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Need inspiration!

stephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQstephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQ Posts: 34
in Garden design
Hi everyone,

I’m looking for ideas/inspiration for a section of the garden. It’s NNW facing so minimal sun.

I like a country cottage sort of style. Ideally I don’t want to get rid of the planters. They’re hiding a drain cover underneath so are slightly raised. I’ve planted flowers either side of the planters and there are a couple of flowers that have been planted in front. Clay soil. Ideally no slug-enticing flowers, but flexible on that.

It’s just the middle section I’m looking to change. I’d like to keep the grow bags there and I’ve just planted trailing jasmine at the bag to go up the fence near the bin storage.

Grateful for any ideas! See pic below:


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Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,752
    What are all those black bags for?
    That area would look much nicer as a bed with a selection of perennials, maybe a rose. The fence is ideal for climbing roses and/or clematis.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,245
    Plant small shrubs and perennials around the drain cover so they 'bush out' and hide it.
  • FlyDragonFlyDragon Posts: 834
    Loxley said:
    Plant small shrubs and perennials around the drain cover so they 'bush out' and hide it.
    And plonk a nice water feature or small container pond on the cover itself, so it looks 'nestled in' among the plants.  :)
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,120
    What is the middle section? It all looks full up to me.
  • stephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQstephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQ Posts: 34
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    What are all those black bags for?
    That area would look much nicer as a bed with a selection of perennials, maybe a rose. The fence is ideal for climbing roses and/or clematis.
    Thank you for the message. The black bags are my grow bags for veg. I’ve got some jasmine for the left to go up the fence, so I’ll have a look for another few climbing plants. I love clematis, but I’ve got a couple of cats and it’s poisonous to them so I have to be careful what I plant in the garden!
  • stephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQstephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQ Posts: 34
    Loxley said:
    Plant small shrubs and perennials around the drain cover so they 'bush out' and hide it.
    Thank you, I think that’s a good idea. I’ve already started putting a few plants down (although I can’t actually remember what I’ve planted! Maybe phlox and another taller flower for the back).
  • stephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQstephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQ Posts: 34
    FlyDragon said:
    Loxley said:
    Plant small shrubs and perennials around the drain cover so they 'bush out' and hide it.
    And plonk a nice water feature or small container pond on the cover itself, so it looks 'nestled in' among the plants.  :)
    I love the idea of a water feature surrounded by lots of plants! Thank you :)
  • stephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQstephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQ Posts: 34
    Cambridgerose12 said:
    What is the middle section? It all looks full up to me.
    Sorry, I just mean the section of the fence area with the long planters. Happy for any ideas for cat-friendly climbing plants or decorations for the fence though.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,159
    edited April 2021
    I have never heard of clematis being poisonous to cats.   We had loads of cats over the 23 years we were in our last house and over 50 clematis in the garden and never any probs.  Two 4 yr olds here and only a dozen or so clems so far but all is well.

    Whatever climber you choose will need supports and the cheapest and most hard wearing is to string tensioned wires across the fence posts using vine eyes to thread them and tensioners at the ends to make it all taut.  Place them at 30cm intervals up the fence and then plant a good, repeat flowering rambling rose and a clematis for contrasting or toning colour and form and to extend the interest.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,995
    Heavens above!!!  :o  ... someone's neglected to tell the many many cats that live around here ... they climb all over their owners' clematis-clad fences after the goldfinches and bluetits who are after the greenfly  :)  Do well-fed adult cats really start munching on random foliage?  

    In the past I've had many cats and many clematis ... so have the rest of my family ... they all seem to have escaped clematis poisoning. 

     But if it worries you this may help
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/how-to-create-a-cat-friendly-garden/
     :) 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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