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Mini wildflower meadow border possibility

LuceeLucee Posts: 18
in Garden design
Hi, received great advice before, I’m a beginner but very keen. 
I’m removing the 2 plants in the front border and the gravel and thinking of potentially 3 shrubs. However I’m also wondering if a wildflower meadow type border would work down the side I’ve marked? Also there’s quite abit more length that is chopped from the photo. I’ve done some reading around how to go about creating one but is a front garden border an ok place? And once it dies back, can I plant things such as poppys/daffodils for the spring or would that not work? Thank you, apologies if the questions are ridiculous 🙈

Posts

  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Lucee no gardening questions are ridiculous, it's how we learn about our hobby and I've no doubt we all asked questions. I still do.  :)
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited May 2022
     There are quite a number of detailed ideas in the recent enquiry below re wild flowers, over wintering, maintenance etc.


    One option might be to lay a Meadow Mat, which can work to lay over a fairly small area. I've seen it used in a very similar edging situation. If you are interested in that kind of option, I would go for a zero grass wild flower mix. As grasses can take over, esp if right next to a lawn.


    You could use some kind of edging to mark out the border, if you are worried about people walking across it. There are loads of options for that.

    ---
    As it mentions in the above GW thread, over winter a purely "wild flower" area can look pretty tatty or empty. If it's right in front of your house, that might be a problem. Or not. A mix of wild flowers like poppies, evergreens, spring flowers and bulbs, might give more of a year round display, with edging to keep the grass out the border. 


  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Edited to add more thoughts above.
  • LuceeLucee Posts: 18
    Thanks so much for all your input, it’s made me think I might prefer a slightly more structured look for the front. As I’ve mentioned I’m taking the 2 plants out at the front and removing the gravel, I’d like to keep them if i can and put them in large pots on the patio, but is digging them up and keeping them alive in the process something I as a beginner can do? My mil wants to do it but I think id like to try…🤨
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There's nothing to stop you having some wildflowers, but it wouldn't be a great idea to have them along the edges where they're bordering access areas. You could simply have an area in the middle of the grass instead. 
    The cordylines would certainly look a bit odd with those, and there's no reason why you can't move them. Just water well first, then get as big a rootball dug out as you can, and make sure the pots are big enough to accommodate that. A mix of soil and grit would be ideal for them. They need good drainage, so if they're going on a hard surface, use some pot feet or little blocks of wood to raise them and allow excess water to drain.
    Don't allow them to get fried though - give them a little shade while they adjust to their new conditions.
    You might find it easier to gather up and tie the fronds with some string [into a column] to make handling them less tricky  :)  
    If you're removing the gravel, are you planting up those sections instead, or returning them to grass?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LuceeLucee Posts: 18
    thank you those tips are so helpful! I’d never thought of tying them! Yes I’m hoping to put some lovely plants in, I know the border isn’t huge but the last couple of years I’ve been so envious of other beautifully coloured borders nearby, so I’d really like to try! 
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