Newbie help!

gemma.pearceY1C-pjh9 · September 2022

We have two raised beds just installed in the garden, one is long but quite narrow and against a wall, shady in morning but sunny in afternoon. Second is a hexagonal raised bed about a meter across gets sun most of the day. I want to create a feature in the hexagonal planter that gives colour and interest all year long bit don’t know where to start! Just filled it with bedding plants for the summer but would prefer not to have to replant every year. In the long bed would like to have some herbs, rosemary etc but also some interesting things to loom at. How do you even start designing something like these?!

Fairygirl · September 2022

Hi @gemma.pearceY1C-pjh9. How wide is the narrow bed? If it isn't in full sun - ie 6 or 7 hours in summer, you may find many herbs will struggle a bit, and will tend to lean to get the light they need.
A one metre bed isn't very big for having all year round interest, but you could certainly have a smallish evergreen, and/or maybe something with good autumn colour, then combine that with bulbs and long flowering perennials. Hardy geraniums are good for that, and something like an Aster for colour at this time of year. As it's sunny, alliums are also good for height, without taking up too much width.
A smaller grass would also be good - I have an Uncinia rubra, which is reddish/brown, and works with many other colours, but something green/gold or green/cream would also be a good foil for other colourful perennials.

Another thought - you could have some of the herbs in that hexagonal bed. Thyme would be happy on the edges, and if rosemary is hardy enough in your area, that would also be some evergreen interest

Newbie help!

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