As has been said before, you'll never get it right first time l've been gardening for over 40 years and l can count on the fingers of one hand the times l think l've actually got it right.
Gardening is a constant thing, and personally l think it's something you either enjoy or tolerate. If you can give some idea of the layout of your garden at the moment @RoseVilla ,whether the bed is sunny or shady and it's size, whereabouts you are in the UK, and maybe a couple of photos that would help with advice.
At this time of year l would probably start with planting bulbs such as Narcissi or daffodils to give you colour in early Spring. After that you could consider perennials such as hardy geraniums which would come up as the bulb foliage is dying down. That's just for starters..
Please don't stress about it, we all have to start somewhere !
Agree with all the previous posts - it's all a bit of trial and error and a bed which looks fabulous one year will look slightly different the next. It will rarely be perfect or exactly as planned year in year out.
I would suggest you concentrate a bit on structure in your bed. How large is it? If it's of any size I would suggest considering a tree(s) or larger shrubs to give you some height and depth. Some evergreen shrubs will give year round interest and you will be surprised how little you need to depend on flower colour if you have good structure and some interesting foliage colour and texture.
I would suggest choosing and getting the position of any larger shrubs or trees is a priority. Nearly all small shrubs and perennials can be dug out and disposed of or moved elsewhere if they're not working - but taking out a 5 year old tree is a bigger job! Once you have a little structure established it becomes easier to see where to dot other things in.
A border which has a strong foliage palette is easier on the eye and it's easier to achieve year round interest. You can then use perennials, bulbs, clematis etc to provide pops of colour in different seasons.
Don't forget garden furniture such as obelisks, arches etc can be used to introduce colour if they're painted. I use rusted or black ones for year-round structural interest and height but they also offer colour when clothed in clematis and roses.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I use a technique which, if you follow it, makes life considerably easier: I ignore the garden in winter. I don’t do any gardening and I certainly don’t relax in the garden in the winter - too cold, too wet, too muddy. The days are short, the curtains are drawn, Christmas is upon us and until the snowdrops start to bloom the garden can look after itself; I’m ignoring it.
The reality is that there are always going to be gaps at certain times of the year, the waxing and waning of the seasons is part of the joy of it. CatDouch's border looks full of colour and interest, but not everything is necessarily in flower in that photo, the lavender isn't quite out yet, and there are alliums in the background not yet ready. But they are still adding interest because they have attractive foliage and flower buds.... so looking for plants that look good even when not in flower is worthwhile doing. Including how they look after they have flowered - interesting seed heads etc. @Topbird has already covered it so I won't go on.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Thanks @Plantminded and @Loxley starting with a completely blank canvas made it easier I think as I didn’t have to work around something already there.
I have lots of herbaceous and tender plants which die down in winter, but the joy I have when I see new growth erupting in spring,is immeasurable. I love the contrast between winter barrenness,and summer exuberance.
Wow, Thankyou so much for all your replies! I get overwhelmed easily so I’m thinking how I could break down the process to make it easier! Your replies and pictures are super helpful though!
here’s my garden! South facing. Elderberry tree here and a climbing rose going up the shed-I was thinking of creating a big shaped bed around the base of the rose and the tree. I’ve created a bed along the path, lavender, cat mint and catnip with archways and climbers to come.
The 2nd picture is the same side of garden, just full of weeds! So I was going to carry the bed up here.
the bigger section of garden I want to do a pond and wildflower area but also create some sort of bed.
the front is a bed along a fence and I’ve planted lavender with a rambling rose just starting this year then we just have a messy patch of grass!
I have 2 small buddlias to put somewhere 🤷🏻♀️ and a few potted things
Hi @RoseVilla the plants I have in this border are;
Nepeta Purrsian Blue, Lavender Hidcote, Salvia Nemorosa Caradonna, Salvia Blue Bouqetta, Salvia Amistad, Geranium Roxanne, Stachys Byzantina Lambs Tongue, Eryngium Sea Holly Blue Steel, Allium Purple Sensation, Allium Sphaerocephalon, Miscanthus Sinensis Red Chief, Euphorbia Silver Edge, Euphorbia Baby Charm, Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow, Euphorbia Humpty Dumpty, Rudbeckia (can’t remember which one) and Heleniums (can’t remember which one) and 3 Climbing Roses.
