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#1
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Wtd - plant recommendations
Novice/reluctant gardener here.. I'm looking for plant recommendations for a
low maintenance border. The border is about 3ft wide by 12ft long and faces east. It's got a wall 18 inches high behind it (eg along the long side and one end). The soil isn't bad but has some clay and probably nettle roots (although mostly removed). Currently covered with a new membrane and awaiting plants and bark mulch. My ideal plants would.. Grow to about 18" or 2ft high max and don't need much pruning. Produce flowers or coloured leaves or both at various times of the year Probably have no thorns Ideally would be evergreen so the border isn't bare in the winter. I've had a stroll around two local garden centers but many of the plants I've seen are predicted to grow too big according to the labels. In the past I've planted of Fushias but I need advice. The garden center staff haven't been much help. Is there a web site where you can search plant data by size etc? Any help much appreciated. |
#2
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Wtd - plant recommendations
On 20/4/07 18:19, in article
, "CWatters" wrote: Novice/reluctant gardener here.. I'm looking for plant recommendations for a low maintenance border. snip Is there a web site where you can search plant data by size etc? The RHS web site should help you. http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/index.asp Any help much appreciated. Can you tell us where you live because your particular conditions will affect what people suggest. In the meantime, I'm thinking of Skimmia and Sarcococca, azaleas etc. You could underplant them with spring bulbs, too. -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/ (remove weeds from address) |
#3
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Wtd - plant recommendations
"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. 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. |
#4
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Wtd - plant recommendations
"CWatters" wrote... Novice/reluctant gardener here.. I'm looking for plant recommendations for a low maintenance border. The border is about 3ft wide by 12ft long and faces east. It's got a wall 18 inches high behind it (eg along the long side and one end). The soil isn't bad but has some clay and probably nettle roots (although mostly removed). Currently covered with a new membrane and awaiting plants and bark mulch. My ideal plants would.. Grow to about 18" or 2ft high max and don't need much pruning. Produce flowers or coloured leaves or both at various times of the year Probably have no thorns Ideally would be evergreen so the border isn't bare in the winter. I've had a stroll around two local garden centers but many of the plants I've seen are predicted to grow too big according to the labels. In the past I've planted of Fushias but I need advice. The garden center staff haven't been much help. Is there a web site where you can search plant data by size etc? Any help much appreciated. How about some of these collections of perennial plants... http://www.jparkers.co.uk/Index.cfm?...egory_id =478 I'm not saying you should get them from Parkers but it give you an idea of the plants to get. -- Regards Bob H 17mls W. of London.UK |
#5
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Wtd - plant recommendations
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) |
#6
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Wtd - plant recommendations
"Bob Hobden" wrote in message ... How about some of these collections of perennial plants... http://www.jparkers.co.uk/Index.cfm?...egory_id =478 I'm not saying you should get them from Parkers but it give you an idea of the plants to get. Thanks bob. That site's given me some ideas. I like they way they categorise plants. |
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