@Keith-16 I am assuming that you live in the south of the country? It does look like some kindly members have donated some excess plants from their gardens.
I think the circular planters are the key as to how you plant this up. It does have a modern simple look to it. I am aware that you might paint the wall so trying to keep colour palette simple.
Here are some plants you may wish to consider. Euonymous Green Rocket forms a pillar shape which will grow up to a metre tall in time. Evergreen plain green but dotted throughout the borders will give your winter shape. Available widely and in different heights.
Euonymous Silver Queen, look to plant three of these in each border, you will be able to cut them back if they get too big. Threes , fives or sevens of one plant will always work well.
Yesterday I messaged @Plantminded on another thread about grasses. A group of three Calamagrostis Karl Foerster tall and dramatic will stand up right through the winter.
When it comes to a smaller evergreen shrubs Pittisporum GOLF BALL! makes a rounded shape. You have mentioned Hardy Geraniums, G Rozanne together with some of the alchemilla mollis split up would work with E Silver Queen. One plant I would love to suggest but it may be too dry is Ophiopogon Nigrescens grouped at the very front. You have Agapanthus which gives you colour now, the Geranium flowers for months.
This is just one way of approaching this I am hopeful that @AnniD might be able to give you different ideas or add to this, she is always so helpful. Also @Plantminded has lots of great ideas for a modern look. Perhaps they may be able to add or other forum members may take a different approach. I hope others can offer their help.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Hello @Keith-16 and thank you for your kind comments @GardenerSuze! Having considered your situation, I'd certainly recommend using some ornamental grasses in your plans. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to grow and maintain and will give you all round interest, apart from a few weeks after they've been given their annual prune in March.
I'd be inclined to repeat a number of the same species to get some rhythm and cohesion to the scheme and interplant with easy perennials such as salvias, hardy geraniums and evergreens like Euonymus which @GardenerSuze has mentioned above. I've used repeated Calamagrostis Karl Foerster in one of my borders, as shown below.
As a bit of background I am in in the North West in a village called Billinge in West Lancashire
The cricket club buildings adjoin the Church Hall but share the same entrances
The borders / flower beds are adjacent to the entrances and the car park
As I understand it some good ladies of the Church maintained the borders / flower beds for many years ( probably they planted it with excess plants and shrubs from their own gardens )
Thank you all for your suggestions / recommendations
I have ordered a hose at my expense which I can take down with me in the car rather than unlock the cricket club gates and go down to and unlock the machinery store to get a hose
Thank you for your very kind comments @GardenerSuze 😊.
To be honest l have very little to add to all the suggestions previously made, l would definitely consider the Euonymous (especially Silver Queen, but that's my personal taste), and grasses look good particularly over the Autumn and Winter period when there isn't much else about.
If you can rescue the lavenders, hardy geraniums and the plant at the front on the 3rd photo next to the yellow marigolds (euphorbia perhaps ?), l would reuse them if you can, as they will add to the interest for long periods. I would get rid of the crocosmia (Monbretia), but keep the Agapanthus as previously advised.
You might want to consider planting some bulbs for interest in the Spring. Possibly narcissus as opposed to the "in your face" bright yellow daffodils.
Looking forward to seeing how it all turns out Keith
Thank you AnniD Yes it is Euphorbia next to the marigolds The ladies did plant bulbs but new ones are needed as if I cast my mind back to earlier in the year they are past their sell by date In the garden here at home additionally Senekio Santolina Hyrdangeas and various sedums and Hebes have coped well with drought it is quite a large garden here at home so I am going to have my work cut out juggling work here my other work at the cricket ground and this newly acquired renovation project
@Keith-16 Whoops sorry you are a Cricket Club not a Golf Club . Pittisporum is a good evergreen for a warm dry spot. You also mention Hebes which need full sun but as you say are good in drought. Santolina rosmarinfolia needs the full blast of the sun. Hydrangas need moisture hence the name hydra.
