Don't worry Bee, I just felt like maybe they had been put in a bit hastily when I read your post. I would rather you all be honest with me in your advice rather than wasting money on plants that won't survive.
On the plus side, which I hadn't mentioned previously, is that the back of the garden does tend to hold water a lot, hence why I haven't been able to do much with it yet. Also the grass on that part has always thrived.........always looking for a positive as some of you may know (once I get over the initial doom LOL).
About 20 years ago I went to the Gardeners World Live exhibition, and Carol Klein sold me a campanula - white with a dark blue edge - 'like it had been dipped in a pot of ink' she said. (This was long before she was a GW regular, but I had seen her on ITV and recognised her). I planted it next to a tree in the shade, because that was what our garden was - trees and shade. Of course it just 'disappeared' without the sunlight or nutrients. I was very disappointed, not just to lose a plant, but to lose one which the wonderful CK had sold me with such typically fabulous enthusiasm. Since then I have had very fixed views on gardens. Once, when DH and I were house hunting I disregarded a property because the garden 'wasn't right'. He couldn't understand it because the garden was lovely on its own terms, but for me it 'wasn't right' because I could never have grown the sort of plants I wanted to grow. Too many trees, too hemmed in, wrong soil type. Like you say Verdun, we learn to consider carefully through our mistakes - and I made plenty!!
Tracey - the "trial and error" method works for me (in fact i am still practising it!) - in the first year try a bit of everything, work out what does well, and then plant lots more of it ! My "do well" border plant is phlox .... But i am adding others to the list
TBH Tracey, the difference between you and me will be the fact that you can watch your plants now, and if you suspect all is not going well, you will be able to save the day by moving them somewhere else - even if you have to put them back into pots for a bit. With me, I had no idea what I had done wrong, just kept watering to no avail and presumed I had watered too much or too little. There is so much advice on the internet and in books, etc. nowadays - it's all brilliant for gardeners. At our last house we had hawthorn hedges, and not a lot grew well very close to them, but one thing I remember working was a choisya - lovely yellowy foliage which would contrast nicely with the dark green of privet.
As I said before, if it's a raised bed filled with good earth and compost it should be fine, especially if you feed and water it when necessary.
I had typed out a long paragraph all about plants before the privet hedge bit, but Internet had been playing up because of a fault in the phone line and it all disappeared. Don't know if I can remember it all now!
Is any of it in shade or will it all be in sun? Will you have shrubs and roses under planted with perennials? I was thinking about plants for winter colour and plants to contrast with the hedge. What about cornus that has brightly coloured stems in winter even though it will lose it's leaves? Or euonymus Silver Queen which would keep it's leaves and show up against the privet? Heucheras come with different coloured leaves, gold, caramel, lime green, dark red and they keep their leaves. There is choisya ternata Sundance with it's golden leaves. You could under plant with bulbs for spring and if you know anyone with too many snowdrops soon it will be time to divide them and replant. Some of these will grow in shade.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I think there will always be an element of trial and error with me because as yet I'm not knowledgeable enough to do any different, that will be combined with the advice I receive and see how I get on
There's always an element of risk, no matter how experienced you are, weather, insects, birds, animals etc can all mess up your plans! But mostly it's OK and in June you marvel at how beautiful it all is.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Your garden will be a heavenly haven before long Tracey - I've thoroughly enjoyed your thread and reading all the advice and suggestions. You have a fantastic lawn - never mind the bendy hedge cutters, has your OH not hinted at a sit on mower yet?
Posts
Don't worry Bee, I just felt like maybe they had been put in a bit hastily when I read your post. I would rather you all be honest with me in your advice rather than wasting money on plants that won't survive.
On the plus side, which I hadn't mentioned previously, is that the back of the garden does tend to hold water a lot, hence why I haven't been able to do much with it yet. Also the grass on that part has always thrived.........always looking for a positive as some of you may know (once I get over the initial doom LOL).
About 20 years ago I went to the Gardeners World Live exhibition, and Carol Klein sold me a campanula - white with a dark blue edge - 'like it had been dipped in a pot of ink' she said. (This was long before she was a GW regular, but I had seen her on ITV and recognised her). I planted it next to a tree in the shade, because that was what our garden was - trees and shade. Of course it just 'disappeared' without the sunlight or nutrients. I was very disappointed, not just to lose a plant, but to lose one which the wonderful CK had sold me with such typically fabulous enthusiasm. Since then I have had very fixed views on gardens. Once, when DH and I were house hunting I disregarded a property because the garden 'wasn't right'. He couldn't understand it because the garden was lovely on its own terms, but for me it 'wasn't right' because I could never have grown the sort of plants I wanted to grow. Too many trees, too hemmed in, wrong soil type. Like you say Verdun, we learn to consider carefully through our mistakes - and I made plenty!!
Thank you Bee, I am hoping to learn from others mistakes although undoubtedly I will make my own too
Tracey - the "trial and error" method works for me (in fact i am still practising it!) - in the first year try a bit of everything, work out what does well, and then plant lots more of it ! My "do well" border plant is phlox .... But i am adding others to the list
TBH Tracey, the difference between you and me will be the fact that you can watch your plants now, and if you suspect all is not going well, you will be able to save the day by moving them somewhere else - even if you have to put them back into pots for a bit. With me, I had no idea what I had done wrong, just kept watering to no avail and presumed I had watered too much or too little. There is so much advice on the internet and in books, etc. nowadays - it's all brilliant for gardeners. At our last house we had hawthorn hedges, and not a lot grew well very close to them, but one thing I remember working was a choisya - lovely yellowy foliage which would contrast nicely with the dark green of privet.
As I said before, if it's a raised bed filled with good earth and compost it should be fine, especially if you feed and water it when necessary.
I had typed out a long paragraph all about plants before the privet hedge bit, but Internet had been playing up because of a fault in the phone line and it all disappeared. Don't know if I can remember it all now!
Is any of it in shade or will it all be in sun? Will you have shrubs and roses under planted with perennials? I was thinking about plants for winter colour and plants to contrast with the hedge. What about cornus that has brightly coloured stems in winter even though it will lose it's leaves? Or euonymus Silver Queen which would keep it's leaves and show up against the privet? Heucheras come with different coloured leaves, gold, caramel, lime green, dark red and they keep their leaves. There is choisya ternata Sundance with it's golden leaves. You could under plant with bulbs for spring and if you know anyone with too many snowdrops soon it will be time to divide them and replant. Some of these will grow in shade.
I've made a note of that Bee, thanks.
I think there will always be an element of trial and error with me because as yet I'm not knowledgeable enough to do any different, that will be combined with the advice I receive and see how I get on
There's always an element of risk, no matter how experienced you are, weather, insects, birds, animals etc can all mess up your plans! But mostly it's OK and in June you marvel at how beautiful it all is.
Your garden will be a heavenly haven before long Tracey - I've thoroughly enjoyed your thread and reading all the advice and suggestions. You have a fantastic lawn - never mind the bendy hedge cutters, has your OH not hinted at a sit on mower yet?
Good Luck