New build garden

Cleothecat · August 2023

Hi~posting here for advice. We are planning a new garden as we’ve recently bought a newbuild house. So far we’ve had a patio built and will lay turf next month. We’ve planted about 9 silver birch at the back of the border and intend to add another two layers. We were thinking lavender and euonymus to go in the front of the border but not sure what to plant as the middle row. Any suggestions please. Would like something evergreen and light coloured if possible . Thinking of a silver and purple scheme.Any advice very much appreciated.
Thanks

Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants · August 2023

Welcome. Some info would help - which way does the border face, condition of soil, sunny or shady? Also a photo is always helpful.

Cleothecat · August 2023

Border faces south and soil is chalky. Garden is very sunny and sheltered. Will go out tomorrow to take a photo but border will be about one metre deep. Looking for something that is easy to look after in this house as we are not getting any younger!
Thanks

Fairygirl · August 2023

That's a lot of birch. Hope you have a very big garden!
A one metre depth border will be shady very quickly once those birches start growing properly, especially if they're the multi stem ones. The euonymus will probably be ok , but there isn't much room for a lot of planting other than that, as that will spread. A few shade loving verticals perhaps, and some spring bulbs.

AnniD · August 2023

If the birch trees are on the edge of a one metre deep border l would imagine they would extract a lot of moisture before you even begin to plant it up ?

Looking forward to seeing the photos

Cleothecat · August 2023

Thanks both. The birch are the compact variety so hopefully won’t grow too big

Waterbut · August 2023

I have been sold so called compact varieties in the past and you can all guess what happened next?

Cleothecat · August 2023

I just posted here in the hope I would get advice not sarcastic comments.
I think I’ll just work it out myself

bédé · August 2023

Danger words: New build house. Had a patio built.

Laying turf next month may be far too early. Do a few exploratory digs and see what rubbish has to be removed. and what improvements the soil must undergo. March might be too early.

amancalledgeorge · August 2023

Oh no @arossrob those miniature eucalyptus were anything but? I had some awful dealing with Hayloft...ridiculous expensive company they are.

Don't be put off @Cleothecat do post some pictures when you get them and lots of helpful people will try to be constructive but the point that lots of so called miniature varieties of vigorously growing trees are just unrealistic and can be a problem in the future stands. You can certainly grow fewer but larger specimens of most small varieties.

Fairygirl · August 2023

I don't see any sarcastic remark @Cleothecat . If you mean the post by @arossrob, I think he was only saying what many of us are thinking.
Even so called 'dwarf' birches really aren't that small, especially if they establish well and have the right conditions to grow well. It's the reason I said I hoped you had a big garden. They'll all be fine for a few years, but even the small ones are pretty substantial. They also don't look great when pruned, unless you're very very careful.
A 1 metre depth border is also not very wide if you want other plants in front of them to thrive.
People are simply trying to avoid you making what could be a costly error

New build garden

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