Projects for my incoming garden! EDIT: NEWS!!

Apologies for flooding the forum with posts within the day, but i cant get enough of this place!

I would very much like some suggestions! My little garden is going to be relatively shadey, and everything will be in pots outside. I would love as much colour in as many months of the year as possible! I dont mind growing some from seed, a nice little project for me to track- although i would really love a mentor!

SO! With that in mind, what do people suggest plant wise, and how would i get ahold of them, and care for them, and when do they flower, or when should i sow?

Would be nice to develop a good wishlist! :D

[ 02. August 2006, 10:44 PM: Message edited by: Whiley ]

 

OK - a few suggestions

1. In October, plant one large container with bulbs in layers - daffs, tulips, iris reticulata, and snow drops. Top it off with winter flowering pansies. Plant up another container with primulars.

2. For late spring and summer you can grow pretty well anything in containers - so long as you keep them watered. So you could try delphs, snapdragons, roses, dahlias - or a mixture of annuals.

3. Consider growing some foliage shrubs too for winter colour - a couple of variegated hollies (male and female). Perhaps a fake sink planted with different coloured ericas or sedums

Take a look, using the GC search for ....... Garden Colour. We uploaded pictures of plants for every month of the year. So January garden colour, February garden colour etc.

 

Ooo yes. I do like those suggestions. I've seen some nice big containers around as well so will plant them up after my trip to the garden centre on Friday!

When you say grow them in layers, how do you mean? Like is strips, like a line of these and a line of those, etc?

 

I think flowering climbers look great in pots grown up wire obelisk or a wigwam canes. You could grow a passion flower (if its in a sunny spot), they normally ahve lovely everygreen foleage as well as amazing flowers, or clematis (there are many different ones for shade), or even some runner beans!

 

Layering bulbs is both in respect of their flowering time and the depth they like to be.

So come autumn when the bulbs appear, take one large container, ensuring there is drainage in the base, put in a 50/50 mix of compost and perlite/vermiculite about 1/8th deep, then a layer of daffs, then more compost and vermiculite, then a layer of early flowerin tulips or iris reticulata,then more compost and vermiculite then either crocus or snowdrop - interplant with winter flowering pansies or primulars.

Place in a sunny spot, and then wait, keeping your fingers crossed.

 

Exactly what i wanted to hear! Thank you Fran!

 

Yes - thank you Fran - how fascinating - you make much more sense than the gardening programmes - great. FPJ

 

Wow guys! My landlord said i could visit my new flats garden to start work on it as they've moved out, and its a bit of a mess...

but full of amazing things!
Firstly, I have a pond!! Built into the patio and lined and everything! Very overgrown but so looking forward to making it look lovely!

Its mostly paved with a portion of raised bedding which is overgrown and skanky, but that can be cleaned up and also a small bit of decking which is outside our french glass doors from our living room.

Surrounding all walls though is great big beautiful holly! Two different varieties, both with berries! So gorgeous!

Also a gorgeous big rose bush, in full bloom with a big red velvety rose. Tempted to cut it and keep it at mine as its wasted there with no one to enjoy it. But then will it not grow back?

Also some honeysuckle we *think*, and a young maple!
Wedged between the hollies is a pretty red leafy bush which i cant identify, but think its lovely.

There is lots of other overgrown bits that i cant identify, but i just wanted to cry i was so pleased with what was already there!

Will get the camera out there as soon as i can!

Its happening guys!! I've got a garden! My first garden!

 

Congratulations!!

Come on - photos!!!!! We need photos!!

 

Congratulations Whiley - sounds like a winner. Yes cut the rose, and others should form before the autumn, in fact roses will often flower until November/December.

I agree with D we need to see pictures