I have 4 beds(6feet by 10) edged with 9 inch high buxus,they have had roses
in for many years but the roses are past thier best and we fancy a change
but we are unsure what to change to. Any suggetions would be appreciated. A
few more facts :

sandy soil
south facing aspect in full sun
would like a centre piece in each bed and suroounding planting ?

thanks for reading

On 9/5/08 14:37, in article ,
"mart99" wrote:

I have 4 beds(6feet by 10) edged with 9 inch high buxus,they have had roses
in for many years but the roses are past thier best and we fancy a change
but we are unsure what to change to. Any suggetions would be appreciated. A
few more facts :

sandy soil
south facing aspect in full sun
would like a centre piece in each bed and suroounding planting ?

thanks for reading

Well not more roses anyway, because the received wisdom is that you don't
replant roses where roses have been recently. Look for lists of plants that
specifically like sandy soil and free draining hot situations. Cytisus is
one that comes to mind and so do Lavatera and Cistus. Bearded iris, poppies
and true Geraniums would do, too.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

In message , Sacha
writes
On 9/5/08 14:37, in article ,
"mart99" wrote:

I have 4 beds(6feet by 10) edged with 9 inch high buxus,they have had roses
in for many years but the roses are past thier best and we fancy a change
but we are unsure what to change to. Any suggetions would be appreciated. A
few more facts :

sandy soil
south facing aspect in full sun
would like a centre piece in each bed and suroounding planting ?

thanks for reading

Well not more roses anyway, because the received wisdom is that you don't
replant roses where roses have been recently. Look for lists of plants that
specifically like sandy soil and free draining hot situations. Cytisus is
one that comes to mind and so do Lavatera and Cistus. Bearded iris, poppies
and true Geraniums would do, too.


I would have thought that the usual suspects among Lavateras ('Rosea',
'Barnsley', 'Kew Rose', 'Bredon Springs') would have been too big and
too sprawling to go with formal Box hedging. Lavatera olbia cultivars
tend to be more upright. Herbaceous Lavateras can be upright in their
first season, but also tend to sprawl to a degree as they get big.

Lavatera maritima ('Bicolor', 'Princesse de Lignes') is a smaller plant,
and has a long flowering season. Other mallows that could be tried are
Anisodonteas (Cape mallows). Both do better with the shelter of a wall.

On the lines of Cistus there's Halimium and xHalimiocistus, which I have
the impression are neater plants.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

On 9/5/08 18:38, in article , "Stewart Robert
Hinsley" wrote:

In message , Sacha
writes
On 9/5/08 14:37, in article ,
"mart99" wrote:

I have 4 beds(6feet by 10) edged with 9 inch high buxus,they have had roses
in for many years but the roses are past thier best and we fancy a change
but we are unsure what to change to. Any suggetions would be appreciated. A
few more facts :

sandy soil
south facing aspect in full sun
would like a centre piece in each bed and suroounding planting ?

thanks for reading

Well not more roses anyway, because the received wisdom is that you don't
replant roses where roses have been recently. Look for lists of plants that
specifically like sandy soil and free draining hot situations. Cytisus is
one that comes to mind and so do Lavatera and Cistus. Bearded iris, poppies
and true Geraniums would do, too.


I would have thought that the usual suspects among Lavateras ('Rosea',
'Barnsley', 'Kew Rose', 'Bredon Springs') would have been too big and
too sprawling to go with formal Box hedging. Lavatera olbia cultivars
tend to be more upright. Herbaceous Lavateras can be upright in their
first season, but also tend to sprawl to a degree as they get big.


Lavatera maritima ('Bicolor', 'Princesse de Lignes') is a smaller plant,
and has a long flowering season. Other mallows that could be tried are
Anisodonteas (Cape mallows). Both do better with the shelter of a wall.

On the lines of Cistus there's Halimium and xHalimiocistus, which I have
the impression are neater plants.

The OP wants something as a centrepiece, hence my thought of Lavateras.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

How about using herbs? Or herb-related plants, together with Mediterranean species such as convulvulus cneorum.

Incidentally, with mycorrhizae, it can be possible to replace roses with new ones.

