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Advice with a planter

Grandad 99Grandad 99 Posts: 52
in Plants

Hi everyone. This is my first post, looking for help with what is probably common knowledge to anyone who knows anything at all about gardening, but for various reasons I'm a virtual beginner.

This is our front garden

image

 I've just bought an old wooden wheelbarrow to use as a planter and wonder if some sort of miniature conifer  and some heathers would be suitable. The barrow is 21" x 28" 

The wall is 4' 6"  high in the corner  and the road outside is north of the garden. Limited sun, mostly in the afternoon.  We are in Kent.

Specific questions are

Do I need to make drainage holes in the barrow
Do I need a plastic liner
Do I mix soil and compost/peat type

Suggestions of suitable conifers and heathers (summer and winter flowering) very welcome.

 

Thanks

 

 

Posts

  • clkclk Posts: 95

    I'd definitely make drainage holes. I tried planting various things in a planter with none and the rain just sat in it and the plants died. Also, as it's wood, I probably would line it, to help preserve it/protect it from the moisture. I've found that conifers are really thirsty so that might be something to consider. I was researching heathers to buy recently (on the RHS plant finder website as always). There are some that don't mind acid or neutral soil. So I wrote the names for those down and managed to get both at our local garden centre. Most will need to be in ericacious compost. I think I'd just go big and blowsy, cheap and cheerful, chop and change according to what's out at the time so you always have a colourful display in it. Experiment. But we all have different ideas.

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,994

    I'll second what clk has just said. That's what I was thinking when I read the question.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Ritchard FreemanRitchard Freeman Posts: 17

    I'll third that. Are you planning on planting the wall too?

  • Grandad 99Grandad 99 Posts: 52

    Thanks everyone. Not being a proper gardener I'm a bit puzzled by "planting the wall". I will be adding things in the border between the wall and the boundary wall. Thinking of lavender at the back (by the pavement) and not yet decided about the rest.

    The border is 25' by 4' 9", the retaining wall is 4' 6" high in the corner and the wall by the pavement is 10" high

    This photo shows a better overall view

     

    image

    Suggestions for easy care low maintenance plants very welcome.

     

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