Small space in front garden...and out of ideas - help!

Attached are a couple of pics of a space we have by the front door. Our front garden is tiny, mainly given over to car parking (including 2 motorbikes!), but we do have some growing area. Most of it is given over to Cordylines, but this space is by the front door and quite frankly needs help.

Its only 3 foot x 1.5 foot and as you'll see its backed by the Cordyline. There is a tatty Rosemary (transplanted several times and in desperation shoved in there) and a Lavender that again has been moved in there. Both the herbs can go, the Cordyline stays!

I'd love to make this space look really wow, but am ashamed to admit I am out of ideas. The space gets the sun from early morning until about midday-ish, is on clay (mixed in with gravel) but drains well (probably the gravel!). I think a climber up the brick wall, but not sure which...any other ideas for me?

Ta :thumb:

 

Hi Aaron,

I would look at how well that cordyline has done and take my cue from there.


I personally would ditch everything except the cordyline then mulch with some top notch blue slate or lots of gravel or pebbles in different sizes, and perhaps have a think about some stunning liles in there to match up to the cordyl;ine.


And bite the bullet-either strip that rosemary for cuttings for the back, and then chuck it.


I don't normally "do" tropical planting but it is sort of asking for it IMO.

 

I knew you'd appear Claire...although I was expecting you to suggest cottage garden plants! LOL

The Cordyine has done wonderful there - survived several winters and is starting to lose leaves around the trunk, so I think I'll have a tree before long! There are 2 others in a similar good condition.

I know what you are thinking of, and it sounds good, but I'd love some plants too - something to make a statement by the front door (and it would be somewhere new for me to plant up, back garden is full to bursting point at the moment!).

I get the feeling grasses in striking colours, with colourful tiles is the way forward though...could I have a climber too please?

 

Hi Aaron, I agree with lolli, Clear it all out, Apart from the Cordy, Add some compost and away you go, I planted a lovely bright yellow grass (small) in one of my borders, Ive searched for the label but can't find it Ill take a pic tomorrow if your interested, Someone will ID it :thumb: Annuals for summer and of course Bulbs in Autumn, A trellis on the wall with a Summer flowering Clematis, Morrisons have loads for about £2. White or pink will be good, Red if your looking for hot here's a pic of a cordy i had last year with annuals.. I have to buy a new cordy every year because they just dont survive in my garden :( So im quite jealous of yours :D..

 

Isn't it always the way eh? I can't seem to kill cordylines-and I can kill delphiniums no problem-and yet it's delphiniums I love......................sigh

 

Claire, had to post a pic of my delphiniums, just starting to bloom.





Daisy, my Cordylines





(note dead Canary Palm in pot in background :( )

 

Just rub it in, why dont ya :D I wouldnt mind but I love Red Cordy's Aaron, I think iv'e had 5, number 6 ready to go in.. maybe this will be the survivor for me,.. Naaaaah.... I can grow Delphiniums no bother Lolli. I think we will have to rethink the plants we want to grow :flag: Your Cordy's are fab and your delph's Aaron and I have just thrown a Canary Palm in the bin, it was as dead as yours..
PS love your Alliums as well..

 

course-I could always show you the foxgloves and lupins that are going mad at the moment Aaron-just to get you back-you little...................

 

Now foxgloves I would get annoyed by. I bought a perennial one and the b***** slugs are eating it. I'm giving up on them :( Lupins, I have a plenty, and covered in buds

I think I might need to add Oriental Papaver to the list of stuff I can't grow. I bought two this year, no buds on them :( Others in town are blooming already. Grrrr.

 

Hi sussex gardener for a climbing plant you could try morning glory you can get a perennial one, or why not try black eyed susie which is an annual.

Youngdaisydea, I read that you can't keep cordy's have you tried keeping them in their pots? It's just a suggested and if you dont' want the pot seen you could always bury it in the garden. I had one in a pot for quite a while, then last year i took it out of it's pot and planted it in the garden and it is doing very well.
weekend gardener

 

Hi WG, yes ive tried them in pots, i even overwinter them in my Ghouse but they just dont like my garden, or me

 

I agree with Claire..I would enhance the cordy and put ornamental chippings at the base....

 

I have only just planted two red ones this year in pots, but have a lovely big green one in the garden that has grown taller than the fence with little/no care at all .... maybe thats the trick :hehe: ...... excuse the mess am in the middle of a project!




I did though also loose a Canary Palm this year and so did my mum and my aunt. I put it down to the very harsh winter we had :wink:

 

There was discusson about Canary Palms a couple of months back. Goes to show that a lot of plants we considered fine for the UK climate aren't really, when we get such a winter. I'm giving mine a leave of execution for now...but its in a lovely pot and I have so many (living!) plants that would look fab in it.

Cordylines are also called Torbay Palms, I understand, or New Zealand Cabbage Palms, so they should be fairly hardy. Mine have done great, and the front of the house is hardly what you'd call sheltered.

 

It would look lovely with pelagoniums around it they'd comtrast nicely with the spikey leaves.