What plants for new flower bed?
Discussion
Spent the weekend transforming this-
To this-
Needless to say I'm knackered for my sins.
The soil is naturally sandy so I've added 200 litres of compost and 100 litres of manure so far, may add more this week as it wasn't too expensive.
The bed is south facing so I'm looking for suggestions (furthest away section seems the sandiest and has the most sun, overall dimensions are approximately 10m x 0.9m to work with to give a better idea of the space available).
Lavender and sage are two I definitely want in the ground, curious if it'd be best to plant 2 or 3 of the same closer together, especially with lavender to have an impressive, bushy display eventually. I already have rosemary, thyme, mint and chives in pots.
Thinking about these bulbs too- https://www.yougarden.com/item-p-630050/complete-s...
Seem like good value and a cracking mix. Perennials would be preferable, I've been bitten by the gardening bug after being here for 5 years but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew just yet.
To this-
Needless to say I'm knackered for my sins.
The soil is naturally sandy so I've added 200 litres of compost and 100 litres of manure so far, may add more this week as it wasn't too expensive.
The bed is south facing so I'm looking for suggestions (furthest away section seems the sandiest and has the most sun, overall dimensions are approximately 10m x 0.9m to work with to give a better idea of the space available).
Lavender and sage are two I definitely want in the ground, curious if it'd be best to plant 2 or 3 of the same closer together, especially with lavender to have an impressive, bushy display eventually. I already have rosemary, thyme, mint and chives in pots.
Thinking about these bulbs too- https://www.yougarden.com/item-p-630050/complete-s...
Seem like good value and a cracking mix. Perennials would be preferable, I've been bitten by the gardening bug after being here for 5 years but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew just yet.
Lavender, sage, rosemary, thyme always good bedfellows. Added bonus of use in kitchen.
Keep the mint in a pot. It spreads like a weed .
Sunflowers to amuse the kids? Some easy veggies?
Lots of spring / summer bulbs?
Traditional summer bedding plants?
How about espalier fruit trees along the wall?
If it doesn't work this year, there's always next year
Keep the mint in a pot. It spreads like a weed .
Sunflowers to amuse the kids? Some easy veggies?
Lots of spring / summer bulbs?
Traditional summer bedding plants?
How about espalier fruit trees along the wall?
If it doesn't work this year, there's always next year
This is a useful resource - select plants by soil type, aspect, etc.: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-form
Patrick Bateman said:
I thought being sandy was a limiting factor?
It's all relative - I'm in Sussex on heavy clay so we get waterlogging and other problems related - so I struggle to grow a lot of the full sun plants because they want moist free draining soil (tip: everything does!!)If your on a sandy soil you've done exactly the right thing my incorporating lots of organic matter. It's a great space so tell us about what you'd like (colour, food, low maintenanceetc)!
Would it be worth adding the same volume of compost and manure again given the ground had been compacted and covered for years? I have a large tub of fish, blood and bone, also worth putting some of that down?
Lowish maintenance would suit, that's why I'd prefer perennials that I can just leave to grow. The bulbs I've linked to in the OP appeal for sure. Definitely don't want any vegetables, could go with some fruit though, small cherry tree perhaps?
Lowish maintenance would suit, that's why I'd prefer perennials that I can just leave to grow. The bulbs I've linked to in the OP appeal for sure. Definitely don't want any vegetables, could go with some fruit though, small cherry tree perhaps?
You need to think about seasons of interest. if you're looking for repeat flowering all summer long then you won't go wrong with Bowles Mauve - it'll flower from March to November and bee's love it - it'll go for 2/3 years and then get too woody - but it grows really fast so just dig out and replace. A nice hebe would also fit well - lots to choose from and they are low maintenance, evergreen and have lovely flowers that again bees love. Some Mexican fleabane around the edges and also aubretia will give you some low colour towards the front of the border. As above rudbeckia - add to that some echinacea, geum, helenium and alstromeria. Pop a couple of the perennial version of osteospermum in in the middle - the leaves aren't all that but the flowers are lovely long daisy like stems that will poke through other plants. Some echinops will poke through nicely as well and give some texture. A sambuca nigra and/or physocarpus shrub would also look nice and add some contrast 
Patrick Bateman said:
Super, I shall have a look at those. Any thoughts on adding extra compost/manure and fish, blood and bone?
My thinking is I'm as well getting the base sorted well from the start with extra as I don't intend to be digging it up again any time soon.
Difficult to say without "feeling" the soil, but if you are installing hardy perennials then you can mulch later.My thinking is I'm as well getting the base sorted well from the start with extra as I don't intend to be digging it up again any time soon.
What does the soil structure feel like?
Re plants Crocus have some border plans which might be useful
I'd look at some grases too. For movement. If you like perennials and grases then I, also inexperienced, found https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Bloom_s_Bes...
Very helpful in a practical but inspirational way.
Very helpful in a practical but inspirational way.
Bit of a revival, forgot I never updated with results. I've tweaked some of the plants I initially had in as that 'perennial lucky dip' from yougarden wasn't great. I've still got most of the plants from it but they were a bit small on their own to fill out the bed. The bowles mauve seems to be doing well though and has thickened out nicely even with planting late last year.
Initially-
Today I've made some additions including hebe great orme, buddleja buzz x2, rosemary (hopefully fair better in the ground than the ones in containers that died over winter), french lavender and fuchsia Mrs. Popple-
Hopeful with a full season of growth it'll come on nicely, a fair bit more interesting than some stones anyway! My neighbour gave me a packet of mixed gladioli bulbs as well so they can go in at the back.
The problem is it's too easy to keep wanting to buy plants you find and then have to try and work out where to fit them later, there are always pots of course...
Initially-
Today I've made some additions including hebe great orme, buddleja buzz x2, rosemary (hopefully fair better in the ground than the ones in containers that died over winter), french lavender and fuchsia Mrs. Popple-
Hopeful with a full season of growth it'll come on nicely, a fair bit more interesting than some stones anyway! My neighbour gave me a packet of mixed gladioli bulbs as well so they can go in at the back.
The problem is it's too easy to keep wanting to buy plants you find and then have to try and work out where to fit them later, there are always pots of course...
Edited by Patrick Bateman on Wednesday 11th April 20:28
p4cks said:
Great timing OP - I’ve almost an identical challenge ahead of me so I will follow your lead.
Would you mind posting what you’ve planted please?
Would you mind posting what you’ve planted please?
In amongst all that I have lavender hidcote, lupins, buddleja buzz, hebe great orme, rudbeckia, rosemary, french lavender, fuchsia mrs. popple (hardy), sedum autumn joy, hardy geranium, some allium bulbs, some very small californian poppies and a good few sunflowers, some of which are getting crowded out of the light.
It's very easy to underestimate the size some will become. That big fantastic lupin on the left is starting to block out the buddleja immediately to the right, wasn't an issue last year.
In the next month or two it'll be an explosion of colour hopefully.
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