On 01/08/2013 14:19, Tim Watts wrote:
On Thursday 01 August 2013 12:54 Spider wrote in uk.rec.gardening:

On 31/07/2013 22:30, Tim Watts wrote:
Hi,

2nd attempt - less wordy version

I'm after some ideas for wall trough plants that look good all year, and
don't mind being on a north wall (good light, no direct sunlight). I want
to cover a wall with a mixture of things.

If some happen to be edible - that would be a bonus...

Any suggestions would be most appreciated :

Thank you kindly -


You don't say how big your troughs

Probably these:

http://www.primrose.co.uk/-p-39577.html

Becase the price is reasonable and available in many lengths. Mine would
vary between 2 foot - 4 foot long. I'm guessing the dimensions are around
8x8 inches in the other dimensions.



Using bigger ones will offer more root space and greater impact when
planted. Might help to line them with plastic so the water doesn't drain
straight out. Even perforated plastic would help.



are but, if there *is* good light,
you could try Skimmia, Fuchsia, Begonia, Impatiens, Ajuga and Vinca (as
fill-in trailers), Polyanthus primulas, Heucheras (for both foliage and
flowers), Campanula portenschlagiana, Brunnera 'Jack Frost'(small blue
flowers in spring), smaller Hellebores and smaller Bergenias.

Thanks

I just google-imaged all of those with the word "hanging" suffixed and they
all look interesting.

In particular, Campanula portenschlagiana looks like something that would
suit the area - and I am really taken by the leaves on Heucheras - I thing
that would be a very good blend with some of the others - always some colour
and variation.


You could
use early spring bulbs like Snowdrops (Galanthus) and Crocus (I have
some in a north-facing woodland border) to start the year off and feed
early-flying insects.

Genius - I had not thought of bulbs in wall planters - plant and forget, big
surprise at the right time.

The nature of most woodland flowers is to flower early before the tree
canopy steals all the light, so you probably won't get year-round colour
from flowers. However, by using foliage colour with Heucheras and
Brunnera 'Jack Frost'and variegated Fuchsias and euonymous, you will be
able to create longer lasting colour. It is also true to say that even
the flowering plants may flower less in shade than in sun, but you
should still get a reasonable show.

That's what I'm hoping for. This isn't the Chelsea Flower Show ;- all I'm
after is some low maintenance softening and interest factor on a very boring
wall that is near where people might be sitting.


Because some of the foliage plants I've suggested make large, bold
leaves, you may need to keep a close eye on watering as rainfall may not
reach the soil due to the 'umbrella' effect.

That's OK - I will have micro-irrigation as part of the scheme. I learnt 2
years ago that we're all too busy to reliable water loads of plants, so I
factored that in before starting.

Here's my new garden "tap":

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timjwat...7634844418238/



Wow. I think I saw something like that on the Starship Enterprise!
Don't forget to factor in plant food as you water, or your plants will
soon starve and won't perform well.

The 3 washing machine valves are permanant conenctions for water computers.
I will probably use 2, but the effort to put 3 in was minimal. Right side is
a hose conenction and left is bucket/hand washing/drinking (with hot feed
once I have a hot feed up above).

Micro irrigation will be Gardena with the main pipe tie wrapped to the top
of the gutter out of sight running round the whole house with 5mm drop pipes
to wall troughts and baskets.


The fact that the plants are getting raw tap water may be a factor (I know
some plants are not keen on the hardness or chlorine) so we'll have to see
what lives.



If you've got really hard water, the Skimmia might sulk, but you could
use an acid feed to help overcome that.



I figure that by planting a mixture, I'll get a reasonable amount of
successes.


I wonder if, being a north wall, I might be able to get a fern or two to
grow as well? I can have some mist heads rather than or as well as drip
heads.



Yes, I should have mentioned ferns. Thought of them as soon as I
clicked 'sent' :-/. Spend some time reading about ferns before you
choose. Some like it damp, some tolerate it drier. Some are evergreen,
some not.

Also have a google (or buy a good book) on plants for shade. There are
some great plant for shady areas which you might be able to use. I
would have liked to suggest Anemone hupehensis (sp?) and hydrida types
for autumn flowering, but don't know if you'll have enough light. You
may like to give them a try, as they're beautiful plants.



Also, if a bird chooses to
nest in your troughs, you may not be able to interfere until the
flegdelings have flown.

In this location that would not be a problem - good warning through - had
not thought of that,



You may be surprised. Birds generally don't like to nest in full sun,
so north-facing may be fine. They may not be put off by passers-by, as
I've seen garden centre hanging baskets commandeered by wrens! Further,
they may like to steal nesting material from your basket liners!



Hope this helps.

It definately does Thanks again - some great ideas.


I'll be doing the other walls too - but they all have sun, so I'll probably
go for some edibles like tomatoes, strawberries and herbs (best keep herbs
to themselves away from inedible plants).

I'm not really a "flower bed" person - preferring grass and shrubs down
there - but I really like hanging stuff.

This is near where I work - fantastic. I am not aiming for this level, but
it always pleases me to walk past the

http://tinyurl.com/lctx6nd



I can understand why you're so inspired. Lovely!

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=drury+lane,
+london&hl=en&ll=51.513724,-0.120045&spn=0.005548,0.013872&sll=41.859361,-87.952881&sspn=0.013281,0.027745&hq=drury+lane,&hn ear=London,
+United+Kingdom&t=m&fll=51.513423,-0.121515&fspn=0.005548,0.013872&z=17&layer=c&cbll= 51.513661,-0.119951&panoid=08QIvRdTw5hVXKzdCB7hmw&cbp=12,72.9 4,,0,-0.49&source=gplus-
ogsb


Good luck with your planting. Show us some pictures in due course.

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay