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Front garden design - what will grow?

amyjayneukamyjayneuk Posts: 26
in Garden design
Hello, I have become a big fan of this site over the last month. So much useful advice and it’s great to see people’s projects develop. I have a fairly wide border In the front garden that is north west facing. The top section gets quite dry from midday sun and the back is very sheltered from the house. The border is backed by next door’s conifers. I am flummoxed as to the soil as I have a large azela and the hydrangea (I think, is purple and pink) yet my test metre jsays the soil is alkaline, PH8. I have planted a camellia, rhododendron and anemone (before I had the metre) which I am now worried will struggle. I think the dwarf azela is also in too much sun. Should I remove any existing plants? What would work in this space? How can I really be sure as to what soil I have without sending off for a testing kit? Appreciate any ideas or suggestions. 

Posts

  • amyjayneukamyjayneuk Posts: 26

  • amyjayneukamyjayneuk Posts: 26

  • amyjayneukamyjayneuk Posts: 26

  • amyjayneukamyjayneuk Posts: 26

  • amyjayneukamyjayneuk Posts: 26

  • amyjayneukamyjayneuk Posts: 26

  • amyjayneukamyjayneuk Posts: 26

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If your acid-lovers seem happy (growing well, no yellowing leaves etc) then I would go with that. The test kit could be wrong, you could have hit upon a patch of soil that had a bit of mortar or something in it from the path/edging, or maybe you used alkaline (hard) tap water.
    I think the main thing will be watering, and adding goodness with manure/compost whenever you plant something new and as a mulch, because those conifers will be sucking out a lot of moisture and food.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • amyjayneukamyjayneuk Posts: 26
    Thanks @JennyJ I will leave them where they are and see how they go. I’ve been feeding with liquid food for acidic-loving plants and started my own compost to help add to what I’ve already given them. 
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