The good ladies of the Church have done a great job, I admire anyone who takes time to garden in their community adding donations from their garden too.
Watering here at present is very difficult and I would not advise anyone who lives locally to me to plant out anything, even if they could dig a hole. When planting in dry situations it is best to place pots in a bucket and submerge actually over the top of the compost. Water bubbles will come up, wait for half an hour then plant. Dig the hole, water the hole then plant. Don't water the surface. When watering in the future most plants are happy for 3 to 7 days then soak each plant avoiding run off, use a can at the roots, you will probably be using gallons on each plant.
@AnniD Has suggested keeping the Euphorbia robbiae, this will work well in the driest darkest part of the border. The sap is an irritant so gloves needed. Some hardy Geraniums like a more retentive soil than others. I have suggested G Rosanne. For a really dry spot G Sanguinium in pinks, whites or purples could be better. It is possible the ladies from the church may have this plant as it is well known.
For spring you could consider Helianthemums, available in lots of colours the single forms are better for insects.
@Plantminded Has kindly uploaded a photo of the grass I mentioned it will look good even in dry conditions and through winter. North and East facing borders t will have little if any sun in the winter months.
I hope I have been able to give you some thoughts a lot to consider all at once sorry!
Getting the soil into good condition is the most important thing. Good Luck.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I have several hydrangeas, I don’t find they need any more water than other shrubs. Hydrangea’ is derived from Greek and means ‘water vessel’, which is in reference to the shape of its seed capsules. they really only need a lot of water on planting like any other shrub.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Again thank you all for your wonderful input which will help me enormously
As a bit of background I am in in the North West in a village called Billinge in West Lancashire
The cricket club buildings adjoin the Church Hall and lounge and share the same entrances
The borders / flower beds are adjacent to the entrances and the car park
As I understand it some good ladies of the Church maintained the borders / flower beds for many years ( probably they planted it with excess plants and shrubs from their own gardens )
Again - Thank you all for your suggestions / recommendations / advice
I have ordered a hose which I can take down with me in the car rather than unlock the cricket club gates and go down to and unlock the machinery store to get a hose
@Keith-16 Sadly I removed my last Hydranga about ten years ago. Here the flowers look dry and 'pinched' in other gardens locally as do many plants and large trees too. My garden is full of rough tough plants and only a few pots. I have water butts which are now empty so any plants that are wilting in the morning get grey water. If you can spend time getting your planting right you shouldn't need to water when plants are fully established. It will save you time. I have looked after a small nursery in the past as part of my job, it can be hard work. I have no idea how the local garden centre's are coping at the moment.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
I think the circular planters are the key as to how you plant this up. It does have a modern simple look to it. I am aware that you might paint the wall so trying to keep colour palette simple.
Here are some plants you may wish to consider.
Euonymous Green Rocket forms a pillar shape which will grow up to a metre tall in time. Evergreen plain green but dotted throughout the borders will give your winter shape. Available widely and in different heights.
Euonymous Silver Queen, look to plant three of these in each border, you will be able to cut them back if they get too big.
Threes , fives or sevens of one plant will always work well.
Yesterday I messaged @Plantminded on another thread about grasses. A group of three Calamagrostis Karl Foerster tall and dramatic will stand up right through the winter.
When it comes to a smaller evergreen shrubs Pittisporum GOLF BALL! makes a rounded shape. You have mentioned Hardy Geraniums, G Rozanne together with some of the alchemilla mollis split up would work with E Silver Queen.
One plant I would love to suggest but it may be too dry is Ophiopogon Nigrescens grouped at the very front.
You have Agapanthus which gives you colour now, the Geranium flowers for months.
This is just one way of approaching this I am hopeful that @AnniD might be able to give you different ideas or add to this, she is always so helpful. Also @Plantminded has lots of great ideas for a modern look. Perhaps they may be able to add or other forum members may take a different approach. I hope others can offer their help.
