upright and spreading forms for red/purple accents. These do help carry the border, in a roughly 1/3 shrub to 2/3 perennial ratio.
I do struggle with bulbs though. Either they are a no-show, don’t come back after the first year or hold on to their foliage far too long and look scruffy despite attempts to disguise the foliage. I do like the smaller alliums, like the long-lasting deep purple atropurpureum, as I think they look more naturalistic than the larger ones. This year I am trying species tulips and smaller, less stiff glads like The Bride and Flevo. We shall see!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
A lot of wild flowers (like linaria and ragwort) will go right through the summer and are good for filling any gaps and need little tlc. Wild plants like feverfew and ox eye daisies can be cut back easily after flowering.
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@Kili Bulbs I am pretty good with through previous years of trial and error (mostly error) so there will be plenty of those planted next autumn. I just don't seem to do a very good job of mixing up the planting to go through from May until September (let alone past that which I haven't even thought about!).
@Busy-Lizzie that's a great idea - especially as for cost reasons it's going to take a while to really build out my flower beds. Considering how bad I am at actual garden design I've had surprisingly good experiences with growing things from seed, so cost wise that would also be a real help to get some colour in the first year.
@Papi Jo - I plan to use a mixture
@Nollie you've listed lots of my favourites! Echillia, salvia, agastache helenium etc. It's reassuring to know it is a skill that takes a bit of time. I've only been gardening for about 5 years (and had a tiny water logged clay mess previously) so I'm still very much a learner.
@robairdmacraignil thank you, what a great idea. I had started to write notes previously about what was in flower when, but seeing photos is much more helpful. I think you're also right about thinking about the foliage as much as the colour - if I can find some things that have long lasting interesting foliage then it will help to make the garden presentable all year round. More research for me to do!
Thanks again everyone - this has been super helpful and I have lots to go away and think about