plant advice

ok now im not new to gardening but im not much good at it, i live on the southeast coast so its chalky soil i think,im looking for ground cover hardy perennials and some plants with height for a sunny border as i said im not great at this any help much appreciated.

 

Hardy geraniums like Orion, Ann Folkhard, Elke, Russel Pritchard, Rozanne will be superb as ground cover there Michael. Campanulas too if you choose the spreaders.
For height in a sunny border Verbena bonariensis, salvias like Amistad, Love and Wishes, Caradonna, and the microphylla types (colours from white to yellow to red and blue). Sanguisorbas like Pink Tanna and Alba, the amplexicaulis varieties of persicaria will give flowers for months with no maintenance, slightly tender but easily propagated try agastaches like Black Adder and Blue Boa. Achilleas like Teracotta and Moonshine will love your conditions. Aster Frikartii Monch and Anthemis Mrs. Buxton will give a wonderful blue/yellow association from mid summer to frosts. Check out the gauras like Papillion.....white flowers for months. The "whirling butterflies" are superb.....there are pink and red varieties too. And Penstemons.......always great value plants.

There are loads Michael.....I could get carried away

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Finally grow a few cosmos...a group of white purity or the colours will thrive there​

 

Evening Michael, I`m not far from Ramsgate - near Dover, and garden on chalky soil. There are however pockets of more neutral soil around the county, and clay too
It would be helpful if you could post a photo of the border you want to plant. If you are looking for structure, and architectural plants that are really easy to look after, you can`t go far wrong with grasses.
How big is the border in question. Post a pic, let`s have a look.

Edit....... the maestro got in there while I wasn`t looking. This verdun chap is responsible for making me buy too many plants...but he`s a jolly good teacher. Prepare to become a plantaholic !!

 

Fiver is on the way Tetters

 

thanks guys very helpfull will post some pics of my border when i get back from London tomorrow.............looks like i will be plant shopping soon..................

 

Have you tested it?
I used to live in Broadstairs and my soil was erring more on the side of clay.

 

will have to buy a soil tester to be sure told you i wasnt that good at this..........

 

Divert!

Divert to Shiney Land!!

 

well hopefully this is the picture of the border i want to fill

 

Looks ideal for plants already mentioned plus one or two climbers on the fence
I think a couple of groups, say 3, of lavendar for scented flowers and foliage and for being evergreen
I would also make those curves in the lawn more gradual....
Easier to mow and easier on the eye Michael

 

Michael, if I were you, I would concentrate first on planting climbers and tall stuff in there, and then you can chop out another few feet of grass to make room for all the lovely short jobs at the front.....then if you start again on the other side of the garden, you can do the same....until you have a nice two feet of lawn through the middle to walk on ....lovely

 

sounds like a plan to me as most of my lawn isn't grass anyway..........

 

Anyone ever used this company Van meuwen they are an online company prices dont seem to bad what do you guys think or who do you use.............

 

Michael, check out Paddocks Plants, Ashwoods, Woottens, Hillview, Perfect Plants (ebay) ....there are many out there. Horses for courses, specialist growers of hellebores, salvias and more.
These guys will provide good, flowering size plants in their first year. Van Meuhen and similar usually provide small or bare root and not much cheaper.
Maybe we should start a thread for online suppliers .....recommending good ones and advising caution for the poor ones...?

 

Not as good as what they used to be!

Bargain - Unlimited free seeds, etc. at Van Meuwen for 99p outlay

Oh, those were the days.