I'm a real beginner & would like to start planning my summer garden porject. any advice is gratefully received!
I have two small gardens, one front & one in back of the house... The front garden is very rarely used but has some fantastic old (really old) rose bushes which I have pruned according to advice from a colleague. I'd like to know what to plant in our borders to create a cheap Wow factor. I need plants which are brightly coloured and fill up the space nicely.
In the back garden we have more rose bushes and a composter, this is the family garden where my one year old will play in the summer. The space is communal and our plot backs onto the drying green. All that stops the wee man running away is a strip of border (and a few vicious old roses). In the back garden I'd like to plant seeds that will grow tall and create a fence-like effect while still being colourful, fun and above all safe for the baby to eat as he insists on doing occasionally. Again I'd like the plants to grow quite wild and big to fill the space ( and surround the roses) rather than being uniorm and structured. But they also have to be cheap and not adverse to a bit of Scottish rain!
Any advice given will be really gratefully received. This is my first garden where I have had full creative license and I'd love to both impress the neighbours and create a little summer haven for my family. Many thanks!

"Courgette" wrote in message
...

I'm a real beginner & would like to start planning my summer garden
porject. any advice is gratefully received!
I have two small gardens, one front & one in back of the house... The
front garden is very rarely used but has some fantastic old (really
old) rose bushes which I have pruned according to advice from a
colleague. I'd like to know what to plant in our borders to create a
cheap Wow factor. I need plants which are brightly coloured and fill up
the space nicely.
In the back garden we have more rose bushes and a composter, this is
the family garden where my one year old will play in the summer. The
space is communal and our plot backs onto the drying green. All that
stops the wee man running away is a strip of border (and a few vicious
old roses). In the back garden I'd like to plant seeds that will grow
tall and create a fence-like effect while still being colourful, fun
and above all safe for the baby to eat as he insists on doing
occasionally. Again I'd like the plants to grow quite wild and big to
fill the space ( and surround the roses) rather than being uniorm and
structured. But they also have to be cheap and not adverse to a bit of
Scottish rain!
Any advice given will be really gratefully received. This is my first
garden where I have had full creative license and I'd love to both
impress the neighbours and create a little summer haven for my family.
Many thanks!


You want to make a big impression? Try these:

http://www.burpee.com/product/annual...rrivals&page=2

Alternate link:
http://tinyurl.com/34nprh

The catalog says 2-1/2 feet tall. Nonsense. Mine reached 6 feet, and I gave
them nothing but a shovel full of compost early in the season. Have some
tall green stakes handy to support these monsters - you'll need them.
Amazing.

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
news
"Courgette" wrote in message
...

I'm a real beginner & would like to start planning my summer garden
porject. any advice is gratefully received!

You want to make a big impression? Try these:

http://www.burpee.com/product/annual...rrivals&page=2

Alternate link:
http://tinyurl.com/34nprh

While you are perusing Burpee's catalog plug "cosmos' into their search.
These are easy to grow, are prolific bloomers and make lovely cut flowers.
One of my all time favorites. Mine averaged about 4ft high.

One other thing you might do is to stroll through your neighborhood and let
people, who are working in their gardens, know that you are planting your
garden, are a novice wanting to learn and any advise they could give you
would be appreciated. If you see a plant/flower you like ask about it. Most
gardening people love to chat away about their gardens. I gave away plant
divisions and slips to those who used to walk by and chat. You'll gather
local information, plants and new friends all in one fell swoop.

Val

"Courgette" wrote in message
...

I'm a real beginner & would like to start planning my summer garden
porject. any advice is gratefully received!
I have two small gardens, one front & one in back of the house... The
front garden is very rarely used but has some fantastic old (really
old) rose bushes which I have pruned according to advice from a
colleague. I'd like to know what to plant in our borders to create a
cheap Wow factor. I need plants which are brightly coloured and fill up
the space nicely.
In the back garden we have more rose bushes and a composter, this is
the family garden where my one year old will play in the summer. The
space is communal and our plot backs onto the drying green. All that
stops the wee man running away is a strip of border (and a few vicious
old roses). In the back garden I'd like to plant seeds that will grow
tall and create a fence-like effect while still being colourful, fun
and above all safe for the baby to eat as he insists on doing
occasionally. Again I'd like the plants to grow quite wild and big to
fill the space ( and surround the roses) rather than being uniorm and
structured. But they also have to be cheap and not adverse to a bit of
Scottish rain!
Any advice given will be really gratefully received. This is my first
garden where I have had full creative license and I'd love to both
impress the neighbours and create a little summer haven for my family.
Many thanks!
Courgette


Browallia's another really nice flower. A little tricky to start from seed,
though. Try it, but if they're not doing well by planting time, pick up a
few at a garden center. They bloom non-stop until frost kills them,
especially if you trim them back by a third every now and then when they
look ratty.

Thanks for that Joe, they look Fantastic! I'm so excited for the summer coming now. Those 2 sunny days in August will be worth all my hard work!

Great advice Val, we haven't been in this neighbourhood long... Evryone seems to be more into their fancy paving and neatly trimmed hedges. So maybe I can make friends by bribing them with pretty Cosmos Flowers in return for cutting my hedges!

On Jan 6, 11:32 am, Courgette
wrote:
I'm a real beginner & would like to start planning my summer garden
porject. any advice is gratefully received!
I have two small gardens, one front & one in back of the house... The
front garden is very rarely used but has some fantastic old (really
old) rose bushes which I have pruned according to advice from a
colleague. I'd like to know what to plant in our borders to create a
cheap Wow factor. .................................................. ................
snipped
Again I'd like the plants to grow quite wild and big to
fill the space ( and surround the roses) rather than being uniorm and
structured. But they also have to be cheap and not adverse to a bit of
Scottish rain!
Any advice given will be really gratefully received. This is my first
garden where I have had full creative license and I'd love to both
impress the neighbours and create a little summer haven for my family.
Many thanks!

--
Courgette

Do you have any local garden clubs? Garden clubbers are always having
fund raising plant sales. Plants are usually offered at very low
prices, and
you will be getting locally grown plants that are spreaders that
volunteer
and will do well in your area.
Good luck with your WOW garden

Emilie
Nor California