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Garden design ideas?

stephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQstephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQ Posts: 34
in Garden design
Hi all,

looking for some ideas to make one side of my garden a bit more interesting. I’m going for a cottage garden-style. It’s south-east facing, full sun and clay soil. Plants must be cat-friendly. I’ve got a jasmine stephanese to plant for some height for one of the panels so far!

Thanks in advance for any help :)



Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,432
    That is a very nice Fence! Well,you Got to have nepeta then,border needs to be wider. Roses although the cats won't care about the smell,haha,lavender, aquligias. Please can we have a picture of cats my last one died in 2006 this is the longest I have ever been without one,hubby doesn't like them, AND 2 years ago I looked after my daughter's while she moved house and we discovered our border collie is terrified of them! I've of my old work colleagues regularly send me pictures of hers on FB
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,186
    Hello Stephanie, may I suggest that you widen your border to about a metre if you can spare the space. That will give you much more choice in what to plant and they will grow much better. I think You need a couple of taller plants, some evergreens and a couple of plants that will flower in different seasons, perhaps underplanted with spring bulbs.  You could also try a small climbing rose and/or clematis.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • stephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQstephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQ Posts: 34
    Lizzie27 said:
    Hello Stephanie, may I suggest that you widen your border to about a metre if you can spare the space. That will give you much more choice in what to plant and they will grow much better. I think You need a couple of taller plants, some evergreens and a couple of plants that will flower in different seasons, perhaps underplanted with spring bulbs.  You could also try a small climbing rose and/or clematis.
    Hi Lizzie,

    Thank you for your reply. I like the idea of having blooms across the seasons and differences in height. I’d love to be able to widen the border a bit, but I think it would make our small patch of grass look a bit odd if it was any wider. 

    I might look at getting another clematis. I saw a beautiful dark red one today that would look nice against the fence.

    I do feel like I’m restricting myself a bit even more as I’m reluctant to plant too much in case we move house. Trying to put things in containers where I can. I don’t think that would look very nice down that border though.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,726
    Unless you widen the border, you will never achieve an attractive looking scheme.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • gerard mcmanusgerard mcmanus Posts: 41
    Try putting a curvy bit at the end you don't use, leaving enough grass while getting more plants there.

    If you want to keep it small, and cottage like, go with Roses, under planted with a few small shrubs/plants.

    Aquilegia are beautiful and will come back each year. I also love alchemilla molis, which will also come back.

    Rudbeckia for late colour.

    Delphiniums is another plant that will give you a little hieght to break up the roses.


  • stephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQstephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQ Posts: 34
    punkdoc said:
    Unless you widen the border, you will never achieve an attractive looking scheme.
    Thank you for your constructive comment.
  • owd potterowd potter Posts: 938
    stephaniedunn1988uwdF9NqQ said:
    It was bigger, before they replaced the fence! 

    sounds like 'they' have encroached upon and nicked some of your garden !! 
    Just another day at the plant...
  • Garden GnomessGarden Gnomess Posts: 74
    Geraniums come in all shapes, sizes and colours. I have one that I think is Johnson blue (cutting from mum) it's a bit of a spreader but flowers are tall (2') and last for a long time.
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