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Help Please!
summery.respite0w
Posts: 2
in Plants
Hi, I have a small narrow back garden. I have a area I want to plant up along the front of a 6 ft high fence that is 6 meters long by 1 meter wide. I can enjoy looking at it from the house once it’s done! The problem is that this area is south facing and gets very very hot from 1 June to August 31. The rest of the time its completely shaded by the house. In the winter it’s very very cold. I have tried shady plants but they die in the heat when the sun gets onto them and I have tried sun loving plants but they die in the cold winter. The soil gets waterlogged in the colder months and very dry June to September. I have Pyracantha growing up the fence and it has nearly completely covered it now. That’s been a success! The bed in front is the problem. Has any one got any ideas to help with planting this bed up? I would like SMALL evergreen flowering shrubs and perennials if possible. Nothing taller than 1/2 meter as the garden is so small. The soil is NOT acidic.
Help! Please.
Thank you
0
Posts
Persicaria amplexicaulis would be ideal; there are loads of varieties, have a look at your local garden centre or nursery; Persicaria 'White Eastfield' is a nice white one and P. 'Blackfield' is a nice dark red - these are amongst the more compact varieties (c.90cm). Persicaria 'Pink Elephant' is even smaller, max. 50cm - but I think the dancing flower spikes of Persicaria work better on a taller plant.
A lot of hardy geraniums would be fine too, G. 'Rozanne' is the obvious choice, it flowers for a long time and is tough. You can cut it back if it starts to sprawl too far, it will grow back and start flowering again.
I think some of the Sanguisorbas might work OK too. I thought they needed damp soil, but mine are doing well despite my garden being hot and dry in summer. S. 'Tanna' is a very small one, at 30cm, but I would go for something like 'Pink Tanna' which is taller at 90cm.
You will have to water a bit, but these plants should otherwise cope with your conditions. Adding rich organic compost to the soil will help both the drainage and the dryness.