Border plant advice needed

3 years ago

I bought a house last year and the front garden was hideously overgrown. After spending months razing it to the ground, it looks quite bare.

I’m planning to lawn it and plant borders around the edges, and I would appreciate some suggestions on what to plant.

There’s no particular budget, but I’m looking for shrubs/plants that

aren’t too finicky about soil PH;
are colourful and/ or attractive in some way;
are perennials (or at least attractive for most of the year);
don’t grow crazy roots that could damage the integrity of the surrounding walls.

The garden is south-facing but gets a reasonable amount of sun due to the lack of neighbouring houses.

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Comments (8)

Jordan
Original Author
3 years ago
Meant to say north facing!
Ellie
3 years ago
Plants are really expensive, especially if you want them not to be tiny 20 cm tall plants!

I know it's a bit late, but what plants were there? Where they growing well there as sometimes that gives an indication of what type plants would do best there. Finally was it that as that you had to take it to ground, maybe just pruned instead?🤔
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Hi Keswing. Looks good. Ok, so did a very rough plan with your image but obviously better if you can lay things out with the pots before planting to see if you think they look right. Do check on the label or online for its eventual height and spread. Managed to fit most things in but with the cannas I thought you could leave in pots and just place the pot in the border. They can quite be tender to frost so keeping them in pots will enable you to move and tend to them more easily. Most Mahonias are called Oregon grape, it’s just the common name and like I said they can be big or small, more info here : https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/mahonia If you wanted something tall for privacy have look at one of the x-media varieties, ‘X- media, Winter sun’ would be my choice. I inherited one in my own garden and it‘s adored by the birds although a little prickly (see pic.) I‘ve never bought plants online as I just tend to look at plants in the garden centre then wonder where I can put them 😂. I’m sure most reputable growers will ensure their plants are transported well tho. Anyway here’s the rough plan (hope it makes sense) and my mahonia.
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When I had my first garden I planted rather randomly, not thinking about aspect or soil, but I’ve learnt a lot. Some plants died (wrong spot), some grew far too big and had to be cut down. One of the trees was a Silver Birch that grew to 50ft, causing damage to my neighbours garden path, so it was chopped down (a sad day). I now have a Himalayan Birch is an enormous pot so it is sort of controlled, I hope! They do grow to 40ft high and about 25ft wide, so I would plant far apart, not too near the others, or near buildings and paths. I think you have enough trees, so I would suggest you grown some climbers like Honeysuckle and Climbing Hydrangeas. You also grow some prettier plants nearer the house, such as perennials like Geraniums, Salvias, Anemonies and Crocosmias. i have a smallish garden and we removed the grass as the dogs had created a slimy bog, but if your dog is small and you have children then keeping the lawn would be nice, I think.
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Jordan
Original Author
3 years ago
There were no plants or shrubs there before—just a hedge that had grown the entire diameter of the front garden and some sad-looking conifers squeezed in at the end. Pruning wasn’t really an option because the hedge roots have already damaged the wall and damaged pipework.

I’m not too concerned about the cost so any suggestions will be considered, but I’m also happy to buy smaller plants and wait for the garden to mature.
Mary Ketchley
3 years ago
It looks like a really lovely spot. What about some rosemary? It’s evergreen and doesn’t grow too crazily?
Jordan
Original Author
3 years ago
That’s a great idea—I love the look of rosemary and hadn’t even considered it.
Mary Ketchley
3 years ago
Our previous front garden was north facing and had pulmonaria and bergenia both of which were lovely at this time of year, along with a forsythia bush. Hostas as are also good but not in winter. I keep meaning to get some euphorbias (think they are evergreen). I also like ferns and grasses (see pic). Foxgloves are good for shade and are perennial / easy.
Sonia
3 years ago
I think a small-medium tree would create a bit of privacy and some height to the border then you can plant underneath it. Trees that are easy are the Rowan (Sorbus), Hawthorn, Cornus kousa and Cornus florida and Crabapple. All have lovely blossom In the spring or summer.

Shrubs that prefer some, or full, shade are things like Japanese Acers, Viburnum tinus (evergreen), Skimmia, Camellias and Rhododendrons (must have acid soil), Choisya ternata Sundance (evergreen). You can underplant with ferns, Bergenia, Dicentra specabilis, Anemones. Bulbs such as snowdrops, bluebells and lily of the valley like shady woodland type conditions.

if you want a longer list, search on the RHS website for shade loving plants, the list is huge!

THE TALL PURPLE TREE IS A JAPANESE ACER AS IS THE LITTLE PURPLE SHRUB AT THE FRONT, UNDERPLANTED WITH FERNS AND BRUNERRA

HYDRANGEAS PREFER SHADE BUT THEY NEED LOTS OF WATER

FERNS AND BRUNNERA JACK FROST
Jordan
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you, Sonia and Mary. I’ve been researching all of your suggestions and making a list.

Border plant advice needed

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Border plant advice needed

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