What to put in cleared terrace border?
Catherine Joyce
Posts: 14
Hi
A few weeks ago I asked advice about a nasty overgrown and suckered rose bed/escallonia hedge, and the advice from all you lovely gardening people was to rip it all out and start again. And now it is done..
As you can see its a border on our upper garden terrace, either side of some stone steps down to the lower levels. The border faces north (we are on the coast of North Somerset) and is close to the house so it doens't get a huge amount of sun. The soil is good (probably slightly alkaline). The space is 1m2 to the right of the steps and 1m x3m long on the left side.
As its a terrace border, it needs to look good from both sides. I don't want anything too high (max 60cm or so) so we can get a nice view down the garden.
The rest of the garden is filled with cottage favourites and lots of roses. There are already 5 other roses around the lawn on that level of terrace, as well as fennel, leucathemum, felicia petiolata and veronica cantiana (I think - I have plan from the previous owner, but am still a novice..)
I was thinking of something matching and evergreen either side of the steps for symmetry, and would also like something to cascade over the wall of the terrace to the level below (but wonder what bearing in mind the north aspect), as well as some nice perennials for colour.
But now am faced with big empty hole and rather intimidated by it, so would appreciate all advice.
Many thanks
Posts
Hi Catherine, although you're north facing you could try Phormiums if you like them. They prefer a sunny position but I've grown them in shadier spots and as long as the drainage is good, they do well. Some of the yellowy/creamy/green varieties will brighten the area too, on dark days I've also used Hebes in the same way - you'll get the structure but fewer flowers. Shrubs like Sarcococca(Christmas box) should be fine too, and you can keep them trimmed to a nice shape if you want a structural look like box but without the expense. Pittosporum is evergreen - lots of colours and shapes with those. not 100% hardy everywhere so just check that. I've got Pernettyas (called Gaultherias now) here which are happy with shade and are evergreen - berries on those too. Hardy geraniums will grow almost anywhere so they would provide you with colour - loads to choose from - and they'll fit your cottagey theme. If you site them at the edges of the wall, they'll often tumble down too. Pachysandras and Tiarellas are low growing and evergreen. Dicentras ( Bleeding Heart) Heucheras, and Polemoniums (Jacob's Ladder) are very useful perennials for shady aspects and Hostas if you can cope with Mr Slug and his friends! Lots of bulbs will be happy there too.
Hope that gives you a couple of ideas - there will be loads more ideas from others here
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Some of the blue geraniums would be nice, slug free and take to most positions and soil types. A nice blue carpet that will flower for months. You could put some bulbs in as well.
I've lost both Phormiums and Pittosporums in hard winters. Easy, evergreen and OK in shade for the 2 matching ones could be Euonymus. There are gold and green or white and green and they can be left loose or clipped as you like.
There are loads of perennials, rather depends on your taste. But how much sun does it get, a few hours a day or only one or two?
Plants that are OK in shade - Brunnera Jack Frost, Alchemilla Mollis, Autumn Anemones (there are some lovely new ones that are smaller and not as thuggish as some older ones), astilbes (if it's damp enough), heucheras, some of the hardy geraniums, campanulas (partial shade), epimediums, lamium, euphorbias.
Campanula muralis could tumble down the wall.