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Suitable plants for a 10' x 3' flower bed,in my front garden

Wilson73Wilson73 Posts: 136
in Plants
Hello,I'm clearing a front garden bed tomorrow that runs between my lawn and drive it's 10' x 3' it has had a couple of shrubs in for many years and has looked very untidy.I'm going to start again and clear it.
Could anyone give me any suggestion of any plants that wont grow to a crazy size and will look tidy(if there is such a thing),Maybe a couple of shrubs and a selection of perennials,nice sturdy but attractive plants that are known to stay healthy looking would be great.Plants that are readily available as well as I'm quite limited as a non driver and so I will have to get my plants from Homebase or one of the supermarkets.
I'm sorry if I seem short of ideas but I'm a very new gardener,trying to enhance my garden with little knowledge but I do have enthusiasm and I enjoy surprising my family and  neighbours with the transformations that I have made of late,in my garden and my life!
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  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    An idea of your soil type and how much sun it gets would help.
    There are loads of nurseries online that deliver so don't be limited.
    Lavender is always nice if you have sun, easy to keep neat and rarely has any problems.
  • Wilson73Wilson73 Posts: 136
    edited July 2020
    I'm sorry I don't know the soil type and I'm not sure about the sun either,I do know that the backgarden has more sun in the afternoon than the front of the garden.I felt that the soil was quite sandy when I was doing the back garden.The land on my road was once the kitchen garden of a stately home but I don't suppose that has any bearing to it's condition now,and I suppose developers maybe bring their own soil,on another bed in the front gaden I have a couple of Hydrangeas that have been there for decades.
    Sorry if I sound so vague.
    That's good to hear about nurseries that deliver
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    Hi - I think you have mentioned liking Hebes in previous posts. I think these would be a good choice - widely available, and very reliable. Also, worth planning on planting some spring bulbs in September - nothing is as cheering as crocus and daffs appearing. (sorry, you might already have some in the bed).
  • Wilson73Wilson73 Posts: 136
    Hi thanks,yesI like Hebes,and it's a fresh bed so nothing in yet,I will get some spring bulbs that's a good idea.I asked my neighbours and nobody knows what soil they have and I had about 4 different answers as to what direction they thought the gardens faced even though we are all on the same side of the road!So I have ordered a compass
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You should be able to tell roughly what direction the front of the house faces by where the sun is at different times of day - sun in the morning but shaded by the house later in the day is e ast-facing, the opposite is west-facing. Sun on the front of the house pretty much all day south facing. (Assuming you're in the Northern hemisphere of course! Opposite down under I think.)
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    No need to order a compass there is always an app you can download for free,
    My front faces north east, so bitter winds and sun in the bedroom first thing.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Where does the sun rise and set? That should give you a clue😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Wilson73Wilson73 Posts: 136
    JennyJ said:
    You should be able to tell roughly what direction the front of the house faces by where the sun is at different times of day - sun in the morning but shaded by the house later in the day is e ast-facing, the opposite is west-facing. Sun on the front of the house pretty much all day south facing. (Assuming you're in the Northern hemisphere of course! Opposite down under I think.)

    Yes that sounds exactly like our home
  • FlyDragonFlyDragon Posts: 834
    This might help with working out what soil you have.  Its spot on for me.
  • Wilson73Wilson73 Posts: 136
    K67 said:
    An idea of your soil type and how much sun it gets would help.
    There are loads of nurseries online that deliver so don't be limited.
    Lavender is always nice if you have sun, easy to keep neat and rarely has any problems.

    I put in a lavender at the back a couple of weeks ago,it's looking droopy,do you think that it's beacuse I gave it too much water at the start?
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