Shrub planting

Put in a nice bird table in the garden unfortunately no birds using it so next step is a few shrubs with berries on to attract them. I've dug a small trench this morning were there used to be pebbles going down by about 6 inches or 10 inches.

This area is where I want to plant some shrubs. It is fairly cold here but no frosts, a bit of rain and then some very dry days as well. Could I get away with planting some Holly bushes etc now? Plus what shrubs would people suggest? The area is around 6 foot long, one foot wide, 6 - 10 inches deep and starts at a lap fence but then stops just before the bird table so giving great cover for birds feeding from the table. The area is about 3 foot away from my shed but I�d rather see the plants than the shed from my kitchen window, so plants height of about 4 to 6 foot are OK.

 

If you're using bare-root plants, this is the time of year to plant, Johnny! So long as the ground isn't frozen, or waterlogged. Container plants can be put in at any time, with the same warnings attached!!

Possibilities - cotoneaster, pyracantha (thorns, beware!), berberis (same...), skimmia, guelder rose. That should give you a few ideas!

If you google for "shrubs for birds" or something like that, it'll give you some more ideas. I did, and came up with this link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/wildbritain/gardenwildlife/myspace/content.shtml?8

 

Thanks for all those suggestions. We also have a 17 month old daughter so will probably go for something softer at the front and keep the thorny plants to the back.

To the garden centre tomorrow now I know I won't just be putting in plants to die

 

Just an update, went for a Pyracantha, Skimia and Holly. Already have a Hypericum 'Hidcote' in the garden so may also take some cuttings from that as well. Thanks for all the advice.

 

Looks good, Johnny! And hypericum takes very well as a cutting, so fingers crossed on that on! :D

 

Yes I've virtually just cut it and stuck it in the ground before now and it springs up. The last garden though had the sun coming in the right direction this one the sun merely crosses over but what we got planted last summer, when we moved in, seems to of thrived so far, fingers crossed.

 

You could put a couple in pots on your kitchen window sill too, Johnny. My main success with hypericum cuttings has been that way, rather than as hardwood cuttings. I don't know if you've tried that?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/propagation_takesummercuttings.shtml

 

Thank you for the great link. May try the window idea.

 

you're welcome - good luck with it! :D

 

Thanks once again everyone. Here's a picture of my extremely rectangular garden.