New small border: climber, shrubs and perennials

cork gardener

Hi
looking for some ideas on planting up a new bed I'm making. 
The black fence faces south but because of shading from the house, only gets 3-5 hours direct sun. The adjacent wall of the shed faces east and gets 2-3 hours morning sun. The bed is open to the ground underneath and is 3.2m x 1m. The soil is good, with plenty of organic matter.

I'm going to put gripple wire across the fence and shed wall. Was planning on putting 2 star jasmines in the bed, one to climb the fence and the other to climb the shed wall. I'm looking for smallish shrubs that will give some year round structure as well as blooms in the summer, without extending too far beyond the border and some perennials and grasses that would give long-lasting interest during the summer. 



Appreciate any thoughts / advice

JennyJ

Is the raised bed open to the soil underneath?

cork gardener

Hi Jenny - yes, open underneath

GardenerSuze

@cork gardener I think I would consider some tall grasses too, this will help cover the fence. Perhaps Calamagrostis Karl Foerster which will stand all winter you could use it say three times along the border and use shrubs in between. There are also Miscanthus grasses in all different heights I grow M Flamingo plenty more. 
What you need to do is form a strong shape of evergreens and maybe grasses all along the border. You can then fill the spaces inbetween with flowers.
Hope this is helpful. 

JennyJ

The trachleospermum should be OK there. Maybe something with lighter green or variegated foliage for winter interest. The smaller types of Euonymus would be OK, or maybe the smaller types of Hebes. I would add bulbs in between for spring colour - dwarf daffs and crocuses die down a bit more quickly than the big daffs after they've done their thing so are untidy for less time.

cork gardener

thanks for those suggestions. I'm wondering would 3 of the same shrub look weird - maybe pittosporum nanum (any other similar sized evergreen shrubs worth consindering?) and then grasses (I love Karl Foerster) and some perennials filling in the gaps. I like a contemporary look but don't want it to look overly patterned, if that makes sense. 
The bulbs is a good call - i have 2 big planters with dwarf narcissus that i'm emptying soon, i'll put them in as well

Fairygirl

I'd think one of those jasmines would be enough for that area. You could always add some annual climbers while it establishes and grows. I'd have an early, small flowered  clematis to provide a contrast [not a montana though]   
Hebes are certainly a very good suggestion - nice and easy mostly. You could add some Asters for late colour, and things like Helianthemums, Liatris, Lilies, Lychnis, Aquilegias, etc for verticals which wouldn't take up too much space. I have a similar bed, in a similar aspect, and have all of those in it. Veronicas would also be fine. It will depend on the colours you like too. Mine is mainly hot colours. I had an Uncinia rubra in there at one point, and also a gold Libertia. 
I also have Euphorbia in it, and lots of spring bulbs. I also use Dianthus and dwarf hardy geraniums for edging, but any hardy geraniums would also suit your space. 

cork gardener

Thanks fairy girl - that’s a lot of nice recommendations. You think a single jasmine would cover both walls (fence and shed - with help from a clematis? 

Fairygirl

I don't grow the jasmine as it would struggle here, but from what other people on the forum say - it's pretty vigorous 

GardenerSuze

If you are looking for contempory look keep your planting  minimal and limit your choice of plant and colour scheme. Calamagrostis Overdam is another possible not so tall but variegated. I also grow Libertia Perigrins but it will need all the sun that you can give it.
The border will also need to look predominantly green to look natural. Coloured leaves are good but don't over do it. Another thought might be Op which would work with the fence as long as soil is not too dry.

GardenerSuze

Whoops  need to look up spelling for Op should be Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens.
I could have won a new spade at my local garden club if I could spell it correctly [no chance]. Gardening not spelling is what I enjoy!