Feeling overwhelmed
jj75
Posts: 3
First post and looking for a bit of advice please. I’ve had my garden rejigged and there is a lot of space to fill. I’m looking at the whole thing and feeling completely overwhelmed, I have googled so many shrubs and I’m still none the wiser just more confused! Do I need to stop googling and get walking round garden centres/ nurseries? I want shrubs with lots of colour, evergreeens and anything else to add interest. Help please!
0
Posts
Don't be overwhelmed! Gardens develop gradually, so take time, think about what you like and what your conditions are, then look at garden centres and nurseries. Try to get to some of the Open Gardens that happen all summer and have a look at what other people have done. Some of these are huge but there are always little corners or plant groupings that may catch your eye, and some are just normal gardens with much to emulate.
You can always change your mind, too. If a plant is in the wrong place, you can move it. If you wish you had chosen a different colour or the damn things keep dying, there will be other plants and other years. There's enough stress in life: the garden's for enjoying.
Take it gently; trust me in a few years time you will be back to ask where you are going to find space for all the seeds you have just sown.
If it's a big plot then it's better to break it down into different areas and follow the same process but one area at a time. You can always throw some annuals seed or get some bedding in to the bits you haven't got round to yet and come to those next year or the year after or the year after. Gardens are better if they aren't made all at once, but grow with you, as you become more experienced. If you fill the whole thing on day 1, you've no opportunity to try something new next year - and you should always try something new every year - make it a rule
If you have a good local nursery and you go in and say "I need something to grow about so tall and wide, in a sunny corner - can be a bit windy there - what do you think? My soil is heavy clay." Then they can give you really good advice. If you go in and say "I want a plant - dunno how big, not sure what my soil is like - I just want it to be yellow flowers" then they will struggle. And Google is exactly the same.
The new patio is much bigger than the old one so I’ll be using it a lot more for eating outside and entertaining...... fingers crossed. Open gardens is a good idea, I’ve definitely been noticing a lot more of what is growing recently in the area. I need to just relax and try to enjoy it!