There simply isn't enough info for people to advise you @juliehawley1967fhSAvUKd, which is why I mentioned those things at the start. What grows happily year in year out in a warm, sheltered town garden in the south, won't survive at all in an exposed, cold, wet northern garden. If it's a hot sunny site with free draining soil, you won't be able to grow Acteas, for example. If it's wet and shady you won't find Salvias thriving well. All these things make a massive difference.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi Thankyou its slightly clay but I’m adding manure and compost to improve it before plants go in it’s sunny for most of day from around 11-4 it’s a 30 ft wide by 1.2 deep there is a small fence at back which I thought about trying to use for climbers to screen my poly tunnel and parking bit I don’t really like yellow plants but prefer pale white, green,pink or purple colours prefer cottage looking borders not Mediterranean type any assistance with planting schemes would be helpful tIA
The secret is planning for something to be of interest for most of the year, so as well as climbers to clothe the fence, such as clematis, l would add some evergreen shrubs for year round interest, plant bulbs in the Autumn such as the dwarf Narcissi "Thalia" andsnowdrops (although these are best planted "in the green").
All these sites give you the option to enter your conditions to give you the best choice of plants.
Another trick is to visit any local Garden Centres or nurseries and visit local gardens at different times of the year to see what's available, and what does well in your local area.
If you could post a couple of photos of the site that may be of help with further advice ( reducing the size of photos before you post prevents them coming out sideways).
In my experience, the border starts out as what you consider a good size, and then over the years you find yourself with less and less grass
If l were you, l'd take a look at the various websites and make a note of anything that appeals to you, it's height and spread. You will probably end up with a list that requires a bed that would be seen in the grounds of a stately home.
If you want shrubs, l would start with those, they will be your backbone. It may be that they will dictate if you make the bed larger. Personally l would make it bigger, you can always turf/seed later, but l doubt that will happen. It's taken me over 30 years to actually reduce the size of a flower bed, and that was mainly down to last year's exceptional heat.
I've nibbled so much off my grass that it looks like it's had a bikini wax job. If I sneak any more off, I'll just have a wide grassy path. Come to think of it ....🤔
Posts
What grows happily year in year out in a warm, sheltered town garden in the south, won't survive at all in an exposed, cold, wet northern garden. If it's a hot sunny site with free draining soil, you won't be able to grow Acteas, for example. If it's wet and shady you won't find Salvias thriving well.
All these things make a massive difference.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
its slightly clay but I’m adding manure and compost to improve it before plants go in
it’s sunny for most of day from around 11-4
it’s a 30 ft wide by 1.2 deep
there is a small fence at back which I thought about trying to use for climbers to screen my poly tunnel and parking bit
I don’t really like yellow plants but prefer pale white, green,pink or purple colours
prefer cottage looking borders not Mediterranean type
any assistance with planting schemes would be helpful
tIA
https://www.thorncroftclematis.co.uk/
Looking at nurseries such as Hardys or Beth Chatto will give you some inspiration.
https://www.hardysplants.co.uk/
https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/shop-plants.htm
Hardy geraniums are always a good doer.
https://www.cranesbillnursery.com/
All these sites give you the option to enter your conditions to give you the best choice of plants.
Another trick is to visit any local Garden Centres or nurseries and visit local gardens at different times of the year to see what's available, and what does well in your local area.
If you could post a couple of photos of the site that may be of help with further advice ( reducing the size of photos before you post prevents them coming out sideways).
Hope this is of some use
I’ll check those out
this is the border I’m wondering if I should make it a bit deeper?
If l were you, l'd take a look at the various websites and make a note of anything that appeals to you, it's height and spread. You will probably end up with a list that requires a bed that would be seen in the grounds of a stately home.
If you want shrubs, l would start with those, they will be your backbone. It may be that they will dictate if you make the bed larger. Personally l would make it bigger, you can always turf/seed later, but l doubt that will happen. It's taken me over 30 years to actually reduce the size of a flower bed, and that was mainly down to last year's exceptional heat.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border