Complete re-hash of our first owned garden.

Hi. We just bought our first place together.

Late in life, so also probably our last place together lol.

We have a small back garden to the rear, and because we've just moved in, we're aware there are too many deciduous plants, essentially all bare branches at this time of year, so come spring, we're going to replace most of it.

We're used to container gardening, because we rented together for almost 15 years, but we're a bit unsure about bigger stuff that actually goes in the earth.

I figured a soil testing kit is a good place to start - so I've ordered one.

The main thing is we try to only keep pet friendly plants, in our case, non-toxic to cats.

We'll need a few sizeable shrubs. There are a couple of chest/shoulder height hydrangeas out there, a plant neither of us like, so we'll replace them with..... something? I understand they'll need to grow to size over a number of years.

We're looking for evergreen, low maintenance plants, that flower at some point - ideally spring/summer.

I'd also like a fruit tree. Apple, cherry or pear, I think. Just the one, so self pollinating. Can anyone some fairly compact options, without going for dwarf varieties?

Across the board, we'd welcome anything beneficial to wildlife.

Thanks.

 

@nightofjoy

Firstly, it would help to know your location so folk can advise what is suitable.

Lots of us have cats here (we have a pet section too).

Enjoy.

 

Hi Sorry, Fylde coast - north west. Thanks.

 

Which direction does your garden face @nightofjoy ? - it will have a bearing on what plants to go for

 

Another excellent point lol, I'll have to come back to you on that, we're just in a few weeks ago haha

 

Thanks. Sorry, but I had to look that up. I have been to Lancashire though many moons ago as we had friends here who had a B&B / Pub Restauraant in Wray.

 

Welcome @nightofjoy



How exiting to have a new garden. You’ll have so much help and inspiration on here.

May I suggest that you wait until all the plants come to life this Spring/Summer and see what looks good, what thrives and what you like/dislike. The garden may look fabulous come Summer!
Having said that, I understand how having a bare garden over Winter is a bit boring.

I agree with others that you need to check the sunlight and type of soil. There will be plants that won’t like clay for example. You may need to improve the soil too if it’s compact or poor etc. Also there’s not point dreaming of, say, Lavender if you don’t have a sunny spot with well draining soil for it. Might be worth asking neighbours what works for them.

It may take a few years to achieve decent shrub sizes so maybe consider doing plenty of pots and bedding plants to keep colour and interest until they establish.

If wildlife is important to you then a small pond (even just a washing up tub size) will be a magnet plus plenty of pollinator-friendly plants.

There are lists of cat-toxic plants online (lilies, daffodils and azaleas are definitely out).

I hope you have fun planning and creating your garden. Keep us posted! And join us on the pet thread too!

 

We're an east facing house...

 

A lot depends on your soil, is it acid, alkali or neutral? It's good that you have ordered a soil testing kit. Azaleas, Pieris and camellias like acid soil. Is it clay, sandy, loam etc ?

Some other evergreen shrubs are - Choisya (they come in different varieties and sizes, white flowers), Daphne, some vibernums, sarcococca, common myrtle, skimmia, ceanothus, escallonia etc.

You could also consider shrubs with variegated leaves such as euonymus.

However, the advice that @AuntyRach gives is good. Wait a bit and see what happens in other seasons.

I think cats know what they shouldn't eat. Anyway they are carnivores.

 

Hi. One of our cats chews plants. Only non-toxic options please, so Azaleas are out.

 

Try Buddleia, Choisya or Phormiums.

There’s a comprehensive guide here:

https://www.cats.org.uk/media/gb1jkhcr/cats_protection-safe-plants-guide.pdf