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Shrub advice

sking5sking5 Posts: 25
in Plants
Hi, I've dug out a new bed and dug in some soil improver. My garden is North facing and this is the westerly side so partially shady with the house and fence. Im looking for recommendations for shrubs to go along the back near the fence to provide year round colour. I'm thinking Rhododendron, Acer and Hydrangea. Also I'd like a couple of trees, maybe a dwarf crab apple bit open to suggestions. Thanks! 
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  • Doghouse RileyDoghouse Riley Posts: 347
    I'm assuming this is a new garden, so a bit of blank canvas. So lots of opportunities for a long term plan.

    Good choice of azaleas and rhodos,  they can take a long time to get established.
    But they are low maintenance and  are worth the wait.



    Ours have taken a couple of decades to get here, but they "mostly did it by themselves."
    We "hid" the side fence, by growing three quince along it. These are supported by lateral wires strung between eyes screwed into the concrete posts, nothing is attached to the fence panels which  made it easier to change them about ten years ago.
    I've a "thing" about fences, as when exposed, they tend to make a garden look smaller,  so we've a stand of bamboo along the back fence and a big wisteria on the fence unseen on the right.
    The distance to the back fence from the camera is only about 50ft.
    Our garden is south facing, so for most of the day this bed is in the shadow of the fence.
    Reasonably sized azaleas and rhodos are expensive now and the availability this year wasn't great in local garden centres.
    Best of luck with your project.
    You'll get plenty of advice on here.




  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    No advice about shrubs but I've noticed you have a lot of wiggles around the edge of the bed. This will make mowing difficult. I suggest you smooth them out a bit😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Doghouse RileyDoghouse Riley Posts: 347
    edited November 2021
    B3 said:
    No advice about shrubs but I've noticed you have a lot of wiggles around the edge of the bed. This will make mowing difficult. I suggest you smooth them out a bit😊

    True

    Edging is always a problem as you can get "border creep."

    For mine, I laid small block paver bricks (from B&Q) on a bed of fine concrete mix on some hardcore, making them flush with the edge of lawn. The small size of the bricks made it easy to follow the bends.  Not a big job really.

    They don't notice much.
    My flymo just glides over them.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What pH is the soil? If it's alkaline, I'd stay away from rhodos, azaleas, acers etc. It also looks very heavy and soggy - the usual problem with new builds unfortunately. None of those will appreciate poor drainage either.
    Also - if the garden faces north, that bed faces east - again, not good for those shrubs above if you get frosts. The early sun will do them no favours  :)
    There are plenty of other shrubs and trees which will be fine, but I'd get the soil in better condition first. Viburnums won't mind the aspect, and neither will Pieris, Spireas or Skimmia. Ilex, Mahonia, Berberis will all be fine, but are prickly, so it depends on how you use your space too. 

    I'd agree with @B3 re the wiggles. Awkward for mowing,  but also doesn't look great. A good design for a garden needs sweeping curves to give coherence, or straight lines if you like a more formal look. The planting then softens that.   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Of course, if the OP has very alkaline soil Rhodes and Azaleas would not be suitable.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Snap @punkdoc :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • sking5sking5 Posts: 25
    It is quite boggy soil, how can I improve the condition? I have no idea if it's alkaline though, I'm based in Hertfordshire in the UK.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What's growing in gardens round about you? Can you maybe take a look and see? 
    There are kits you can buy to determine your soil pH. Most GCs sell them I think  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you add lots of organic matter, that will improve it. That just means compost, leaf mould etc. The best thing is manure though. You can buy it bagged, which is ready to use, but if you can get some fresh stuff from a stables, that can just be put on and left over winter to rot down. It needs around 6 months to break down and be suitable for planting. It's not suitable when it's fresh.  :)
    I meant to say earlier, that hydrangeas will be fine in that area, but bear in mind the eventual size of them. It's not a very large space  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Doghouse RileyDoghouse Riley Posts: 347
    edited November 2021
    As has been said, it might be an idea to check the PH of your soil.
    These things are cheap enough.



    Garden centres at the moment are full of "Christmas tat," I couldn't even find the size pot I wanted a few days ago.

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