What should I plant

Hiya there and new to the forum, I should start by saying hello to everyone.

I have spent the year fighting (and I like to think winning although do you ever win ?) a war against ground elder. But this has left me wondering what to plant which will grow quick and subdue it in the future.

I have two types of area in the garden, one is full sun but the soil is clay like and retains water alot (this is central Scotland by the way). I would like something which will go along a wood/gravel border and has some colour without too much maintenance (yes I know alot to ask for )

The second area is a free draining bed which gets the sun late into the afternoon but for which I would like individual type bushes growing to about 3 feet (a metre) and again which have some interest and colour.

Am I asking too much or does anyone have any idea's.

Thanks in advance.

 

Here are some shrubs that are cheap, tough, easy to grow and either stay small or can easily be kept small by a little pruning:

berberis thunbergii "Harlequin"

ceratostigma willmottianum (hardy plumbago)

weigela "Red Prince"

halimium calycinum, similar to a cistus

spirea japonica "Firelight" (or it might be Fireglow, can't remember)

 

Thank you very much for this, I especially like the look of this one with its changing colours.

It very much appreciated.

 

For border edging plants of low maintenance I use Epimediums, Tellima grandiflora and of course Alchemilla mollis - the only thing you need to keep under control wouold be the Alchemilla which can spread itself and roots quite deeply.