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Which plants to ensure year round interest in your garden?

M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
in Plants
I struggle with a planting scheme which makes my garden interesting all, or most, of the year round. 

Year round plants I have:
  1. 3 bamboo types
  2. Privet hedge
  3. Pyracantha trees (not keen but they are staying)
  4. Geum (although flowers only in warm weather the leaves are evergreen)
Early Spring:
  1. Wild garlic makes its appearance

Spring/Summer:
  1. Purple Salvia
  2. Lavatera
  3. Iris
  4. Rhubarb for its lovely big leaves
  5. Paulownia Tomentosa tree flowers then goes into leaves
  6. Ornamental flowering cherry trees which then go into leaves (pink flowers, white flowers)
  7. Japanese Acer tree (small about 5 foot high)

I therefore find myself having to buy annuals and bedding plants to fill the gaps.

Any suggestions please on plant choices that will fill gaps, and add interest to the garden all year round please?
I wish I could garden all year round!
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Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    when I find a bit of a gap I visit other gardens and see what's flowering. 
    Hellebores and Snowdrops are good early ones, 


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It depends where you live and what the conditions are like re soil etc. It also depends on aspect of beds and how all those plants you already have are sited, and what room there is.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    edited April 2023
    Fairygirl said:
    It depends where you live...
    Ah @Fairygirl just knew you'd say that  ;)

    1. Derbyshire
    2. Lots of organic matter dug into the soil
    3. North west facing
    4. Existing plants mentioned in my post
    5. Always have lots of room (area of 12 feet X 10 feet)
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Do you mean all of those plants are in that 10x 12 space? Surely not?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    Fairygirl said:
    Do you mean all of those plants are in that 10x 12 space? Surely not?
    The space available
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    So which plants are in each space?
    Photos would really help. I don't really understand how you have them positioned.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Real gardens never look as good as show gardens because they have a selection of plants that flower at different times of year. I often fill in gaps with annuals. Cosmos and salvia farinacea are good ones. A few evergreens, especially with berries or maybe variegated leaves and cyclamen, snowdrops and hellebores, as @nutcutlet suggested, will help in winter. Personally, I'm not keen on grasses but many people like the way they look in winter.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    edited April 2023
    Fairygirl said:
    So which plants are in each space?
    ...

    They are large beds of around the edges of the lawn. I am not home to take pics unfortunately.
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    Real gardens never look as good as show gardens because they have a selection of plants that flower at different times of year. I often fill in gaps with annuals. Cosmos and salvia farinacea are good ones. A few evergreens, especially with berries or maybe variegated leaves and cyclamen, snowdrops and hellebores, as @nutcutlet suggested, will help in winter. Personally, I'm not keen on grasses but many people like the way they look in winter.
    I think that's my problem - I want a show garden  :disappointed:

    Great tips there about other fillers thank you.
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Grasses are invaluable, especially smaller ones that can fit between things and cover the soil, without overwhelming perennials they are growing alongside. They may not be wildly exciting by themselves, but they make other plants sing IMO. Sesleria autumnalis is a good one. An example off the web:


    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
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