Hello and Advise

Hello all!

I need some guidance, I’m looking at planting up my beds for the coming year and don’t know what plants/flowers are best. I had originally wanted a tropical garden but living by the coast in the north east this didn’t work out too well coupled with my lack of gardening expertise. The garden is looking pretty drab now and I’m guessing it’s a good time to start planning/planting up.

I’d love the silver bullet of things that would look good right the way through to the end of summer but know this is unrealistic, so please can you suggest somethings that you think would do well in my garden. I would also like to plant up Bee friendly if that would work.
The photos show how things started just after I finished the garden and how things look now and what’s survived.
The left of the photos is South facing, the beds are always moist and the garden is generally well protected from the wind.
All advice appreciated, thanks.

 

Approximately how high (deep) and wide are your raised beds @Ryan Youll and are they open to the ground below? Also, what did you fill them with as the growing medium? These details will help with recommendations. Welcome to the forum .

 

Hi Plantminded, thanks.
The beds are 65 cm deep 25cm wide and filled with top soil, weed membrane then bark, they are tanked with membrane with drainage tubes every metre or so. They were level with the top of the walls, but have now compacted around 10cm.

 

Are you looking at annual bedding plants, for a nicer more colourful display or herbaceous (low mtce) planting? Do you know if your soil is acid/alkali?

You have a wonderful backdrop with a kind of haha with those wonderful trees to work with, that will only enhance what you plant.

 

That's helpful @Ryan Youll , thank you. The depth is good, and although the width will be limiting, there's potential! I would perhaps bulk up your topsoil first with some organic matter like soil conditioner or farmyard manure to improve water retention and nutrient levels.

If you are aiming for a tropical look, there are several options that will complement your Cordylines, Fatsias and bamboos. I would choose some tall, columnar perennials to attract bees with various flower shapes and colours, plus some medium and smaller sized grasses. On the south facing side, try Heleniums, Rudbeckias, Salvias, Lythrum and Crocosmia, with grasses such as Calamagrostis Karl Foerster or any varieties of Stipa. For your shadier areas, shade loving small grasses include Sesleria autumnalis and Hakonechloa.

Smaller perennials that will attract bees and grow in sun or shade include Erigeron and Nepeta, they won't lean in the shade like the tall perennials will! I also grow Phormiums in shade and sun. They have a tropical look. They are evergreen and will maintain interest over winter. Try the smaller sized varieties like Bronze Baby or Cream Delight.

You could also try some climbers on your sunny side such as a small climbing rose like Warm Welcome, or annual climbers like Thunbergia, Morning Glory or Nasturtiums.

The important thing is to keep your plants well watered as they are close to the fencing and rainfall will not be enough. Also moving and dividing plants as they develop will help you to create a look that you like.

 

Thanks, it’s so nice come spring and the birds love it too. I really don’t know what the Ph is I haven’t tested, although I may have some aquarium testers in the garage that might give me an indication, my gardening style so far has been ‘I like the look of that… plant it, hope it survives’
I don’t mind planting up at the beginning of the year with lots of colour even if it means doing the same thing next year, but whatever goes in really needs to be plant and forget.

 

That’s great, thanks. I will go and look these up tonight and start a shopping list.
I’m guessing if I top up the beds I should turn over the top few inches and mix in the soil conditioner?

 

Not sure if you want to plant spring bulbs, such as daffodils/hyacinths, for a early burst of colour - these need to go in the autumn, so if you want to do this plant some summer bedding, then after the bulbs have been planted in the autumn, then you can think of herbaceous plants. Do you want to plant any climbers like clematis to cover the fencing?

 

I think you are being somewhat hopeful in 'Tropical' if my experiences of the far North East are true ! You'd be about level with Siberia , no ?
You may be able to maximise a microclimate if the walls absorb and radiate heat, at least on the solar enriched sides.
I could see traditional 'cottage' herbaceous perennial plants, with perhaps dahlias, lillies,zinnias, gazania, etc to give bright spots to draw the eye. One is ever concious that I do gardening not aesthetics......

 

Not in my book ! Lift out any weeds and dead plants. Apply mulch up to 30mm deep and let the worms work for you.

 

Yes, that will be quicker for the roots to benefit. If you leave it on the surface as a mulch, it will still integrate with the soil below as worms, the rain/your watering work it down. (That’s what I’ve just done on one of my borders this afternoon - didn’t have any more energy to dig it in ). Another option for your south facing bed is dahlias, choose the open flowered ones that are more attractive for bees like Bishop of Llandaff.

 

Just to add, all the plants that I’ve recommended have a tropical look, but are not tropical . They are all hardy, apart from the annual climbers, and the dahlias will need lifting after the first frost.

 

A bit of classic design advice: Choose plants for their foliage effect first, then for their flower power. The foliage is around for a lot longer! At least 2/3 evergreen/grey/purple/yellow to 1/3 deciduous shrubs or perennials with boring foliage :-). And however low maintenance it is, even in the North East, you'll need to water newly-planted stuff in summer.

 

Fatima japonica is an evergreen with a tropical look and will cope with sun or shade. Carex grasses would also give you some evergreen colour in sun or shade.

Some of the larger Heuchera Rex varieties have an almost tropical look to their foliage and again will cope with sun or shade. There are various ones with bronze, purple foliage. I have Dark Amber which has lovely rich colours in shade

 

If it were mine, I would have lots of Spring bulbs, then taller annuals such as cosmos or sunflowers which would give good foliage and colour and make the bees happy. Then you're not really committing long term to anything and can change the look of it year to year, without too much effort - I would sow the flower seeds directly in the late Spring.

Could also try some wild flowers, e.g. purple toadflax.

For shrubs what about the new dwarf versions of buddleia?