Suggestions for plants in another new border?

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by DannyB, Mar 17, 2017.

  1. DannyB

    DannyB Gardener

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    Morning everyone!

    I am in desperate need in help with choosing which plants to plant in my border, it's driving me crazy! I have spent countless nights searching the web and I'm still none the wiser in what to pick. I even popped down the local Garden centre for some advice but they was not helpful at all. So I'm wondering if any of toy guys could help me out with what to possibly plant there.

    The border is 4 meters long and has a depth of 1 meter, I want to start planting there now so it will look half decent for the summer. I was thinking maybe a few shrubs And some plants to give some nice colour? any ideas would I could plant there? And how many of the same plant if they would need to be planted in groups etc? Sorry for my ignorance I just really have no clue at all when it comes to choosing plants and how to plant them together and I really want to get this border done in the next few weeks.

    I have attached some photos of the border below, ignore the grass it has been cut since this photo haha.
    20170316_165345.jpg 20170316_165338.jpg
     
  2. HarryS

    HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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    Now that is a lovely fence and border ! It's not easy getting a complimeentary set of plants . I need to replant a scruffy border I have ,so will be watching this post for ideas ! One evergreen shrub I can recommend is Mexican orange blossom Choisya , there are several types . It is a cracking small shrub with lovely flowers :blue thumb:

    152_20101017T170625_0.jpg
     
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    • DannyB

      DannyB Gardener

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      Thank you, I have put in a lot of hard graft in this garden to get it looking nice and it has paid off

      That's a nice looking shrub I will look that one up thank you.
       
    • "M"

      "M" Total Gardener

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      Choisya is a good call @HarryS and ticks lots of boxes: evergreen, Spring flowers (sometimes a 2nd flush later in the season) and gorgeous scent.
      The depth may need a rethink if you are putting in shrubs because in a few short years their spread will soon overhang - unless you are happy to keep on top of pruning them back.
      One thing you don't mention which will influence which plants you put in that spot is: which direction does that border face? That will govern how much sunshine/light it gets and whether or not it is an "exposed" position plus how wet/dry it naturally is (seeing as it is against a fence).

      I spy a piece of what looks to me like a stump of some sort? Are you planning on digging that out?

      If, for example, you went with the idea of a choisya with its glorious white flowers, would you want to stick with one colour (e.g. white) for all the other plantings? Or, maybe two colours? Or a splash of lots of colours?

      Did you want a low maintenance, or something you can engage with on a regular basis?

      Do you have a particular "style" in mind? By that I mean contemporary, cottage style, tropical, formal, informal, etc? I notice you have a raised pond, perhaps you would prefer a more "wildlife" friendly style?

      Sorry for all the questions, but I'm actually trying to help you focus your thoughts and narrow things down for you so it won't be quite so overwhelming.
       
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      • DannyB

        DannyB Gardener

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        No the questions are great as you say will help me into narrowing down what I want

        The border is east facing receives sun all morning and until about 1pm

        They are conifer stump I tried to remove when I cut down the conifers last year but it was so deep it wouldn't budge at all it's treated so should die off on it's own accord in the next few years

        On the opposite side I have the colours purple, yellow and pink so maybe keep that colour theme.

        Low maintenance, I don't mind pruning etc but nothing that needs a lot of attention

        No style in mind really so just something that looks nice although I also like the idea of a 'wildlife' style s that may blend in with the pond.

        Im regards to the 1meter depth of the border What about possible low growing shrubs? Could that be a possibility?

        Thank you so much for your help!
         
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        • rustyroots

          rustyroots Total Gardener

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          What I did in my old garden was to put a few perennials in and then interplant with annuals. This way you can change the look of the garden each year by growing/ using different annuals.

          If your after wildlife friendly plants you could try verbena bonariensis, Echinnacea, Foxgloves, Shanta Dasey, Sedum All are perennials. Try Cosmos, dahlia for perennials. These are a few that I used in my garden.

          I got lots of bees and butterfly's etc.

          Rusty
           
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          • Sandy Ground

            Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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            The conifer root is easy to remove. All that is needed after the stones have been moved is an Arbortech fitted to a 115mm angle grinder.

            I would be tempted to put a pink climbing rose in front of the wood panels, underplanted with groups of salvia and alchemilla.
             
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            • DannyB

              DannyB Gardener

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              I have pink climbing roses and ladies mantle on the opposite fence so was kind of reluctant to use them on this side as I wanted something different
               
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              • redstar

                redstar Total Gardener

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                looks narrow to me. I would do climbing things up on the fence, combinations of things to intertwine with each other and timed to bloom opposite each.
                 
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                • Mowerman

                  Mowerman Gardener

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                  @DannyB - What's the sunlight like along your border i.e. does it get sun all day/part of the day or is shaded?
                   
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                  • "M"

                    "M" Total Gardener

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                    I'd already asked that :heehee:
                    Here was the reply:
                    :blue thumb:
                     
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                    • Mowerman

                      Mowerman Gardener

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                      Missed that one. D'oh!!! :snork:
                       
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                      • DannyB

                        DannyB Gardener

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                        Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I've picked out a few small growing shrubs that I liked and should hopefully work, if not I can always take them out and start again lol. Thanks again for your help
                         
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                        • ARMANDII

                          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                          You could try.............
                          Osmanthus × burkwoodii
                          Burkwood osmanthus


                          [​IMG]

                          • Other common namesBurkwood osmanthus
                          • Synonyms× Osmarea burkwoodii
                          • FamilyOleaceae
                          • GenusOsmanthus can be evergreen shrubs or small trees with leathery, opposite leaves and small, usually fragrant, tubular white, yellow or orange flowers with 4 lobes, followed by ovoid blue-black fruits
                          • DetailsO. × burkwoodii is a dense, slow-growing, large evergreen shrub of rounded habit, to 3m, with dark green, ovate leaves 2.5-5cm in length and clusters of small, highly-scented white flowers, occasionally followed by a few black fruits"

                          • I have this one in my East Border, Danny, with my Arbour about 6 feet away from it and a Choisya about the same distance on the other side. The sweet scent of the Osmanthus will travel 25 feet or more and that, along with the scent of the Choisya is Heaven.:hate-shocked::yes::snorky:
                           
                        • "M"

                          "M" Total Gardener

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                          Excellent!
                          Which ones have you chosen?
                           
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