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 9/5/08 18:38, in article , "Stewart
Robert
Hinsley" wrote:

In message , Sacha
writes
On 9/5/08 14:37, in article
,
"mart99" wrote:

I have 4 beds(6feet by 10) edged with 9 inch high buxus,they have had
roses
in for many years but the roses are past thier best and we fancy a
change
but we are unsure what to change to. Any suggetions would be
appreciated. A
few more facts :

sandy soil
south facing aspect in full sun
would like a centre piece in each bed and suroounding planting ?

thanks for reading

Well not more roses anyway, because the received wisdom is that you
don't
replant roses where roses have been recently. Look for lists of plants
that
specifically like sandy soil and free draining hot situations. Cytisus
is
one that comes to mind and so do Lavatera and Cistus. Bearded iris,
poppies
and true Geraniums would do, too.


I would have thought that the usual suspects among Lavateras ('Rosea',
'Barnsley', 'Kew Rose', 'Bredon Springs') would have been too big and
too sprawling to go with formal Box hedging. Lavatera olbia cultivars
tend to be more upright. Herbaceous Lavateras can be upright in their
first season, but also tend to sprawl to a degree as they get big.


Lavatera maritima ('Bicolor', 'Princesse de Lignes') is a smaller plant,
and has a long flowering season. Other mallows that could be tried are
Anisodonteas (Cape mallows). Both do better with the shelter of a wall.

On the lines of Cistus there's Halimium and xHalimiocistus, which I have
the impression are neater plants.

The OP wants something as a centrepiece, hence my thought of Lavateras.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'




http://homebase.crocus.co.uk/ I found this useful

On 10 May, 02:24, "Tonz" wrote:
"Sacha" wrote in message

...





On 9/5/08 18:38, in article , "Stewart
Robert
Hinsley" wrote:

In message , Sacha
writes
On 9/5/08 14:37, in article
,
"mart99" wrote:

I have 4 beds(6feet by 10) edged with 9 inch high buxus,they have had
roses
in for many years but the roses are past thier best and we fancy a
change
but we are unsure what to change to. Any suggetions would be
appreciated. A
few more facts :

sandy soil
south facing aspect in full sun
would like a centre piece in each bed and suroounding planting ?

thanks for reading

Well not more roses anyway, because the received wisdom is that you
don't
replant roses where roses have been recently. *Look for lists of plants
that
specifically like sandy soil and free draining hot situations. *Cytisus
is
one that comes to mind and so do Lavatera and Cistus. *Bearded iris,
poppies
and true Geraniums would do, too.

I would have thought that the usual suspects among Lavateras ('Rosea',
'Barnsley', 'Kew Rose', 'Bredon Springs') would have been too big and
too sprawling to go with formal Box hedging. Lavatera olbia cultivars
tend to be more upright. Herbaceous Lavateras can be upright in their
first season, but also tend to sprawl to a degree as they get big.

Lavatera maritima ('Bicolor', 'Princesse de Lignes') is a smaller plant,
and has a long flowering season. Other mallows that could be tried are
Anisodonteas (Cape mallows). Both do better with the shelter of a wall.

On the lines of Cistus there's Halimium and xHalimiocistus, which I have
the impression are neater plants.

The OP wants something as a centrepiece, hence my thought of Lavateras.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

http://homebase.crocus.co.uk/* * * * I found this useful



- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) is one suggestion for a centrepiece.

On May 9, 2:37*pm, "mart99" wrote:
I have 4 beds(6feet by 10) edged with 9 inch high buxus,they have had roses
in for many years but the roses are past thier best and we fancy a change
but we are unsure what to change to. Any suggetions would be appreciated. A
few more facts :

sandy soil
south facing aspect in full sun
would like a centre piece in each bed and suroounding planting ?

thanks for reading

Whatever about the centre piece, in my local town's centre, there is a
beautiful georgian house with a very formal front garden with low
buxus hedging in a criss cross pattern which is particularly lovely.
The gardener grows two different lavenders in it, and in Autumn (I
think, if memory serves) he has lines of agapanthus coming through.
There might be another few things in the bed, but whatever they are,
the colour scheme is green/blue/lavender. The rest of the front
garden is in manicured lawn in between the criss-crossing buxus, and
an edged pale gold coloured gravel path going from the old front gate
to the grand-ish front door steps. I'm always admiring just how
appropriate for the house the front garden is, and just how beautiful!

Anyway, when I first read your post, I thought, if it were me, I'd put
lots of attractive herbs.

Cat(h)