Need help choosing..

Im fairly new to gardning, we have recently bought a house and the garden looks quite empty. Now i want to plant something along the garden fence, but dont really no what to choose, like i said i am fairly new so something that will be easy to maintain and grow easily, will be helpfull i have attached a picture of the space were i want to plant.




Does anybody know the name of this plant called (at the top of the pic), it really blossoms up in the summer with bright red/pink flowers, i want to get another one but dont know the name.




I found this at the back of the garden, i dont know if its still alive or not, any idea what it is?

 

Harry is the bed in sun, shade etc.? Also what type of soil do you have please?

A closer picture would help of the plant please.

 

hi, that part of the bed is mostly in the sun, i dont know what type of soil i have, im fairly new to this, how do i check what type of soil i have?

Will take some close up pics tomrow.

 

You can by a kit to test the soil. If not you can normally take a guess by the plants you and your neighbours have growing. For instance if there are rhododendrons and azaleas growing it's most likely you have an acid soil.

 

Soil
Are there 30 or more large and small stones per square meter Yes = Stoney

NO,= Is the soil dark brown or black very rich and spongy texture Yes = Peaty

NO, = is the top soil dark and a few inches lower white Yes = Chalky

NO, = Pick up a handful of moist soil mould it with your fist,does the soil feel gritty YES =( when moulded does it form a ball without crumbling Yes = loamy sand NO = light loam)

YES = does the soil feel sticky No = medium loam

Yes = squeeze a small quantity with sliding motion between finger and thumb
does the soil surface become shiny NO =heavy loam

Yes = is it hard to change the shape of teh soil ball with finger thumb
NO = Clay Loam
Yes = Clay

Pan britannica 1948

Jack McH

 

The mystery plant in the third picture looks to me like a stunted tree of some sort, possibly an Oak or Chestnut judging by the colour of the bark.
Maybe it was somebody's attempt a growing a bonsai tree?
Wait until the spring, see what leaves appear and then you can get a more definite ID.

A couple of ways to tell if it's still alive; scrape away a tiny sliver of the bark with a fingernail or a small knife - if the wood underneath the bark looks green, it's still alive. If the wood is brown and the branches are brittle and snap off easily, it's probably dead.

Also, try gently tugging the plant to see if it is still firmly rooted in the container, if there's plenty of resistance it is probably still alive. If it comes out very easily with little or no sign of root growth, it's dead.

 

There seems to be an Azalea growing next to the pot in the last picture, but it doesn't look overly healthy - could be down to the soil or it could be neglected.

 

Could the plant in your 2nd pic possibly be a Hebe, Harry?

 

As you are newly moved into this home/garden. Before you plant near the fence, you have assessed it to be in good condition for a long time, correct?

Back to your question, part of me would plant a nice varigated climbing Hydrangea first to cover the fence, and it would be a nice back drop to other plants.
The shub you mentioned that you want to get a match to, unless you really know the exact name and variety, it is hard to match up. Just try to find other shrubs that will complament it.
Yep and that poor thing in the pot, just wait to see what it produces.

 

thanks for the reply guys..@trunky i tried your little test i guess its as good as dead:(.
Ive bought a soil kit off ebay just waiting for it to be deliverd...

redstar thanks for idea i might just to that im still looking for ideas.

Heres a few pics of the sencond plant i want to identify..

 

Pretty colors of reds. A blue fothergille (spelling) or a slow growing blue conifer just now comes to mind to go with it. I am not good at identifying plants unless they are shade loving ones.

 

It looks like an Azalea Harry.

 

Thanks sheal. When month does this blossom, and do I have to cut of the old twigs or do I leave it as it is.

 

I agree with Sheal.

Azaleas flower in spring and don't need much pruning. Once they have flowered, you should deadhead them by snapping off the dead flowers, but be careful when you do it so that you don't damage the new growth which will be just underneath. I usually pinch them out by hand.

They start forming next year's buds any time from July onwards, so if you are going to prune them, give them a light trim just after they've flowered.

If there are dead branches, you can remove these at the base and nip the ends of those branches which are likely to bush out to cover the gaps.

You might also want to give it some fertiliser which has been formulated for ericaceous plants. I use slow release pellets which I plan to give mine by the end of March but you can use the liquid form as well.

They are shallow rooting so would benefit from some mulch as well to protect the roots.

 

Thanks for great info, I havnt a actually pruned mine at all. As you can see from the picture the leafs are a dark browny colour, should I trim them or leave them as they are now?