west facing?

Hi,
Although keen and enthusiastic, my garden knowledge is very basic. I am buying a new house with a west facing garden. Can anyone let me know what type of plants would grow best? Is west facing a good thing?
It is a large garden which is almost totally overgrown at present. Sandy free draining soil.

Any help/advice would be appreciated

Thanks

 

Hi martyn,
Just to make sure I'm talking the same map language, if you stand outside the back of your house looking out, you are facing west? If so it is like mine. So it depends on what you have on your left border- mine is open so I get sun all day long until the sun sinks behind the trees at the back. Your right border will be south facing, so here is the place to place things that need maximum warmth and shelter. Put walls or fences here if you haven't any to take advantage of the position.
As to what you can grow, that depends as much on the acicity of the soil as the position. If it's medium you can grow most things with a bit of assistance for the extreme lime and acid lovers, eg make an acid area if you want things like azaleas or camellias. See if you can find out the temperature range in your area for hardiness of plants, perhaps ask your neighbours about frost frequency.
Sounds as if you have lots of work to start with. If you find plants worth saving I'm sure there are lots of people here to help with identification, design etc.! Good luck, tell us how you get on.

[ 10. January 2006, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: Liz ]

 

just what i needed to get started. thanks very much