Hardy Geranium Roxanne is such an easy plant, it’s in flower for such a long time, I have 3 of these. Also 3 of the Nepeta Purrsian Blue, a nice mound forming nepeta, easy to care for and the colour is beautiful.
This border is in my south facing front garden and is in full sun, when we get it! Hope that helps and I hope you enjoy the results of all your planning 😁
Posts
l've been gardening for over 40 years and l can count on the fingers of one hand the times l think l've actually got it right.
Gardening is a constant thing, and personally l think it's something you either enjoy or tolerate.
If you can give some idea of the layout of your garden at the moment @RoseVilla ,whether the bed is sunny or shady and it's size, whereabouts you are in the UK, and maybe a couple of photos that would help with advice.
At this time of year l would probably start with planting bulbs such as Narcissi or daffodils to give you colour in early Spring. After that you could consider perennials such as hardy geraniums which would come up as the bulb foliage is dying down. That's just for starters..
Please don't stress about it, we all have to start somewhere !
PS Agree @CatDouch, that is lovely.
I would suggest you concentrate a bit on structure in your bed. How large is it? If it's of any size I would suggest considering a tree(s) or larger shrubs to give you some height and depth. Some evergreen shrubs will give year round interest and you will be surprised how little you need to depend on flower colour if you have good structure and some interesting foliage colour and texture.
I would suggest choosing and getting the position of any larger shrubs or trees is a priority. Nearly all small shrubs and perennials can be dug out and disposed of or moved elsewhere if they're not working - but taking out a 5 year old tree is a bigger job! Once you have a little structure established it becomes easier to see where to dot other things in.
A border which has a strong foliage palette is easier on the eye and it's easier to achieve year round interest. You can then use perennials, bulbs, clematis etc to provide pops of colour in different seasons.
Don't forget garden furniture such as obelisks, arches etc can be used to introduce colour if they're painted. I use rusted or black ones for year-round structural interest and height but they also offer colour when clothed in clematis and roses.
The reality is that there are always going to be gaps at certain times of the year, the waxing and waning of the seasons is part of the joy of it. CatDouch's border looks full of colour and interest, but not everything is necessarily in flower in that photo, the lavender isn't quite out yet, and there are alliums in the background not yet ready. But they are still adding interest because they have attractive foliage and flower buds.... so looking for plants that look good even when not in flower is worthwhile doing. Including how they look after they have flowered - interesting seed heads etc. @Topbird has already covered it so I won't go on.
I love the contrast between winter barrenness,and summer exuberance.
here’s my garden! South facing. Elderberry tree here and a climbing rose going up the shed-I was thinking of creating a big shaped bed around the base of the rose and the tree. I’ve created a bed along the path, lavender, cat mint and catnip with archways and climbers to come.
the bigger section of garden I want to do a pond and wildflower area but also create some sort of bed.
the front is a bed along a fence and I’ve planted lavender with a rambling rose just starting this year then we just have a messy patch of grass!
I have 2 small buddlias to put somewhere 🤷🏻♀️ and a few potted things
Nepeta Purrsian Blue, Lavender Hidcote, Salvia Nemorosa Caradonna, Salvia Blue Bouqetta, Salvia Amistad, Geranium Roxanne, Stachys Byzantina Lambs Tongue, Eryngium Sea Holly Blue Steel, Allium Purple Sensation, Allium Sphaerocephalon, Miscanthus Sinensis Red Chief, Euphorbia Silver Edge, Euphorbia Baby Charm, Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow, Euphorbia Humpty Dumpty, Rudbeckia (can’t remember which one) and Heleniums (can’t remember which one) and 3 Climbing Roses.