Forum home› Garden design

Three trees and a blank canvas

FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
in Garden design
Hiya! I've a blank canvas garden that's fenced to work with and 3 trees that I bought and I'd like to feature/ make the most of. 
Can anyone suggest inspiration of planting combinations that will work with these trees I'm terms of underplantings and complimentary shrubs because I'm clueless! 

The trees I have are:
Prunus Nigra 6ft
Malus John downie 5ft
Camellia anticipation 4ft

Thank you so much in advance! 
«1

Posts

  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538

  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    Hiya! Another plea for any advice on complimentary plantings for these trees...could be bulbs or perennials or shrubs! 
    Thanks 🙏
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,135
    Can you give some more relevant info like
    Where in the UK are you
    What's the soil like
    Which way is north
    and a photo of course speaks a thousand words :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,488
    For your prunus and malus, I think you must mean 5-6 metres, not feet? Don’t know about the camellia but the RHS does say gets to 4m so that sounds a biggie too. Hope you have allowed enough space!

    Some ideas here:
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?PID=430

    I also recently read that astrantia can grow well in the shade of trees so long as you can keep the soil moist. Lots of spring bulbs, ajuga, anenome, hellebores, any woodland plants, really.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,991
    The camellia will need acid soil to do well.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    Hiya @Pete.8 the soil is acid clay and it's in South Wales. The garden faces east. 
    @philippasmith2 I have no real preferences other than easyish to grow!
    @Nollie yes you're right, I meant metres..I'm hoping for some height in the garden..I like the idea of astrantia and of bulbs through spring and summer...maybe crocuses. 
    Not sure any summer bulbs will thrive in the shade of trees. 
    I have some young rhododendrons I can put in too: Cunningham's white, Percy Wiseman and nova zembla. 
  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    Thanks all for the responses! I don't have a picture at the moment because it's a work in progress and currently being cleared. 😁
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,135
    My soil is slightly acidic clay too and I can grow most plants, but it's probably a bit warmer here in Essex.
    I've been digging in manure/compost over the years so it's reasonably fertile now. But it still dries to concrete in hot summers and is claggy after heavy rains.

    Hydrangeas grow well - I particularly like Vanille Fraise which has performed really well this year. Japanese Anemones are very easy and there are lots of varieties.
    Phlox, penstemon, astrantia, dahlias, cornflowers, cosmos, roses, acers, oregano, agastache, heliopsis and lots more all seem happy in my garden.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,544
    I've got Cunningham's White and Percy Wiseman in my garden. They stay a nice manageable size and flower at slightly different times. Give them a semi-shaded location and they will be very happy.  
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    Thank you @Pete.8 and @amancalledgeorge that's really helpful. I like hydrangeas, I'll have a look for Camille fraise. 
    🙌
Sign In or Register to comment.