Bear in mind that you have the structural shrubs you put in @TheGreenMan , and they'll take a few years to get some height. Slugs love Heleniums and Helianthemums, so if you grow them on a bit more, until they're bigger and tougher, they can withstand it a bit more. It'll be the same with the other younger plants you've put in, so give it another year or so to let them develop and then go from there. I think it'll be grand in a couple of years - you may find you have too much instead of too little I bought a new Aquilegia which has been excellent if you want more yellows. A. Lemon Queen. It's a good height and seems very happy with a mix of sun/shade. I can give you a pic of it in situ if you want. I know exactly what you mean about plants disappearing because of that, and it can be very frustrating, but it definitely helps to grow plants on until they're much bigger before planting out when you have lots of slugs and snails.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You need a great big dose of Gardener's Patience. Your garden looks good already. Now you have to give the more recently planted things time to grow and fill out. As has been said above, in a couple of years time you may well find your planting too heavy and some plants may die of congestion or you will have to remove some. It is no good planting small cheaper varieties of plants and expecting immediate impact. The only thought I have is that some vertical interest might help. Possibly something evergreen and slow growing like Miss Jessops vertical rosemary, would need staking, the needle juniper, cannot remember its proper name, juniperus compressus? To keep the balance you would need to plant 3 specimens, not just a solitary spike in the centre of the bed. Just a thought or two. The look of a garden is so personal.
I think it looks like it needs to mature a bit in terms of shrubs you already have. I do agree about annuals and biennials unless you're trying some sort of meadow or filling spaces while shrubs and perennials mature.
They will be fine with the drainage on your slope and give late summer flowers that are adored by bees and other pollinators. Scroll down that linked page to see varieties. You could also try some eryngiums which, depending on variety, have green to silver foliage and silvery to blue flowers and are also slug proof in my experience - https://www.rhs.org.uk/search?query=eryngium
I think you’ve done really well @TheGreenMan, it’s a great transformation! Have you tried Achilleas? Their horizontal flower shape would add another dimension, plus they can cope with drought once established. I’ve just added some A. Credo to a couple of my borders, they really do stand out and are a size which doesn’t need staking, so far!
It does sound like the structure shrubs will be sufficient... in time. If I was you I would have treated myself to an already sizable specimen, patience is a virtue but I don't have the time!
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Patience is something I’m good at @Joyce Goldenlily. I keep forgetting that I’ve planted quite a few things that will, in time, provide more structure and solidity as well as height.
Snow in summer would be nice @Obelixx. I already have eryngium and fleabane 👍🏼
There are about four achillea in there @Plantminded. Currently covered in greenfly (I have ants and I think they’re farming them!).
I have a Cloth of Gold out the back and it’s almost as tall as I am. I will take a pic tomorrow.
Yes @loxley. I’m good at patience. I think that’s why I don’t buy sizeable specimens. My Rowan Joseph Rock was the biggest thing I’ve bought so far and it was barely four feet. Even that felt like cheating. Haha.
Would I be asking for trouble putting in some Phacelia?
I went to Gibside (National Trust) for the first time on Sunday (I can see it from my house and I’ve never been til now) and they had some and the bees were ALL OVER IT!
Posts
Slugs love Heleniums and Helianthemums, so if you grow them on a bit more, until they're bigger and tougher, they can withstand it a bit more. It'll be the same with the other younger plants you've put in, so give it another year or so to let them develop and then go from there. I think it'll be grand in a couple of years - you may find you have too much instead of too little
I bought a new Aquilegia which has been excellent if you want more yellows. A. Lemon Queen. It's a good height and seems very happy with a mix of sun/shade. I can give you a pic of it in situ if you want.
I know exactly what you mean about plants disappearing because of that, and it can be very frustrating, but it definitely helps to grow plants on until they're much bigger before planting out when you have lots of slugs and snails.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Your garden looks good already. Now you have to give the more recently planted things time to grow and fill out. As has been said above, in a couple of years time you may well find your planting too heavy and some plants may die of congestion or you will have to remove some.
It is no good planting small cheaper varieties of plants and expecting immediate impact.
The only thought I have is that some vertical interest might help. Possibly something evergreen and slow growing like Miss Jessops vertical rosemary, would need staking, the needle juniper, cannot remember its proper name, juniperus compressus? To keep the balance you would need to plant 3 specimens, not just a solitary spike in the centre of the bed.
Just a thought or two.
The look of a garden is so personal.
What you could try, instead of slug fodder heleniums and co, is some sedum spectabile tho it's changed its botanical name now - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/hylotelephium
They will be fine with the drainage on your slope and give late summer flowers that are adored by bees and other pollinators. Scroll down that linked page to see varieties. You could also try some eryngiums which, depending on variety, have green to silver foliage and silvery to blue flowers and are also slug proof in my experience - https://www.rhs.org.uk/search?query=eryngium
As you slope is sunny, try some "snow in summer" - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/3401/cerastium-tomentosum/details to tumble over your wall and maybe some mexican felabane higher up - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/32487/i-erigeron-karvinskianus-i/details
Patience is something I’m good at @Joyce Goldenlily. I keep forgetting that I’ve planted quite a few things that will, in time, provide more structure and solidity as well as height.
I’m not a fan of roses @arossrob
There are about four achillea in there @Plantminded. Currently covered in greenfly (I have ants and I think they’re farming them!).