Need help with what to plant in front garden

7 years ago

Hi,

I'm relative new to gardening and have limited time to spend on it but do want to create something colourful without the garden looking to cluttered but don't want to spend a lot of time weeding either. Having stripped this garden back just leaving the well established he-be in place, in July I planted 2 fuchsia pink rhododendron's in the front bed, in the middle is a white hydrangea which could be taken out as it may not work well, as the slugs seem to have take to it. (Maybe I should consider a slim tree/conifer..?) My dad rendered the wall not so long back and due to him not matching the mortar to existing I want to cover the wall to hide it, so planted a couple of white climbing hydrangeas either side of the yellow type shrub whose name fails me, either side of the hydrangea are apple blossom shrubs which the garden centre advised would bush out over time. Do I have enough on this wall to cover it or will I need another climbing hydrangea to go on the left next to hebe? Last week I planted approx. 8 bulbs in a container and did 7 containers and sunk them in the ground of pink tulips / daffs in front of the other plants, well just off side.

Front aspect / Busy Main Road / Full Sun. Wall is 71 degrees East / Front bed is 156 degrees South East. We also have a high school 12 houses down from us on the same side, I used to find myself picking up cans from the front bed when there was an overgrown bush in the front bed, maybe the kids maybe more thoughtful now I'm making an effort, fingers crossed!

I would really welcome suggestions of what else I can put in before winter sets in and where, so I can begin to enjoy the front garden, without it being too overcrowded with not too much weeding and low maintenance shrubs.

Thanks in advance, L

Comments (3)

Joanna C
7 years ago
It's a cute house ;) given the fact the road is busy-ish and rubbish gets thrown, I'd go for a hedge at the front - can help muffle the noise, kids would be less likely to throw things over it + a nicer view and more privacy for you. In the middle of the lawn area, I'd go for a cute, little tree, like a strawberry tree (evergreen),a cherry, crab apple etc. if you fancy some flowers, you could add them in big pots by the front door. I think that would be very low maintenance and practical for you.
Leeza Beale thanked Joanna C
Leeza Beale
Original Author
7 years ago
I'd not thought about a tree in the lawn area which I think would look better if the hebe wasn't as big as it is, also I'd have to manoeuvre around it when moving the lawn, not to mention raking up whatever was to fall off it! Good idea thou. I've just taken out a crab apple in the back garden, fed up of picking up apples every year. You can't see the front off the house very well but we have 2 whiskey barrels either side of the window that have pink bottle brush plants which look amazing when they're in flower.
Related Discussions
Plant suggestions for my front garden
Q
Comments (7)
I would say some of the previous suggestions have been good - we had a similar problem in Oxfordshire. Heucheras are great, especially in a mixture of colors, try at least one red in the mix. A couple of dwarf conifers give good evergreen year round structure, which is so important, you want some some strong lines in a front border or it can look very bitty and insignificant. If things grow a bit above the wall, so much the better, as it will also soften the lines and it looks as if you could do with some height. Add a few fail safe plants clumping plants that will bring some color into the mix at different times of year - Japanese anenomies are great, white ones look modern, or go for pink. Schizostylis are fantastic, would never plan a garden without them. They come from Siberia so will survive come what may! Come in pinks or red and flower from late autumn through to spring, when no other color around, even in snow, you can also put them in pots. Crocosmia are pretty fails safe too and come in lots of colors. Yes, tuck some bulbs inbetween things and see what happens, don't forget these can also go in pots for seasonal color, you can even buy ready planted.
...See More
Front Garden Planting Advice Please!
Q
Comments (14)
It looks a very good start. Now think about adding more interest to the gravel, perhaps by interspersing the 'lollipop trees' with neat but interesting shrubs. These could be scented such as Sarcoccoca (winter scent), Daphne odora (spring scent)... And adding a border in front of the house with appropriate plants. I would need to now the orientation of the garden and whether the soil is alkaline/acid/neutral and clay/loam/sand/chalk before recommending plants. If you do not need to park a vehicle in front of the house, and with the right soil and aspect you could add a rectangular herb garden.
...See More
need help with a colour scheme for my back garden (not plants)
Q
Comments (1)
What type of garden are you looking for? Contemporary or vintage, courtyard!! Pictures to start with then we can build on that. all depends on what look and feel you want.
...See More
What to plant in front garden and retaining wall
Q
Comments (13)
When I say sedums I thinking more of the general term of succulents which is what sedums (stone crop) are. There are many succulents that will survive UK temperatures but most will like it sunny with plenty of stones and grit in the soil, which is why I thought they’d be perfect for your situation. Here’s a little more info: https://www.perrywood.co.uk/gardening-tips/succulents/ I‘ve had great success with sedum forsterianum Oracle (see first pic), love the colour this time of year. I also like to mix them with alpine plants (I find thrift and saxifrage quite reliable) and some Mediterranean plants like the trailing rosemary which like similar conditions. I think you have the potential to be really creative as well (google succulent garden), perhaps using the flowerpot on it’s side and have plants spilling out. If you do go down this route, do some research first as not all succulents are geared for our winter temperatures and the popular sedum ‘autumn joy’ can grow fairly big. Here‘s some inspiration:
...See More
PRO
My Country Garden Design Solutions
7 years ago
Hi Leeza - what well weeded borders you have! And welcome to the world of gardening - its great fun!!

The shrubs you have will definitely bush out over time to cover the wall to a greater extent than they do know.

I would be tempted to add some summer flowering perennials to fill up some of the space - something very easy to look after like a harder geranium orion or rozanne and maybe some penstemon like Raven - these would bring some colour interest into the area.

Also think about some spring bulbs like iris reticulata, crocus or tulips. Good to plant know and they will cheer up the whole area.

Other than that get a good mulch/top dressing to try and keep the weeds down!

Need help with what to plant in front garden

Comments (3)

Joanna C

Leeza Beale
Original Author

Related Discussions

My Country Garden Design Solutions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Need help with what to plant in front garden

Comments (3)

Joanna C

Leeza BealeOriginal Author

Related Discussions

My Country Garden Design Solutions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Leeza Beale
Original Author