Forum home› Garden design
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Year round colour without gaps

RoseVillaRoseVilla Posts: 44
in Garden design
I can’t figure out how to plant a bed with year-round colour without leaving gaps at certain times of year?! we are starting our garden from scratch because it’s just grass and I want to get it right (I do worry a lot over small things). I’m trying to plan my garden just really stresses me when it should be enjoyable but I just don’t understand how to plant a bed That’s gonna flower and look nice all year without having gaps when certain things aren’t blooming. I keep looking online and I’ve got a book from the library but I just feel so overwhelmed. I wondered if anybody could give me some answers 
«134

Posts

  • SueAtooSueAtoo Posts: 380
    There are books that show flowers for each season. Also plant some things that stay evergreen to fill in gaps when flowers are scarce. Please don't get stressed about it, gardening and experimenting should be fun and it's a project that takes time and tweaking over years as you gain in knowledge and learn what suits you and your site. Beds are going to look a bit bare if you are starting from scratch, you will be surprised next year how it's all filled out. Keeping a diary (I use an A4 and fill it in each year) to keep a note of what succeeds and when. If you can upload a picture I'm sure there will be plenty of advice on here. There is still time to plant a few perennials that will take time to get established.
    East Dorset, new (to me) rather neglected garden.
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    You're not going to get it right first time, no one does. It's the nature of gardening. My garden is in its fourth year in its current incarnation and it's still not "right" although I definitely feel it's now going in the right direction. Finally. It's a constant learning curve and a garden is never finished. The best thing to do is to get plants that appeal to you for each season and then observe where the gaps are over the course of a year and add new plants where needed. It takes an awful lot of time and patience but it's worth it 🙂
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    The trickiest season is winter.  Consider green, tan and beige as colours and include some evergreens and ornamental grasses in your plans.  Grasses will grab any sunlight and reflect it, lighting up your garden at the dullest time.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    Think beyond flowers to shapes as well - evergreens with contrasting shaped leaves placed together add structure.  Look at bulbs too.  You will be amazed how delighted you are seeing those early spring bulbs coming up when there is nothing else in flower to distract your eye. 
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @CatDouch, that is stunning!
  • CatDouchCatDouch Posts: 488
    Thank you @februarysgirl ☺️
    South Devon 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    That's impressive @CatDouch.

    There will always be times when some plants aren't in flower, but there will be leaves. Planting, such as at the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court, is planned for the time of year for the show.

    You can put some annuals that look like perennials, such as Salvia Farinacea and some of the rudbeckias, in with your perennials as they flower for a long time.

    Plant some bulbs for early flowers and dahlias for later flowers. In shady places I plant snowdrops with hostas as the hostas die down over winter.

    Include some evergreen plants for winter, such as lavender.

    Go to garden centres at different times of year to see what is flowering in different seasons.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    @CatDouch  You must be a very proud cat - that border really does look beautiful  :):)
  • CatDouchCatDouch Posts: 488
    Thanks so much @philippasmith2 like the original poster on this thread I spent ages pondering, planning and worrying about it 😂
    South Devon 
Sign In or Register to comment.