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Help with planting in border.

BlueSchoolBoyBlueSchoolBoy Posts: 100
in Plants
I would be grateful for any advice as to which plants to put in my westward facing front garden border. 
It is shaded in the early morning and in full sun from noon onwards. 
Many thanks. 

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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Roughly where do you live, what is your climate like - generally, what do you like, and what time have you got for maintaining it?
    I'm guessing it's fairly free draining if the poppy's happy  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    Anything described as needing full sun pretty much. The only thing to be aware of is that the combination of afternoon sun and proximity to the brickwork means the soil is likely to be quite dry in summer.

    Perhaps stick to drought tolerant plants such as Lavender, Gaura (though I find these struggle if the soil is too wet in winter) Rosemary (bear in mind these get pretty darn big, pretty quickly if not chopped back regularly) but my personal fave shrub if you want reliable and easy is the curry plant. Those things are practically indestructible and can be cut back really hard if you want to. 

    Achillea are another option they come in all shapes and sizes. Cloth of Gold grow well with no attention and are very tolerant of sun and drought. As are Solidago which can be dwarf or 1m tall. 

    Main advice with a nice new empty space like that is give every plant enough space to grow to its full size. I'm impatient and often fail to do that wanting the border to look crammed straight away. Instead leave big gaps and fill those with annuals. Bidens is my number 1 annual. Those things flower non stop, keep a nice shape and coped just fine with the heat/drought last summer.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Woody salvias will love it there, also penstemons, lavenders, phlox.. as Robert says, you're spoiled for choice there! 
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    Oh yeah woody salvias! Excellent suggestion! Hot lips tends to want to be 4ft even if you chop it back to 1ft in late April. Amethyst Lips seems to get to about 3ft. Both lovely IMO and really nice growing habit and love the hot dry conditions. Add plenty of grit in when planting if that soil gets a bit wet in winter. That's the only thing they hate. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Nepeta and ornamental grasses are also worth including in your list.  To improve water retention, adding some organic matter to your soil will also help, then mulching with bark after you’ve planted, unless you have blackbirds in your garden who will throw it on your lawn!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • BlueSchoolBoyBlueSchoolBoy Posts: 100
    Hi Fairygirl,
    Dorset coast so very temperate.
    I do like salvias and penstemon as suggested by others. I did have a lovely Ceoanthus but it grew too big. Keen on Buddleja.  Plenty of time to maintain but would prefer less maintenance plants/shrubs.

  • BlueSchoolBoyBlueSchoolBoy Posts: 100
    Thanks to Robert, Slow-worm & Plantminded for your suggestions which I shall consider.
    I was sure the forum members would have the answers.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's why I asked your location @BlueSchoolBoy - those salvias would be no use if you were up here - there's only which is reliably hardy. Lavender can be disappointing too, but should be ok where you are   :)
    Most buddleias get pretty big, so bear that in mind. Hebes would be a useful evergreen - there are hundreds of types. 
    If you can slot in some verticals that will also help with variety. Some of the bearded Irises for example. Spring bulbs of course.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    Spot on Robert this is what happens to my hot lips every year from 1 ft after pruning then onto 4 ft with large spread.
  • BlueSchoolBoyBlueSchoolBoy Posts: 100
    I’d forgotten about Hebes. Thank you.
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