To avoid the need to pollard or prune a tree, choose a fastigiate variety which will have been bred to be narrow and not too tall, providing you with a height difference which won’t have a dramatic effect on your planting below. There are fastigiate forms of Amelanchier, Crab apple and Birch, as well as many others. Most specialist tree suppliers stock a selection of fastigiate trees, it’s worth doing a search to see if there’s an option you like.
Ok, I think I’m pretty much set in giving the osmanthus a try. @Loxley@Fairygirl I guess that means that as and when the time comes, things will need to change.
The hardest part for me is that it all takes so much time! I planted the viburnum last year and it’s still so tiny 😂
@Plantminded I’ll take a look into fastigiate varieties
@Latimer Sorry I didn't get back to you on the Oleander thread. I know you mentioned a multi stemmed betula. Beautiful but personally I think it might be just too big it could be pruned but it would be easy to spoil it's shape. Do you have some 6ft canes you could try three wigwams or Obelisks to see if that gives you the height you want, you could invest in something more permanent if you like the idea. Another idea for some instant height this summer Cosmos Rubenza planted through out the border. I would plant the Molinia right at the edge of the bed so that it sways over the path. Lift and split it regularly in spring as it starts to grow this will stop it from dominating and getting too big. This is Molinia Transparent you can add to the interest by adding metal stakes.[Iv'e given up on which way round photos are]
The problem you are having is when plants are out of season, you need something to improve the look in the winter months. Hellebores have been mentioned which look good when the grass is dormant. You are lacking evergreens as said earlier a third of a border can be evergreen, plus some strong skeletal decidous shrubs for the winter months. Developing a strong shape through out always works then add the fillers in odd numbered groups.
Repeating plants on either side of your border in bold groups will also help. As said a border viewed from all sides is tricky. I think that you will always be be changing and editing it is part of gardening it's never finished.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@GardenerSuze thank you and don’t worry about not replying! 😀
Having looked into it I agree about the birch. My parents have 3 at their home and I always noted them as small trees, I guess they are just still growing! I also agree about the evergreen aspect, I need to introduce something.
@TheGreenMan that’s a beautiful little garden! Fennel is a great idea for this year, I think I have millions of little seedlings coming up from last year so might shift a few into this bed.
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@Plantminded I’ll take a look into fastigiate varieties
Do you have some 6ft canes you could try three wigwams or Obelisks to see if that gives you the height you want, you could invest in something more permanent if you like the idea. Another idea for some instant height this summer Cosmos Rubenza planted through out the border.
I would plant the Molinia right at the edge of the bed so that it sways over the path. Lift and split it regularly in spring as it starts to grow this will stop it from dominating and getting too big.
The problem you are having is when plants are out of season, you need something to improve the look in the winter months. Hellebores have been mentioned which look good when the grass is dormant. You are lacking evergreens as said earlier a third of a border can be evergreen, plus some strong skeletal decidous shrubs for the winter months. Developing a strong shape through out always works then add the fillers in odd numbered groups.
Repeating plants on either side of your border in bold groups will also help.
As said a border viewed from all sides is tricky. I think that you will always be be changing and editing it is part of gardening it's never finished.
Having looked into it I agree about the birch. My parents have 3 at their home and I always noted them as small trees, I guess they are just still growing! I also agree about the evergreen aspect, I need to introduce something.