Shady front garden woes!
Emma Bowker
8 years ago
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Tom Flanagan
8 years agoEmma Bowker
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Front garden question
Comments (6)http://www.letsgogardening.co.uk/shade_loving_plants.htm Here's a selection of plants that like shade (I'm clueless on plants). I like your courtyard idea. Perhaps take elements from the picture attached? I'd paint the window and door a pale duck egg or french grey. Maybe try planting some wisteria to train across the garage. Hydrangeas I think grow well in shade and look great. Depending on budget either gravel or pave the area but add a number of different shaped beds to create interest. Circles work well in small gardens. I'd add a couple of wooden chairs and small table to the left of the window. I'd plant a small tree or large shrub in the middle of the gravel area as you need plants with different heights. I just can't find a small evergreen that likes shade though! One site said an olive but even I know they like the sun! A curved path is a great idea as it elongates the garden....See MoreShady Gardener - My plans to add curb appeal
Comments (16)Hi Patrina, I agree gardening is excellent therapy, especially when recovering from an illness. I can only do short bursts of work in my garden due to arthritis - there isn’t a bit of my body that hasn’t been affected! Despite this I’ve got loads of plants crammed in all over the place. I just love plants. I can see you love a formal garden, so here are plants that I think would suit you. None of them need pruning or faffing with, apart from watering in their first year. Viburnum tinus (evergreen with white flowers in winter 6’ tall), Euonymus (evergreen variegated leaves, low growing but spreading habit and can be clipped), Choysia ternata Sundance (evergreen bright yellow leaves, white flowers, about 5’) Hydrangeas (there are many varieties, all stunning). These do need a prune in spring. Cistus (evergreen, about 2-3 ft tall, smothered in white or pink flowers). Trachelospernum jasminoides the Star Jasmine. Evergreen climber with heavily scented white flowers in summer. Needs a warm sheltered spot. Ceanothus. Evergreen shrub with beautiful blue flowers in early summer. Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) - decidious small trees with green, yellow or purple leaves which turn a stunning red in autumn. Need dappled shade. These can be underplanted with perennials for added colour such as hardy Geraniums, Crocosmia, Hemerocallis, Doronicums, Erigeron etc. Heres some pics: Cistus Acers Ceanothus Viburnum tinus...See Morefugly retro '60s front garden wall - what to do?
Comments (11)An update to this thread. @Sonia's advice to plant a quick growing clematis montana was quick, easy and cheap to do. So I bought one (£15) and planted it *outside* my garden, in a helpfully positioned big crack in the pavement near the foot of my front wall. Let's see if it grows. Meanwhile I also heard from a builder who said it would be possible to remove the retro bricks whilst leaving the rest of the wall intact, without creating too much of a mess, then re-lay the coping stones on top of the now-lower wall, then render the whole wall (which could then be painted the same colour as the house as others suggested, with (hopefully) the clematis growing over the top). Off the top of his head he suggested (London prices) £700-£800 for this. He said knocking down the wall and rebuilding in traditional brick would be very much more expensive. Thanks again to everyone for their comments...See MoreFront Garden help needed
Comments (8)Wheelie bins are such an eyesore so a bin store would be top of my list. The ones with the green roof look great. I am however curious to know how you lift the lid of the wheelie bin without having to wheel in and out every time. A Victorian tiled path from the gate to the front door is worth putting all your budget into. They are enjoying a revival and add value. Gravel looks great, it is cheap, suppresses weeds, and cats hate it. It is also important for drainage especially on urban streets where there is nowhere for the rain to go so drains quickly become overwhelmed. It is a small space so, to avoid fussiness, I would stick to a small palette of two or three different types of plants at most. Something sculptural and evergreen such as box hedging for all year round interest interplanted with something with simple flowers such lavender. Or have some fun and create a parterre in the pattern of that Victorian tiled path you might splash out on....See MoreUser
8 years agoEmma Bowker
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