I'd be inclined to repeat a number of the same species to get some rhythm and cohesion to the scheme and interplant with easy perennials such as salvias, hardy geraniums and evergreens like Euonymus which @GardenerSuze has mentioned above. I've used repeated Calamagrostis Karl Foerster in one of my borders, as shown below.
I hope this helps!
Thank you and I will get back to you
As a bit of background I am in in the North West in a village called Billinge in West Lancashire
The cricket club buildings adjoin the Church Hall but share the same entrances
The borders / flower beds are adjacent to the entrances and the car park
As I understand it some good ladies of the Church maintained the borders / flower beds for many years ( probably they planted it with excess plants and shrubs from their own gardens )
Thank you all for your suggestions / recommendations
I have ordered a hose at my expense which I can take down with me in the car rather than unlock the cricket club gates and go down to and unlock the machinery store to get a hose
To be honest l have very little to add to all the suggestions previously made, l would definitely consider the Euonymous (especially Silver Queen, but that's my personal taste), and grasses look good particularly over the Autumn and Winter period when there isn't much else about.
If you can rescue the lavenders, hardy geraniums and the plant at the front on the 3rd photo next to the yellow marigolds (euphorbia perhaps ?), l would reuse them if you can, as they will add to the interest for long periods.
I would get rid of the crocosmia (Monbretia), but keep the Agapanthus as previously advised.
You might want to consider planting some bulbs for interest in the Spring. Possibly narcissus as opposed to the "in your face" bright yellow daffodils.
Looking forward to seeing how it all turns out Keith
Yes it is Euphorbia next to the marigolds
The ladies did plant bulbs but new ones are needed as if I cast my mind back to earlier in the year they are past their sell by date
In the garden here at home additionally Senekio Santolina Hyrdangeas and various sedums and Hebes have coped well with drought
it is quite a large garden here at home so I am going to have my work cut out juggling work here my other work at the cricket ground and this newly acquired renovation project
The good ladies of the Church have done a great job, I admire anyone who takes time to garden in their community adding donations from their garden too.
Watering here at present is very difficult and I would not advise anyone who lives locally to me to plant out anything, even if they could dig a hole.
When planting in dry situations it is best to place pots in a bucket and submerge actually over the top of the compost. Water bubbles will come up, wait for half an hour then plant. Dig the hole, water the hole then plant. Don't water the surface.
When watering in the future most plants are happy for 3 to 7 days then soak each plant avoiding run off, use a can at the roots, you will probably be using gallons on each plant.
@AnniD Has suggested keeping the Euphorbia robbiae, this will work well in the driest darkest part of the border. The sap is an irritant so gloves needed.
Some hardy Geraniums like a more retentive soil than others. I have suggested G Rosanne. For a really dry spot G Sanguinium in pinks, whites or purples could be better. It is possible the ladies from the church may have this plant as it is well known.
For spring you could consider Helianthemums, available in lots of colours the single forms are better for insects.
@Plantminded Has kindly uploaded a photo of the grass I mentioned it will look good even in dry conditions and through winter. North and East facing borders t will have little if any sun in the winter months.
I hope I have been able to give you some thoughts a lot to consider all at once sorry!
Getting the soil into good condition is the most important thing. Good Luck.
Hydrangea’ is derived from Greek and means ‘water vessel’, which is in reference to the shape of its seed capsules.
they really only need a lot of water on planting like any other shrub.
As a bit of background I am in in the North West in a village called Billinge in West Lancashire
The cricket club buildings adjoin the Church Hall and lounge and share the same entrances
The borders / flower beds are adjacent to the entrances and the car park
As I understand it some good ladies of the Church maintained the borders / flower beds for many years ( probably they planted it with excess plants and shrubs from their own gardens )
Again - Thank you all for your suggestions / recommendations / advice
I have ordered a hose which I can take down with me in the car rather than unlock the cricket club gates and go down to and unlock the machinery store to get a hose
I have looked after a small nursery in the past as part of my job, it can be hard work. I have no idea how the local garden centre's are coping at the moment.