Forum home› Garden design
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

New border

aaronaspreyaaronasprey Posts: 6
in Garden design
Hi all!

We have just built new decking at the end of our garden (excuse the patchy paint work - we've have moved the shed to the opposite side so we get full use of the deck area - painting due tomorrow lol).

As you can see in front of the decking we have built a dividing wall and put some lights on it, infront of that wall we want to create a simple, yet effective border.

We're not very good with plants but we prefer a more Mediterranean look with palms and grasses, more low maintenance plants/flowers preferable.

Anyone have any suggestions for what we can do infront of our divider?

Many thanks!

Picture so you know what I'm babbling on about lol.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @aaronasprey - is it just foliage planting you want, or do you want flowers too?

    Many plants like Salvias, Penstemons and Cistus can add a Mediterranean look if the soil's suitable. The foliage would add to the look and give balance. Hot colours tend to have that feel rather than pale ones too, but it depends on what you like  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • aaronaspreyaaronasprey Posts: 6
    Yes we are looking to create it the full length infront of the divider, mainly foliage and if we were to have flowers we would want reds/oranges to go with the grey fences, we dont want lots of different colour but enough to make an impact.

    I'm not the best with flowers so maybe something that flowers for a long time and that can be planted soon if I can find any in my local aldi/Tesco when I do my shopping x
  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,102
    edited April 2020
    If your garden gets good full sun or even part sun (under 6 hours sun) then possibly these plants 
    Crocosmia plants come in reds and oranges with foliage that looks grass like and also swards on others 
    Possibly, some Rudbekia with golds and yellows. Heleniums also have that coloured flowers
    I would suggest adding some blue flowered plants possibly Agapanthus or Nepeta
    All these plants aren’t fussy. Just add some compost when you plants them out and cut them back to ground level in spring
    Most of these I have suggested will flower from May to late August and will grow quite fast over a few years in the ground 


  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Mediterranean plants are tough and drought resisitant. Many have silvery leaves are are fragrant, eg Lavender, Rosemary, Perovskia (Russian sage), Purple leaved sage, Stachys Byzantina (Lambs ears).

    Maybe you want a more exotic look like cordylines, Bamboo (but not the rampant sort), grasses, ferns, cannas.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you're wanting to plant it just now when you do your shopping, you'll have to be guided by what's available. That will narrow your choices enormously, but you'll hopefully be able to build on that in future, when nurseries and garden centres are functioning more normally. 
    As @Stevedaylilly says - crocosmias and rudbeckias etc with foliage plants will give a suitable look, but those are definitely more suited to a tropical look as @Busy-Lizzie says - so those would work well with phormiums, big grasses and cannas. Dahlias are also very good for that look, as you can get strong colours. Some of those may need overwintering though, depending on your climate and conditions.

    Again - it will depend on what you can buy.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Shrubby salvias come in good reds. The one that springs to mind is "Royal bumble" but there are others. I'm assuming that you don't want anything too tall and dense there.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Some great suggestions above...also consider buying some plants online from some independent nurseries they need our support right now more than ever. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's a good shout @JennyJ. Another useful one for later on is the red Schizostylis [or Hesperantha] which would give some verticals without getting too tall. They like reasonable moisture, but they like a sunny spot. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.