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#1
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Can't Have it All
I want colour and interest from year-round shrubs but I want lots of
perennial flowers. I want it all ..... but I can't fit it all in! In my smallish garden the border is 30 feet long, but it's only 1 metre wide. Each shrub takes up about 3 or 4 feet width so I have room for about 10 shrubs, but no flowers in front of the shrubs. I've tried a mixed border -- my hydrangea has lovely flowers in late summer but it's dull otherwise; rhododendron is lovely in spring but a green blob the rest of the year. Ditto for my spirea, weigela, hebe and viburnum - glorious when in bloom but dull and boring otherwise. I like to faff about with plants, so I'm thinking I should chuck all these shrubs and concentrate on perennials and various bulbs, but I'm worried there'll be no structure in the winter. If you had to choose what would it be -- a few medium size shrubs or lots of perennial flowers? |
#2
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Can't Have it All
I would get rid of a boring green lawn and have the lot. Masses of
shrubs, perrenials, grasses etc and only a winding shingle path down the garden with a bit at the beginning sit and look and admire your stunning display. I personally dislike lawns. Can't see the point of them.boring expanse of hard to maintain green. |
#3
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Can't Have it All
On 15/10/05 18:33, in article ,
"Gilly" wrote: I want colour and interest from year-round shrubs but I want lots of perennial flowers. I want it all ..... but I can't fit it all in! In my smallish garden the border is 30 feet long, but it's only 1 metre wide. Each shrub takes up about 3 or 4 feet width so I have room for about 10 shrubs, but no flowers in front of the shrubs. I've tried a mixed border -- my hydrangea has lovely flowers in late summer but it's dull otherwise; rhododendron is lovely in spring but a green blob the rest of the year. Ditto for my spirea, weigela, hebe and viburnum - glorious when in bloom but dull and boring otherwise. I like to faff about with plants, so I'm thinking I should chuck all these shrubs and concentrate on perennials and various bulbs, but I'm worried there'll be no structure in the winter. If you had to choose what would it be -- a few medium size shrubs or lots of perennial flowers? How about perennials, bulbs etc in pots and tubs, moving them as the fancy takes you or the seasons dictate? And how about growing some climbers through your shrubs - clematis and Tropaeolum, for example, choosing types that flower at different times of year? -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon (remove the weeds to email me) |
#4
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Can't Have it All
In article , Gilly
writes I want colour and interest from year-round shrubs but I want lots of perennial flowers. I want it all ..... but I can't fit it all in! In my smallish garden the border is 30 feet long, but it's only 1 metre wide. Each shrub takes up about 3 or 4 feet width so I have room for about 10 shrubs, but no flowers in front of the shrubs. I've tried a mixed border -- my hydrangea has lovely flowers in late summer but it's dull otherwise; rhododendron is lovely in spring but a green blob the rest of the year. Ditto for my spirea, weigela, hebe and viburnum - glorious when in bloom but dull and boring otherwise. I like to faff about with plants, so I'm thinking I should chuck all these shrubs and concentrate on perennials and various bulbs, but I'm worried there'll be no structure in the winter. I would go for all year round effect based on foliage and bark. Something with big strongly sculptured leaves, some spiky leaves and fine leaves to offset it, something with good coloured stems in winter, something with long lasting berries and so on. Get your height from climbers then you won't have to go for massive shrubs like hydrangea and rhododendron. When you choose your plants, make sure everything has two seasons - flowers *and* berries, flowers *and* autumn leaf colour, berries *and* pretty spring growth. -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
#5
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Can't Have it All
"Gilly" wrote in message ... I want colour and interest from year-round shrubs but I want lots of perennial flowers. I want it all ..... but I can't fit it all in! In my smallish garden the border is 30 feet long, but it's only 1 metre wide. Each shrub takes up about 3 or 4 feet width so I have room for about 10 shrubs, but no flowers in front of the shrubs. I've tried a mixed border -- my hydrangea has lovely flowers in late summer but it's dull otherwise; rhododendron is lovely in spring but a green blob the rest of the year. Ditto for my spirea, weigela, hebe and viburnum - glorious when in bloom but dull and boring otherwise. I like to faff about with plants, so I'm thinking I should chuck all these shrubs and concentrate on perennials and various bulbs, but I'm worried there'll be no structure in the winter. If you had to choose what would it be -- a few medium size shrubs or lots of perennial flowers? Errrrrrrrrr - widen the bed?? Jenny :~) |
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