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• PRO

  Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance December 14, 2011 at 9:04pm

  Lavender does'nt like it too wet.
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  andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance December 14, 2011 at 9:18pm

  yeah that could be a problem, It's not waterlogged but it takes the water from the top lawn.

  Client don't want lavender anyway though,

  Cheers Stuart :-)
  
  Stuart @ Eco garden maintenance said:

  Lavender does'nt like it too wet.
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  andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance December 14, 2011 at 9:23pm

  
  Nice 1 J.P, I will jot these down and look them up in my magic plant book.

  The bed is raised mate, by about a foot, behind the bed is a retaining stone wall and the top lawn is above this, The top lawn drains down to this bed so it just gets quite wet, the bed itself drains down onto the lower lawn and that does get waterlogged.

  Once i get the existing plants out i will sort the soil out and add some gravel to  aid the drainage issue,

  The photos will explain the layout better, I will get them on tommorrrow evening,

  Thanks J.P :-)
  j.p.grass roots said:

  andy how about 

  eleagnus

  cistus

  escallonai gold brain

  fushia geeni

  roses

  hypericum

  ceanothus

  some phormiums

  lonicera baggasons gold

  theres a few
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  andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance December 14, 2011 at 9:36pm

  Hi Gaynor,

  The reason we thought of just having a few species is because at the minute the is a lot of stuff in there with no particular order and it just looks a mess, No matter what i do with it,

  But i do see your point, and maybe with a more "planned" layout it would be possible to make it look good with more species,

  I am pretty sure the soil is about neutral, as it is around this area however i have not got a pH tester so will have to go on that assumption.

  Thanks Gaynor :-)
  
  Gaynor @ www.witchardgardens.com said:

  Hi Andrew

  My first thought is...a 10mx1m border with just two or three species would be pretty boring. Lavender is not particularly brilliant in the winter, neither is Fuchsia. I would use these as 'fillers' to other hardy shrubs.

  I would suggest a mix of hardy evergreen and perennials for year 'round colour and interest.

  I'll wait for you to confirm the aspect and soil type (can you check the soil pH value as well?) before making specific suggestions.
• PRO

  Andrew @ The Outsidedge December 14, 2011 at 11:19pm

  This is a cracking opportunity to produce a 'wow' factor planting scheme. I would sit down and work out a planting plan that provides a succession of interest throughout the year. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Select various plants that will provide a mix of colour, scent and structure. Plant in groups of threes and fives, but try and repeat that grouping within the bed if you can. Try and choose a colour theme. Hot colours (red, yellows, oranges), Cool shades, (whites, blues, silvers), or cottage (pinks, mauves) etc. If the shrub bed backs onto a hedge or a wall, plant taller species to the back, and smaller height species the front. Perhaps add a specium sized plant or small tree. Or even a piece of sculpture as a focal point.

  A selection of plants that can work in any scheme, providing you choose the right variety of each for the flowering colour.

  Astilbies

  Aquilegias

  Bergenia

  Delphiniums

  Hosta

  Verbena bonariensis

  Japanese Anemones

  Paeonia

  Apline mint / Prostanthera cuneata

  Roses

  Sarcococca confusa

  Prunus incisa 'kojo-no-mai'

  Acer 'Bloodgood'

  Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'
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  Paul McNulty December 14, 2011 at 11:26pm

  A bed 10mx1m is effectively a straight line. Not easy to plant as it's always an unattractive format to the eye.

  Is it possible to divide it in to smaller beds, or change the edging shape to make whatever you plant less like a row of soldiers?

  If not, it's a formal shape you're stuck with: add height to break it up but with a long straight border you need to avoid symetrical planting that exaggerates the long, thin shape.
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  andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance December 15, 2011 at 8:37am

  Thanks Andrew, a great reply.

  Much appreciated,
  
  Andrew Titterington said:

  This is a cracking opportunity to produce a 'wow' factor planting scheme. I would sit down and work out a planting plan that provides a succession of interest throughout the year. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Select various plants that will provide a mix of colour, scent and structure. Plant in groups of threes and fives, but try and repeat that grouping within the bed if you can. Try and choose a colour theme. Hot colours (red, yellows, oranges), Cool shades, (whites, blues, silvers), or cottage (pinks, mauves) etc. If the shrub bed backs onto a hedge or a wall, plant taller species to the back, and smaller height species the front. Perhaps add a specium sized plant or small tree. Or even a piece of sculpture as a focal point.

