ah sorry I missed your post @Marlorena, thanks for the suggestion! I saw that one on RHS but I'm not sure I like it - hopefully I'll come across one close by in real life and can look at it properly.
@raisingirl - brilliant, so good to know. I had more of a look and yep, the prunus incisas are all flagged as being alright with exposed sites, which I would have never expected. Great to hear it's happy in your garden. Thanks so much!
That's a shame, l thought being down on the South Coast it would be comparatively mild, and being surrounded by walls and fences would be quite sheltered, especially if it was below wall height. Never mind
When you south facing - do you actually mean that border/corner, or do you mean the house? I think you need to have an idea of what you really want from the space too, rather than just plonking in a random tree or shrub. Is it to shelter the other tree, for example, or to shelter the plot in general ? If so, I can't see how a single specimen is going to make much of a difference anyway. You'd really need a row of shrubs or a hedge to do that. Where is the wind predominantly coming from? There's a wall which would provide some shelter, but if it's coming from the right, that would be different.
The grass isn't really doing anything advantageous to the plot anyway. It must take longer to get the mower out and put away. I love a bit of lawn, but perhaps you need to rethink it's value. A proper shelter belt would allow you to plant other perennials/shrubs to the inside of it, instead of the small lawn
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl Yeah the wind comes from the right, unfortunately. There is a wall that's cut out the photo but it doesn't seem to help much, and it'd be too far away from where I want to plant. Re aspect, I meant that the plot is south-facing, so that bed by wall at the top of the photo would face north.
You're absolutely right that I need to plan the space - I keep getting stuck on it, I think because it's got a strange arrangement but budget-wise we can't really do any hard landscaping. I feel like the space is a bit small to have a hedge or row of shrubs, even though I so badly want to knock down the walls and hedge the garden instead! Not allowed, unfortunately.
DH and I spoke about trying to turn the lawn into a wildflower meadow. It's totally weed-infested anyway so we're half way there But you're right - need to come up with a plan!
It's why I asked the question re the aspect. Often people say north or south facing, but they mean the building not the border That can change things. Are you sure that peach tree will have adequate sun and warmth in the site it has? Another idea if you wouldn't want a hedge [although beech and hornbeam can be kept very tight and narrow] is the simple solution we often suggest on the forum - a screen of trellis with a climber or two. That would also help to filter the wind. Or - Cotoneaster on a screen. It wouldn't mind any aspect, despite most info saying sunny, and many are great as a 'hedge' although are best with some support. Some are deciduous, but many are evergreen.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks @Plantminded - I did look. Couldn't find anything that stood out, but then again I'm not completely clear on which ones you can keep neat/prune to prevent getting too tall. I got a little confused because e.g. the californian lilacs are listed on there while their pages say they need sheltered conditions.
Oops, @Fairygirl sorry, yes I meant the house is south-facing. It's very warm and the walls are low, so the peach should have enough I think. It's only the borders right under that kerbside wall that are shaded. A hedge is interesting, and I love both beech and hornbeam.
I've had a serious think about what I'd like from the front garden. I think what I'd like is one shrub/small tree to plant against the kerbside wall, and one for the right of the path. That should create a sheltered square area for the peach tree where I can also plant some small fragrant shrubs & perennials. Ideally the area would be relatively low maintenance because I need to carry watering cans from the back garden through to the front!
I found elaeagnus quicksilver, which I absolutely love and, from what I've seen, is extremely tough. It's not evergreen though so I'm not sure how good it'd be giving shelter in winter. Unless shelter in winter is less important? If it'd be suitable then I'm thinking that one for the border by the path. Then by the wall it'd need to be evergreen. Maybe viburnum tinus? But I'm seeing conflicting things about its tolerance to full sun & wind. Alternatively I could try again with ceanothus (given that our neighbours have 2 beautiful, extremely healthy ones in that exact location), though I'm not sure it would match the oleaster very well.
Alas - I'm not keen on variegated leaves I saw the non variegated x ebbingei one, but it didn't seem to have that amazing graceful habit that quicksilver has. I'm not sure though, it's just that I was only finding google pics of x ebbingei pruned into a hedge or into topiary.
Posts
@raisingirl - brilliant, so good to know. I had more of a look and yep, the prunus incisas are all flagged as being alright with exposed sites, which I would have never expected. Great to hear it's happy in your garden. Thanks so much!
Never mind
I think you need to have an idea of what you really want from the space too, rather than just plonking in a random tree or shrub. Is it to shelter the other tree, for example, or to shelter the plot in general ? If so, I can't see how a single specimen is going to make much of a difference anyway. You'd really need a row of shrubs or a hedge to do that.
Where is the wind predominantly coming from? There's a wall which would provide some shelter, but if it's coming from the right, that would be different.
The grass isn't really doing anything advantageous to the plot anyway. It must take longer to get the mower out and put away.
I love a bit of lawn, but perhaps you need to rethink it's value. A proper shelter belt would allow you to plant other perennials/shrubs to the inside of it, instead of the small lawn
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Plants for coastal areas / RHS Gardening
There's enough options here to rethink the whole space, if you want to!
You're absolutely right that I need to plan the space - I keep getting stuck on it, I think because it's got a strange arrangement but budget-wise we can't really do any hard landscaping. I feel like the space is a bit small to have a hedge or row of shrubs, even though I so badly want to knock down the walls and hedge the garden instead! Not allowed, unfortunately.
DH and I spoke about trying to turn the lawn into a wildflower meadow. It's totally weed-infested anyway so we're half way there
That can change things.
Are you sure that peach tree will have adequate sun and warmth in the site it has?
Another idea if you wouldn't want a hedge [although beech and hornbeam can be kept very tight and narrow] is the simple solution we often suggest on the forum - a screen of trellis with a climber or two. That would also help to filter the wind.
Or - Cotoneaster on a screen. It wouldn't mind any aspect, despite most info saying sunny, and many are great as a 'hedge' although are best with some support. Some are deciduous, but many are evergreen.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Oops, @Fairygirl sorry, yes I meant the house is south-facing. It's very warm and the walls are low, so the peach should have enough I think. It's only the borders right under that kerbside wall that are shaded. A hedge is interesting, and I love both beech and hornbeam.
I've had a serious think about what I'd like from the front garden. I think what I'd like is one shrub/small tree to plant against the kerbside wall, and one for the right of the path. That should create a sheltered square area for the peach tree where I can also plant some small fragrant shrubs & perennials. Ideally the area would be relatively low maintenance because I need to carry watering cans from the back garden through to the front!
I found elaeagnus quicksilver, which I absolutely love and, from what I've seen, is extremely tough. It's not evergreen though so I'm not sure how good it'd be giving shelter in winter. Unless shelter in winter is less important? If it'd be suitable then I'm thinking that one for the border by the path. Then by the wall it'd need to be evergreen. Maybe viburnum tinus? But I'm seeing conflicting things about its tolerance to full sun & wind. Alternatively I could try again with ceanothus (given that our neighbours have 2 beautiful, extremely healthy ones in that exact location), though I'm not sure it would match the oleaster very well.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...