Starting a tropical looking garden

I'd never call a BoP hardy, it only survives because it gets protection, which is the point I'd like to make.
To me things are only really hardy if given no protection and in exposed positions, and even then only after a few cold winters.

 

TMAK, have you any pictures of the area? A picture speaks a thousand words.

Agaves and Yuccas won't grow in a wet area. Fatsias, bamboos, bananas, etc, will.

I'm in the mid-west of Ireland and I have an Arid section with Agaves, Beschornerias, (slug and snail magnets, even more so than hostas), Yuccas, etc. However, I glazed (or rather my brother did) the pergola area they were in. I have a Jungle section but it's not very exciting; just bamboos, Photinia Red Robins, Fatsia, Cortaderia Richardii and Phormiums. Then I have mixed areas with Trachycarpus, Phoenix Canariensis, more bamboos etc.
Here's a piccie of the Arid section but remember the pergola overhead is glazed and keeps 99% of the rain off. They wouldn't survive without that protection in the sodden climate of Ireland. However with bamboos etc, the more wet they get (without being waterlogged) the more they'll grow.




EDIT: If you have peaty soil, then I'd definitely go for a Magnolia Grandiflora and maybe the Irish Strawberry Tree (Arbutus Unedo).

 

Hi Kindredspirit, I've seen your garden on another forum, it is absolutely stunning,
I'll have to have a look back through them for the jungle section, I'll try and get a pic up now I braved the rain this evening for a few seconds to get a pic, Its a disaster of an evening out there

 

You've still got bigger balls than me!

You're correct - I should have qualified it better by saying tougher than we think with careful positioning.
That said I've lost good blackcurrant and goosegog bushes in exceptional winters.

 

This picture is taken facing east, excuse the mess its a work in progress.

The trees in the right are on the south side so facing the North, on the left faces the south and gets a lot more sun, but is exposed to the North, there is a young leylandii hedge planted but it will be a few years before it is any kind of shelter, hopefully the drainage should be done this week.

 

If you get a chance to visit Milltown in Kerry, you should visit Dhu Varren Garden and see all the tropical sections there. Only a newish garden but everyone else would only be trotting after him. It'll be a reference garden in the future (if it isn't already). I wish I had his space. :(

 

Can you trim the trees on the right? Do they belong to you or your neighbour? Looking at the pic I think you'll have to concentrate on wet-friendly plants so succulents are out (unless you bring in a couple of lorry loads of gravel, etc and make a raised bed.

Draw out your design or plan BEFORE you start planting. Don't plant willy nilly. And it would be a good idea to visit Dhu Varren, which is in a wet area, to avoid any mistakes. (You can visit mine if you like but mine's not in the same league.)

I think you should also hire a machine to gouge out a big hole to make a pond and form raised areas. (But then I'm biased towards water.)

 

Id love a pond Kindred spirit, ive always wanted one but it will have to wait for a few years, we have a 2 1/2 year old who is way to inquisitive for his own good. we'll have to wait till he has sense, could take a while!!!
I'll have to google Dhu Varren, where abouts is it?

 

I could probably trim the tops of the trees, they are in a kind of no mans land, how much would you recommend taking off them, I'll have to arrange a free weekend to go on a road trip, my brother is living in Tralee so I have an excuse and a bed

 

I don't suppose that the trees to the right are conifers are they? The fallen needles make a terrific winter mulch for iffy herbaceous plants.

 

Yep they sure are longk.

 

Maybe trim them down to a height of 8 feet?? That should reduce the shade yet still maintain wind shelter for your new plants.. They'll grow up again anyway.

 

Unfortunately it doesn't look like I'll get to make a start on the garden this year. the groud is too wet to get a machine into, just goes to show what a washout of a summer we've had. Wish I'd know that before I started buying plants like a mad man.
I'm going to just pot them all on for this year and I'll have to make do with a small area on the patio.
Not the same but at least they will be that bit bigger for next year.

 

I wonder if the whole area is fundamentally moist? What is the adjacent field like in general?

 

Yep you got it in one longk. The adjacent field is reclaimed bog. There is a land drain nearby that I had hoped to tap into and then raise my area a bit but it's sopping after the last few weeks. Going to be near impossible to do anything with it this year.