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choppy39

Border plant ideas

11 years ago
Hi anyone have any great border plants ideas please. South facing sun all day long, new fencing eventually, don't want to obscure the view, big bold, limit colour range non fussy

Comments (18)

  • 11 years ago
    Not surprised you don't want to block the view it's beautiful.
    What about a cottage garden?
    choppy39 thanked alicesgranny
  • 11 years ago
    That was my first thought but the cottage is quite quirky instead and I didn't want to do the obvious...and the deadheading as I have a huge allotment that takes up all my spare time. I thought maybe architectural plants in lime greens and purples, I know about veg growing but nothing about flowers and unsure what will grow here, the back fence offers a little shade. The soil is excellent quality and 3ft deep. Maybe someone has ideas on cottage with a twist?
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    What about climbing roses in pale pink together with English lavender? I would also add shrubs in lime green to the mix.. Maybe use some colorful ceramic pots along the fence? More handmade ceramics: http://www.earthandfirelab.com/#!pots/c1774
    choppy39 thanked Earth and Fire Lab
  • 11 years ago
    That boarder is nice, just a bit to park like for me.
    What about dogwood in the lime/pale green colour planted in a group they look great. Not much to look after them either just pruning. Then you could maybe put seasonal plants/flowers in purple colours between them.



    Longwood Gardens · More Info
    choppy39 thanked alicesgranny
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    choppy39 thanked Luciana
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    My suggestion though would be to give your garden a bit of a pizazz by either cutting some triangles here and there or giving the edges a slight sinuous shape. My MIL has a mad border, but I won't be able to tell you the names for her plants (maybe you recognise them); what I like about it is that she has a mixture of native and exotic plants of different heights - last pic.

    I also found this blog; it looks like you could borrow some ideas from there. http://myaberdeengarden.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/end-of-month-view-april/

    Good luck!
    choppy39 thanked Luciana
  • 11 years ago
    Lavender is lovely for its smell, and for attracting and supporting bees. You could grow it into a low bushy hedge in a few years, or crop down and keep it low. Lavender loves the sun so location would be great. I have experimented with lavender bushes with white stone bordering mimicking French style, and in a few years hopefully it will be full size. Admittedly there are much easier plants to grow than lavender, if it gets wet it may just decide to die and leave a scraggly skeleton like a few of mine have done.....
    choppy39 thanked Annika Towell
  • 11 years ago
    A colleague of mine planted box (the architectural component) and giant alliums(colour and height) together. so you've got your all year round interest from the box balls and the giant alliums mirroring the box balls, she also had box hedging in other configurations but I'm afraid I cannot divulge that to you. use your imagination. note: I would advise you to use "box leaved holly" Ilex Crenata instead of "box" Buxus Sempervirens to avoid the inevitable box blight. yes it is probably double the price but you will be by thankful when 10 years from now you will still be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour. in between you could plant "Black Knight" delphiniums or "Monks Hood" Aconitum* if you don't have any children, to give you some purple/black etc. No Deadheading, just cut down to 2-4 inches above soil level end of season. that'll be £25 in consultation fees thank you very much. ;-)

    *highly poisonous
    choppy39 thanked User
  • 11 years ago
    Paint the fence a soft colour.......sage or grey or stone or cream to have less impact on the view and to give a country garden feel.
    Planting...choose three different plants that will stand out against the fence and repeat for impact:
    consider blue or white hostas, cotinus grace or photinia red robins, orange blossom or viburnums, cordyline, silver birches, dogwood or go mad with dahlias.
    choppy39 thanked Jonathan
  • 11 years ago
    Firstly Thanks everyone for your comments
    Progress report.
    I have some things that could be used (after seeing the price of plants I thought at least I should try) ...they just don't go together??

    I have a large 1m sq lavender in the bottom corner that I rescued before we dug the garden up. (not shown on pic and wasn't sure if its staying although its stunning in flower but doesn't have to stay) At the allotment I already have a lavender hedges that's have been growing for a couple of years round beds that could be moved?

    Hosta's love them I have 2 huge ones in pots at the minute but thought they hated the sun?

    I also have 2 bushy short bamboos and 4 big tall bamboos all in matching very plain, bronze colour, square fibreglass pots (4 big, 2 smaller) that are at the front of the house that could go round the back just not sure what plants would compliment them. Don't want to end up with something that resembles a meditation garden or panda rescue centre.

    Painting the fence is a great idea a new one would be even better when funds allow

    Worried about boxes a little as my pruning seems to get a little wild and I fear I would be left with off shaped balls but ordered my giant alliums already as I can either use them, grow in pots or brighten up the allotment beds

    Called at the garden centre on the way from work (quick rush round as it was closing) and saw Erica arborea 'Albert's Gold' lime green tall heather plant that had a really nice colour?
  • 11 years ago
    I would keep any strong colours or bold plants/shrubs in the side border and maybe curve it to soften the look. The facing fence could be planted with pale coloured architectural grasses, not too tall so that view is obscured but top of fence softened - this would create an 'infinity' garden. Maybe some lavender kept low at the base of the grasses would create texture and soft colour.
    choppy39 thanked vi0l3t
  • 11 years ago
    You need something to frame that view and make it seem part of your garden. Google 'borrowed view' images to see what a difference a frame of some sort makes. You can do this with plants but they take time to grow enough. Your bamboos in pots might do the job and you could move them around to experiment with the effect. In the meantime you could put trellis at either end of your fence to create a window. I would paint the fence and the trellis something like dark grey. Against this I'd grow something in soft neutral colours to blend with the landscape - maybe a hedging rose or even just ivy.

    On the other border I'd go for the bold and bright look, choosing just one or two colours as it's a small space. You will need a variety of plants so that something looks good all year. Euphorbias are dramatic and have seed heads that look good all winter. Combine with some stunning tulips in the spring, dahlias for the summer, and maybe the easy lime green zinnia Envy to bridge the gap and look good with both. I am growing it with dahlias Chat Noir, Mystery Day and Mary Eveline (all deep magenta with different shapes and white splashes) and they look amazing even this late in the year.

    There are lots of ideas for purple/lime and similar combinations on Sarah Raven's website that would be worth a look.
  • 11 years ago
    I'm loving vi013t's ideas. Grasses, verbena bonariensis and lavender would look fabulous against a dark fence.
  • 11 years ago
    When funds allow i'd have a glass fence at the bottom
    choppy39 thanked em2020
  • 11 years ago
    Evergreen in odd numbers doted throughout.then add cottage still perennials.depending on sunlight.
    choppy39 thanked polly46
  • 11 years ago
    Huge Thank you to everyone for your time and ideas. I have decided on Adam's planting plan, perfectly detailed for a plant novice like me, really appreciate your unbelievable effort and patience in putting it together.
    Will post pictures when its developing.....fingers crossed
  • 11 years ago
    Plants arrived Thanks Adam
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