On 20/4/07 19:53, in article
, "CWatters"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
The RHS web site should help you.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/index.asp

Thanks for the reply, I'll take a look.

Any help much appreciated.

Can you tell us where you live because your particular conditions will
affect what people suggest.

I'm near Huntingdon/Kettering/Peterborough/in West Cambridgeshire.

I don't know anything about the soil in that area, so you need advice from
someone who does. But I would think there must be a range of plants which
would be smallish and evergreen. However, you might want to consider having
either one flower bed for perennials so as to give developing colour all
through the year and/or tubs in which you can change the plants according to
the seasons. Try to find a good adviser at a local garden centre or go to a
nursery that raises its own plants because they will have better knowledge
of what you can grow in your garden.

In the meantime, I'm thinking of Skimmia and Sarcococca, azaleas etc. You
could underplant them with spring bulbs, too.

Thanks for the suggestions. I hadn't thought about bulbs. I guess if I plant
them in small clusters and cut crosses in the membrane they would push up
through it ok.


Yes but they will spread and develop and might have difficulty getting
through the membrane, so again, you might be better putting them in troughs
or tubs. Bear in mind that *all* plants need some maintenance, even if it's
just the odd trim to cut out dead wood, keep them in shape or just take off
dead flowers.
With regard to the membrane, I would have second and third thoughts about
this in your shoes. While it sounds attractive to a novice or not v. keen
gardener because it's a weed suppressant, if your interest in gardening
suddenly takes off - and we've seen that happen to a few people here! - you
will have starved and compacted soil under the membrane if it's been down
for a few years. Then you'll have all the business of adding organic matter
to it and so forth. Only you can decide what suits you but it might be
better to accept that an hour or two weeding during the week will get you
out into fresh air *and* keep the soil in your garden in better condition.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)