Some inspiration needed

This is the area by my front door. I grow lupins in that area and have done for years but tbh the whole slug issue is starting to drive me nuts anyway!



I have this crazy, probably not very well thought out idea that i will get rid of all perennials from my garden and go for more evergreens.

So - suggestions

What could i put there that would be all year round interest with some nice flowers at some point (not too bothered when they flower), pref quite long flowering though rather than a couple of weeks.

Edited to add: Full sun all day

 

Giant agapantus (in flower now for 2/3 weeks)

crocosmia lucifer (2/3 week)

Kniphofia northiae perennial (2 week flower)

eucomis 4 weeks flower

Erumurus 2 weeks flower.

all this plant are frost hardy and snail don`t really like them .

 

Sage and Rosemary. Both evergreen, both fragrant, and the sage flowers for months (about June to first significant frost) once established, with the rosemary flowering for several weeks in late spring/early summer.

 

Thanks Sal Ive had the Lucifer before .... no idea why i got rid of it but i must have because i dont have any anymore. Shame, lovely red colour!

*waves to clueless* hi Hmmm something fragrant might be good. Any decent pics ?

 

Sam I`ve suggested this punch for the simple reason , that you will have flower from June up to September and they are all snail resistant , easy to find and to keep winter alive fill all inbetween with tulips and daffodilis , and you will have a nice garden all year around .

 

I looked up some of the plant names and i think they are perennials ?

That is what i think i have decided to remove from my garden (where i can) rather than have big empty plots for quite a few months of the year.

I think I have pretty much decided to rip both borders out in the front garden and start again. I am already planning on removing most of my back garden next summer (we have a problem with the foundations on our decking which covers 75% of our small garden so having it all ripped out and starting again!). so think ill do the front one now so at least both front and back gardens arent bare looking at the same time

I have been looking at Erysimums maybe to fill some of the front garden. The Bowles Mauve ones I have almost all year round, both out the back and front. Going to the garden centre tonight to look at the other colours. I am not sure if they flower for so long.

And slugs dont eat them - thats a big plus LOL

 

I would have suggest you different plant , but this are snails resistant ,problem free and inpressive flower as well , evergreen don`t usually have impressive flower , other nice flower like roses , lily , dahlias and so on are just pest attraction at this point why don`t go for nice foliage and decorative pebble and have a mantainance free front garden.
Btw is the front garden sunny or shaded and what`s the minimum temperature you get in your area?

 

Its full sun all day and not sure on temps tbh. We live in the midlands.

I went to the garden centre after work but they havent got much in atm.

I asked another question on another thread about buxus hedging. I am thinking now that i will edge both borders with buxus and then fill with ever greens, putting in a couple of perennials for extra colour.

I dont need a huge amount of colour out there in the summer months. My baskets are very colourful, so its just more avoiding big gaps when the perennials die back in the autumn and a mass of untidy leaves most of the year when they are not flowering ..... if that makes sense lol

 

Pictures of basket and window boxes

 

You do have all the color you need , in case you want to try something evergreen almost indistructable have a look at plant like.
pieris

frost hardy fuchsia

burning bush

COPROSMA

 

Some very nice one's there - thanks!

Will have a read up on them ..... loving the look of the Coprosma!

 

The best thing to do is to have an idea or inspiration about what you like or want , but before you buy any plant just ask the forum , as garden center will may sell you a soft plant of just a plant that became food for snails.
Ps give a nice finishing touch with pebbles and stones .

 

Coprosma isn't hardy! I've got 2 that barely made it through last winter in the greenhouse. My neighbor had 6 or 8 planted out and he lost them all!!

 

I think no more then -5 , that` why I was asking the location.

 

Mine JUST squeaked through last winter. I've got evening glow. Lovely, colorful, shiney, leaves!!