gardening advice plant choices

I see Silu suggested that you could get that sort of price, but I'd be surprised


2 acres is about 8,000 sq.m. Normal sowing rate for a lawn would be around 50 gms/m2., so you would need 400 KG - getting on for half a tonne - can't see you getting that for 30 quid ... I normally get away with only half the recommended sowing rate, but even so it ain't going to stretch to a large area ...

If its just a rough pasture field then you can sow at 10-20KG per acre, and rough meadow grasses are around £3.50 - £4.00 per KG, but only really suitable for rough grazing and/or cutting once a year for hay.

Depends what you want it for, but at the low end price its not going to be good for much other than scrub land I reckon.

 

I seem to remember you - listed building project in Scotland? Forgive me if I'm wrong............
If I'm correct then I reckon that you're a stayer who'll get the job done, but as already said it'll not be the work of a moment. A planned scheme of seasonal planting over the next year or so though should lay the foundations for something rather special!

The best advice that I can offer is to find a local independent nursery to advise and supply you. The opportunity of a large order early in the season may be enough to tempt them to the site to really help you decide. There are a few rather well thought of specialist alpine nurseries in Scotland - near you or not I don't know (assuming that you're the chap that I'm thinking of).

A few suggestions though;
1] you have a large enough space to have an Ornamental cherry (the kinda weeping tree that flowers late spring) underplanted with something like Colchicum (autumn flowering), Crocus for the spring and Cyclamen, all of which should naturalise. It's not evergreen, but a nice feature when the area should be in use.
2] Camassia is a bulbous plant that multiplies readily.
3] In a listed building setting old classics such as hardy Fuchsia (F.magallenica is a good 'un), Penstemon (huge variety from the naff to really outstanding) and perennial Lobelia will always fit in.
4] Avoid plants such as Foxgloves Love in a Mist and Hollyhocks that self seed like crazy. Instead try to introduce steady self seeders such as Cerinthe (two packets of seed should set the gardens up for life).
5] other herbaceous perennials to consider are;
Sidelcea (hardy as hell)
Corydalis
Dicentra
Polygonatum
6] Dwarf Hebes.
7] Use any left over hardcore to pack out a raised alpine bed.

 

Just my two pence worth here (only my opinion), if your hedge is a native tree (the yew), why not keep in with the native (or regional native), and go for Holly and Buxus.. also try the native privet, but train it to become a topiarised tree. The stick primroses foxgloves and pansies in and you'll have an effective native garden! (and all evergreen!)

 

thanks for the advice, the grass seed will cost several hundred, not £30 unfortunately.
i will consider the plant choices and take a trip to the nursery.
ps, i am from scotland with the listed building.

 

I have a good neighbouring farmer who has supplied me with grass seed cheaply so maybe I was a bit optimistic re the up to date price of seed. Still, you don't need to spend a fortune on grass seed unless you are envisaging a bowling green type lawn. As the poster lives in Scotland as I do the chances of succeeding in having the perfect lawn a pretty slight with our less than great climate and predominantly acid soil. Unless drainage is perfect and the grass is regularly (at least once a year) given a hefty dressing of lime and then fertiliser as all the farmers do in this area anyway, I would be extremely dubious as to the success of a lawn of any size, so spending a lot of money on fancy lawn seed is probably going to be a waste of money imo. The poster requires "low maintenance" trying to achieve a beautiful lawn is about as high maintenance as you can get!!!!