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I am a complete novice gardener who has just relandscaped her garden. I have several large empty beds and am looking for advice on what to plant.

I need
a. privacy from neighbouring gardens at the back of the bed .
b. colourful flowering shrubs.
c. variety of seasonal colours.

In addition I am planning a pergola and would like suggestions on what to grow up it for fast coverage with preferably flowers.

Any thoughts on small garden flowering trees for areas in between the beds.

Finally there will be pots littering the garden to break up the gravel/paving so anthing which will grow without much maintenance in these to provide colour would be great.

Soil is a fairly fertile heavy type-good for veg in the past. Garden is south facing.
I dislike any spikes and overly blousey flowers.

Garden is for me and my dogs to enjoy so ideally anything scented is an added bonus.

Many Thanks.
Jamista

 

Jamista welcome to the forum.

For privacy along the back of the border bed you could plant a hedge of laurel this keeps it's leaves all year round so your privacy is covered throughout the year too.

Flowering shrubs there is a nice range to choose from; Joseph's Coat (Spirarea Shirobana, California Lilac (Ceonothus Thyrsiflorus Var Repens, Skimmia Japonica Rubella, Weigela Florida variegata,.Also some great evergreen shrubs with lovely leaf colour; choysia Tornata Sundance, Euonymus Fortuni Emerald Gaity, Leucothoe Scaletta to name but a few. For seasonal colours try Red Robin, Acers, Hollys, Heathers, Virgina Creeper (if you have a wall for it).

Also think about bedding plants and also look at for spring bulbs to plant in autumn.

I'm sure others will come along and add more to the list for you.Good luck Hel.xxx.