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Mixed Planting advice

FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
in Problem solving
There’s a narrow strip of border I’d like to plant so it has different layers of interest a bit like the picture below. 

I’d like it to be mostly evergreen ans low maintenance. I’m still a novice gardener so I wonders What plants would you use to create a similar effect? The pictures are just a guide to the closest thing I can imagine. There’s no fence it’s just open at the moment. 



My initial thoughts are I was thinking maybe geranium dreamland and carex ice dance for ground cover then a few shrub/small trees to give the bit of height like magnolia gails favourite/ Myrtle or pittosporum. 

Any and all advice appreciated! Even if it’s to say this won’t work! The space is east facing and in sun. 
Thanks In advance! 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You haven't stated the size of your border. Narrow, to some people, would still be around 3 or 4 feet. Some photos of your own border and what other planting is around it etc is needed. 
    Where you live is also a major factor in choosing suitable plants. What will thrive in a protected spot in the south of England, won't work in a wet, cold area at altitude in the north.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    Hi @Fairygirl thank for your post I completely forgot I live in the south west… Wales so wet but warm. The border width is 2m and it curves away to a narrow point. 
    This is why I was thinking three taller shrubs / trees max would fit into it. 
    Currently it’s planted with dwarf hebe non flowering and pittosporum Tom thunmb and a short flowering geranium I don’t know the name of… deep magenta x but there are so many weeds in it and I don’t love the look I’d like to make it over! 
  • CharlotteFCharlotteF Posts: 337
    Looking at the pictures you like it seems that it's not so much which plants you choose but how you use them which will give you the look. Essentially a very restricted palette of plants with a precise and formal repetition. Which is great as you can choose them to suit the site! 

    The plants you've got in mind should be fairly happy there. I'd go for just one type of large and small shrub and repeat them. Good idea to mix up your ground cover to provide some winter interest (though geranium dreamland is fab value, mine was still flowering in December last year and was fairly early into flower in spring too). Where is the border, is winter interest a factor or is it somewhere tucked away unseen for part of the year?
  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    Hi @CharlotteF thanks for your post! I just discovered geranium dreamland this year and I love it. 
    The plot is front of house so it would be great to have winter interest but I’m bang out of ideas! 
    I tried to choose easy things - grasses geraniums etc because I’m not very experienced. I did think about bulbs but I’m not sure they could emerge through the dense planting I had in mind. 
    But I don’t know 🤷‍♀️
  • CharlotteFCharlotteF Posts: 337
    Bulbs would be lovely through your ground cover! Fragrant narcissi would be great, need minimal effort year on year, and the geraniums will hide some of the foliage as it dies back. Since it's outside the front of the house, what about Sarcococca for your mid storey to provide some scent?
  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    I do like sarcocccoca - do you know a good variety? 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Marlorena has a similar strip, bordering a pavement. You might find some inspirations in evergreens here.

    Evergreen parahebes might work well and low yew hedging?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Pick a shrub or small tree that you like and have three. Take some time and look at specialist sites for suitable ones for your climate and soil. Some Magnolias might suit, Amelanchiers, Sorbus, Cytisus, Philadlephus etc. 
    The understory you have will be fine, although you might want to consider replacing either the Hebe or the Pittosporum for something that's more floral, for some extra colour. Plenty of Hebes which flower. 
    Bulbs in with the geraniums is a simple, and much used solution. Very easy. It's bulb time of year, so just browse the sites which specialise if you want to have a uniform, structured look - ie repeat them through the border, and just pick a couple of different varieties, at different heights. That could be dwarf narcissi followed by a later, taller one, or crocus followed by narcissus/daffs, depending on what you like. 
    If you aren't bothered by those having to be formal, there are bargain loads of bulbs available online and in various outlets, which can be put in for a spring display. Stick to things that will be straightforward and will suit the site. Snowdrops probably wouldn't be very happy, and tulips are generally less reliable, apart from the species ones. 
    Very low, evergreen ground cover saves weeding. You could have Saxifrages, Arabis, Aubretia, Ajuga etc in that aspect. Plenty of others.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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