  A selection of plants that can work in any scheme, providing you choose the right variety of each for the flowering colour.

  Astilbies

  Aquilegias

  Bergenia

  Delphiniums

  Hosta

  Verbena bonariensis

  Japanese Anemones

  Paeonia

  Apline mint / Prostanthera cuneata

  Roses

  Sarcococca confusa

  Prunus incisa 'kojo-no-mai'

  Acer 'Bloodgood'

  Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'
• 

  andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance December 15, 2011 at 8:41am

  Hello Paul,

  It is a straight line, It's not possible to change the shape of the sides, but I would be able to create smaller beds within the line and possibly vary the height aswell,

  Your right about the "soldiers", I think we need to get it somewhere between boring and busy if you know what i mean, as it is it is too busy, too much stuff randomly planted and it is a mess,

  Thanks Paul.
  
  Paul McNulty said:

  A bed 10mx1m is effectively a straight line. Not easy to plant as it's always an unattractive format to the eye.

  Is it possible to divide it in to smaller beds, or change the edging shape to make whatever you plant less like a row of soldiers?

  If not, it's a formal shape you're stuck with: add height to break it up but with a long straight border you need to avoid symetrical planting that exaggerates the long, thin shape.
• 

  andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance December 15, 2011 at 8:53am

  Hi Brigitt,

  Thanks for your reply,

  The drainage issue will be sorted, i'll be taking the existing plants out and sorting soil and drainage thoroughly before planting anything,

  It is a raised bed which will not be changing shape (my photo's later will illustrate it better than i can describe)

  The bed in question, the retaining wall behind and the top bed (above the retaining wall) seperate the two large lawns, with stone steps each side of the bed, As for points of interest, when you stand and look at the bed, the manor house is the view you have which is impressive, behind you is a lake at the other side of the lower lawn,

  It is a large garden and i think your picture is great, I think you could get away with that sort of thing here.

  Maintenance wise, we want something that will grow to fill in gaps and keep the weeds down, at the minute weeds are a nightmare, It would be nice to see no soil!  I don't mind maintenance on the plants (pruning,cutting back etc) but weeding between plants is so time consuming and i have so much to do in this garden that it would be nice if that was one less job for me,

  Thanks Brigitt, much appreciated, have a look at the photos later and tell me what you think,

  :-)
  
  Brigitt Stevenson said:

  Hello Andrew,

  The first thing that came to my head was a Modern Row of 2 different plants varying in height and interest for all 4 Seasons...

  Check your drainage first, then add compost or good soil before you do any planting...

  You have to decide whether you want a clean straight edged looked or curves, which can be shaped by the garden bed, but also the curves can be  created by plant material...

  Are you looking for low maintenance, to no maintenance on the selected plants???

  What else is in the garden of  interest, whether it be garden accessories or even garden furniture???

  You can choose a plant with a different colour of leaf, this will give you interest in different seasons...

  Here is a picture of something straight and linear, clean and modern and low maintenance, but adds dimension with varying heights of the plants...

  I would only pick 2 different plants to keep the clean straight line look, even one plant and just make rows of it...

  
• 

  Ofer El-hashahar December 15, 2011 at 11:32am

  Nice one, Brigitt

  Andrew, If your customer like grasses, Offer him 2 that will look neat all year around.

  Yellow leaves looks great Euonymus  ( the yellow leaves) + something higher - can be simple tidy thing that looks great.

  
  
  Brigitt Stevenson said:

  Hello Andrew,

  The first thing that came to my head was a Modern Row of 2 different plants varying in height and interest for all 4 Seasons...

  Check your drainage first, then add compost or good soil before you do any planting...

  You have to decide whether you want a clean straight edged looked or curves, which can be shaped by the garden bed, but also the curves can be  created by plant material...

  Are you looking for low maintenance, to no maintenance on the selected plants???

  What else is in the garden of  interest, whether it be garden accessories or even garden furniture???

  You can choose a plant with a different colour of leaf, this will give you interest in different seasons...

  Here is a picture of something straight and linear, clean and modern and low maintenance, but adds dimension with varying heights of the plants...

  I would only pick 2 different plants to keep the clean straight line look, even one plant and just make rows of it...