Contemporary Tree/Planting Suggestion For Sleepers
I have 2 empty square sleepers beds in the middle of our garden (next to seated area) which are approx 1 Meter Square. I was considering a small tree/shrub to provide some shielding around our seating area, although a delicate tree not too overbearing and doesn't block all light (if a tree/shrub like this exists!), I intend to put in some low level planting around the bottom of the tree/shrub . To note, one planter is positioned near the house approx 10 foot. I would like to achieve a contemporary look which complements the following existing plants I have installed: olive trees, boxwood, Agapanthus, Pittosporum, Allium, Silver Bindweed, Hydrangea Annabell, Rosmary, Festuca, Lavendar Loddon Pink. Any suggestions for trees/shrubs would be gratefully received. Many Thanks
Comments (18)
Andrew Shannon
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Contemporary Rural garden design
Comments (6)I live with a similar view just outside Canterbury, Kent. We are surrounded by farmland and while wanting to blend the garden in to the landscape I designed the borders with a naturalistic stance - this does mean including various types of grasses such as molinia, deschampsia, stipa and calamagrostis, which in themselves stand proud, but also have the canny nack of blending plants and colours to form a cohesive look. It also helps bring the landscape in to the garden, especially in the autumn and the winter, when their tan colours match similar colours on the horizon. I do not believe that grasses have had their time. If used properly, they just become part of the overall design. Do think vertically as well as horizontally, and to give a 'modern' style/approach do not use sweeping shapes for borders (these are used a lot for cottage style gardens with space): keep them straight with angles - the naturalistic planting will blur the otherwise sharp edges. Please feel free to look at my website marklanedesigns.com and look at the recent 'Bramling' garden in the portfolio. This was similar to my own garden, but had to include a swimming pool, which is always challenging. Excellent plants to use include: helenium, echinacea, echium russicum, aster (symphyothricum) umbellatus, vernonia, lythrum, baptisia, as well as cotinus, euphorbia. Think primarily herbaceous but keep the planting simple. Not necessary in big blocks which mirror the early gardens in the naturalistic/prairie styles but in terms of repetition throughout the borders. Use a single type of plant as a dot plant throughout - very similar to how plants self-seed in the wild. I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, please feel free to get in touch....See MoreNeed ideas to create contemporary look to my front garden
Comments (7)I do like Sven's idea of the blue palm ( chamaerops Humilis cerifera ), but maybe not in a pot as they do get very large. It would have to go in place of the tree as they can reach heights of 3 m x 2m wide. However, it would look nice with your front door, but maybe in a stone circle. You can't really put honeysuckle ( lonicera ), in the borders unless it's against the fence and you run wires for it, but i think your fence is probably too low. Lilac in white and pink or mauve would be better Depending on variety again, they're prolific growers, but will cover a fence in no time and smell fabulous. I'd have a stone circle in the middle and then a curved bed at the front with some higher plants, foxgloves, Iris, Japanese Anemonies etc at the back for height, some giant double pink poppies, weigela, candytuft to break it all up and get some white in amongst the pinks, purples and blues. All would look lovely with grey stone and your front door. All of the pics are of my own plants, I'd like to take credit for our garden, but it's my wife's domain, she's passionate about her plants and loves Pink, white, blue, purple, mauve etcWigela...See MoreEast facing patio garden- help with planting please?
Comments (7)Hi, I also have an east facing garden! Here are some plants that work well in my garden. Sorry if the spelling is not all exact my Latin is rusty. For evergreen structure. (Large evergreen shrubs) Pittosporum tenifolium Prunus Lusitanica Elegagnus pungens manaculata Deciduous large shrubs, Viburnum plicatum maresii Syringa Charles joly Hydrangea panaculata Small trees Cratagus monogyna (good for birds) Betula pendula Smaller plants and flowers that work for me. Geranium johnsons blue Lavendula angustifolia Geum Mrs bradshaw For shady spots these work well planted together Vincor minor Ferns - Matteuccia struthiopteris Anemone honourine jobert Hope these suggestions help these are growing happily in my east facing spot. Good luck...See MoreGarden plant choices dilemma.
Comments (5)Maybe some evergreen shrubs? They will give green colour all year round and pretty easy to look after. There are no plants that flower all year round, but if you choose spring and summer flowerers and some that flower in winter it will create changing seasonal interest. Easy evergreens are Fatsia japonica (Sam’s suggestion) - exotic looking but really tough Photinia Red Robin - glossy green leaves whose tips are bright red in the spring Viburnum tinus - pale pink flowers in winter Ceanothus - gorgeous blue flowers in spring. Camellia - pink, red or white flowers in spring. Need acid soil. Trachelospermum - climber with white fragrant flowers in summer, commonly called the Star Jasmine. Cistus - Small shrub with papery flowers in pink or white. Lavender - no explanation needed! You can then fill in the gaps with perennial flowers and feathery grasses. This type of planting is called Prairie Planting and is very popular at the moment and very easy to look after. There is a saying “Right Plant Right Place” so check whether plants you buy need sun or shade or a mixture. Putting a shade loving plant in the sun and it could shrivel and die. Anyway here’s some pics: photinia Viburnum Ceanothus Prairier planting ideas...See More
Sonia
3 years agoThat’s good. How about a Photinia Red Robin but pruned like a lollipop tree? They are evergreen with lovely red tipped leaves in spring followed by creamy white flowers. You buy them already shaped. Or a dwarf fruit tree such as Apple or cherry blossom. They are grafted onto a smaller rootstock so will reach 6 - 10 feet at the most, unlike a normal one which can reach 20 feet or more. You get lovely blossom in spring followed by fruit in the autumn. Here’s some pics.
PHOTINIA RED ROBIN
APPLE BLOSSOM
DWARF CHERRY TREE BLOSSOM
DWARF ROOTSTOCKS EXPLAINED
rachelmidlands
3 years agorachelmidlands
3 years ago
Nicki Jones
3 years ago
PROUser
3 years agoAston
3 years agoAston
3 years agoAston
3 years agoAston
3 years agoAston
3 years ago163 hrd
3 years agoI suggest a mature, natural shaped olive tree. I bought one 5 years ago from here:
https://villaggioverde.co.uk/mature-olive-tree-offer-15/
Choose the height of the trunk, which will grow no taller in your lifetime. The branches will grow and need pruning once a year. Mine is now in bud with new leaves, so it looks thicker in the summer but never blocks the light.
Mary Mary
3 years agoWe have a newly planted Cercis also known as Judas tree or forest pansy. It’s beautiful small tree which has pink purple flowers which grow on the stems in small clusters April/May the leaves are heart shaped turning from green to purple.Ours is a weeping Lavender cercis and was planted a year ago.
Carolina
3 years agoCarolina
3 years agoSonia
3 years agoMy Acer Palmatum dissectum cost £5 from Morrisons a couple of years ago and it’s nearly 4’ now. They do need a sheltered shady spot away from sun and strong winds. So they are affordable when small, but soon grow. There are some gorgeous shrubs you can add, like the dwarf lilac below, heavenly scent and mine flowered for 3 weeks. This is mine
Sonia