If they are pot grown it doesn't matter when you plant them but if they are bare-rooted from a nursery then plant October to March. They will need watering in dry spells for at least the first year.
I would look up flowering shrubs on Google, see what conditions they need, note down suitable ones then go to your garden centre and see what they've got on your list that you like the look of.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Look out for reduced price shrubs which have already flowered, that way your budget will stretch further and next year you will have a lovely display. Plant asap and feed and water unless the plants are going into new top soil in which case feed is un-necessary. Before you plant, boost the original soil with as much horse/farmyard manure as you can get and double dig it in. When you have planted your shrubs make sure you mulch with composted bark or grass cuttings from your new lawn (leave to dry out for a few days before using) a 3inch mulch will help to keep water in and weed seeds out. There are some great no-nonsense gardening books...'Gardening in Pyjamas' is one to look out for.
Looks as though you have made a great start with the clearing of the site and the laying of a lawn.
If you have access to some well rotted horse manure from a local stables - quite often free, it would be a great addition to your garden. As has been previously mentioned, improving your soil and the hole that you dig will pay dividends as your shrub is going to be there for a long time.
Autumn is a good time to plant shrubs as the soil is still warm and it is easier to keep new plants well watered to get them established. Sometimes though you get a better range of plants in the GC when that plant is in flower or sometimes you like to see a shrub in flower before you buy... and sometimes its an impulse buy!!
Look out for reduced price shrubs which have already flowered, that way your budget will stretch further and next year you will have a lovely display. Plant asap and feed and water unless the plants are going into new top soil in which case feed is un-necessary. Before you plant, boost the original soil with as much horse/farmyard manure as you can get and double dig it in. When you have planted your shrubs make sure you mulch with composted bark or grass cuttings from your new lawn (leave to dry out for a few days before using) a 3inch mulch will help to keep water in and weed seeds out. There are some great no-nonsense gardening books...'Gardening in Pyjamas' is one to look out for.
Just a quick update on our progress....we've just got back from holiday so not much has happened in the garden but I've finished reading gardening in pyjamas and finally feel like i've a bit of a clue about what I need to do. It's a fantastic book for beginners and has really helped me plan what to do. This weekend is all about sorting out the soil - ph testing and trench digging (they are phrases I didn't know a few weeks ago) and then leave it all to settle for a few weeks whilst I finalise my plants research.
Thanks so much for the great book recommendation!!
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Sorry, another question re planning - would you recommend I plant shrubs now or wait until the spring? or does it depend on the shrub??
Thanks
If they are pot grown it doesn't matter when you plant them but if they are bare-rooted from a nursery then plant October to March. They will need watering in dry spells for at least the first year.
I would look up flowering shrubs on Google, see what conditions they need, note down suitable ones then go to your garden centre and see what they've got on your list that you like the look of.
Look out for reduced price shrubs which have already flowered, that way your budget will stretch further and next year you will have a lovely display. Plant asap and feed and water unless the plants are going into new top soil in which case feed is un-necessary. Before you plant, boost the original soil with as much horse/farmyard manure as you can get and double dig it in. When you have planted your shrubs make sure you mulch with composted bark or grass cuttings from your new lawn (leave to dry out for a few days before using) a 3inch mulch will help to keep water in and weed seeds out. There are some great no-nonsense gardening books...'Gardening in Pyjamas' is one to look out for.
Looks as though you have made a great start with the clearing of the site and the laying of a lawn.
If you have access to some well rotted horse manure from a local stables - quite often free, it would be a great addition to your garden. As has been previously mentioned, improving your soil and the hole that you dig will pay dividends as your shrub is going to be there for a long time.
Autumn is a good time to plant shrubs as the soil is still warm and it is easier to keep new plants well watered to get them established. Sometimes though you get a better range of plants in the GC when that plant is in flower or sometimes you like to see a shrub in flower before you buy... and sometimes its an impulse buy!!
For the shady side with a bit of sun why not try a Sarcococca confusa. Evergreen and smothered in scented flowers in the winter/spring
Just a quick update on our progress....we've just got back from holiday so not much has happened in the garden but I've finished reading gardening in pyjamas and finally feel like i've a bit of a clue about what I need to do. It's a fantastic book for beginners and has really helped me plan what to do. This weekend is all about sorting out the soil - ph testing and trench digging (they are phrases I didn't know a few weeks ago) and then leave it all to settle for a few weeks whilst I finalise my plants research.
Thanks so much for the great book recommendation!!