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New border ideas
ddd77
Posts: 25
Hi... I've finally dug up part of the lawn to add some extra planting space in our garden... but can't really decide what to do next. Each patch is about 2.5 x 1.5 metres and will be directly visible from our kitchen/living space throughout the year- so a bit worried about creating something that will only look good in the summer. Any ideas for planting schemes for these patches? I was thinking of a mixture of perennials and evergreens with a blue/purple/white theme to match the summer house? Our soil is neutral /chalky and the patches are west facing (although the one near the patio will be part shaded by the house) Any suggestions welcome... 
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The good thing about it being west facing for those ones at your summerhouse is that there's plenty of choice. I'm guessing the soil might also be drier and freer draining, and that can be more problematic through summer, but it's often a case of trying things and see how they manage. If you can give us an idea of how wet or dry your location is, that will help, butbear in mind that once you add lots of planting, it will naturally becomea bit drier too.
The little bed on the right won't really take more than a single specimen shrub, but you can underplant with bulbs, depending on what you choose for that.
Grasses would give you some height variation, and I don't think they mind soil type, so that could be worth trying. @Plantminded and @GardenerSuze are very keen on them, so they might be able to advise. I only grow one large type - Spartina, but that's a good one whether the site is dry or very wet as it's a coastal grass, and adapts. It comes into growth a bit later [here it's around mid May] and carries on until late summer/early autumn before changing colour. The rest of mine are more suited to wetter conditions.
If you mix in things like Hebes for the evergreens - loads of sizes and varieties as well as ones with purple foliage, that would be a good starting point. Flowers on them vary from white through to quite rich purples.
Choysias are another shrub which might do well as part fo the structure - that could be ideal for the small space. There's a golden one, but it can be a bit hit and miss through winter, and can also lose it's colour, but the green ones are good and reliable unless temps are severe. You'd need to check if they'll suit your soil, but I don't think they're fussy. Flowers are white. Ceanothus could be another option - various types and sizes, but again - check the soil suitability. They have paler blue flowers, mainly late spring into summer.
For height variation - verticals, the popular Verbena bonariensis will work well, and the shrubs/grasses will give them support. There are other verbenas too - I grow a shorter one, but just be aware that there are also annual ones which are quite different, so check first. You could probably have bearded Irises if you like them - colours right through your spectrum. Lilies - but tricky if you're plagued by the lily beetles. Not sure if they manage chalkier soils, so check again. Astrantias give a good height, but don't like being too dry, so bear that in mind. Plenty of whites, but not purples. As always, hardy geraniums will fill gaps, and are good for combining with spring bulbs.
Geraniums/bulbs would be good for linking those areas with the one at your house, as they cope with shadier sites. You may not need so many evergreen plants there, but the Choysias would be fine in that aspect. If you don't mind overwintering plants, the tall Acidantheras are available at this time of year. They're bulbs, and they match your colours, but don't like being cold and wet or frozen, as they aren't properly hardy, so would need lifted for winter unless it's very mild where you are. They're very inexpensive though, so I often treat them as annuals.
There will be plenty of other choices, but that will give you a start.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Have fun going to garden centres at different times of the year to chose plants so you can stagger the flowering. Gaps can be filled in with annuals, such as heliotropes in summer and purple and white violas in spring.
A lot depends on your personal taste, there are different styles of planting. Personally, I'm not keen on grasses, I like cottage garden planting with roses, clematis, delphiniums, hardy geraniums, phlox, asters, etc. Some of those come in purple and white too.
Ornamental Grasses Gallery 2024
All the Miscanthus are great but the larger ones are very difficult to split.
Division should be done in spring as plants come into growth, leave well alone when dormant.
A great way to create impact at various heights. Not a huge choice in the GC's here. Probably a specialist nursery for some of the very best ones.
I don't have many photos but if you type in 'A sunny easy maintenance front garden' at the top you will see my old garden. The large grass is the Stipa and the small ones are Nasella which need fierce drainage.