Small garden idea

Mike Donnison

Hi all, I am looking for some ideas/advise on planting a small 8ft x 4ft rectangular area in our back garden, as both my wife and I are both novices when it comes to gardening we want a low maintenance planted area preferably one that last the whole year, some of the plants we have looked at are Aubrieta and Phlox but that's about it.

The area has a 4ft fence on one edge but gets a reasonable amount of light.

 

 

Dovefromabove

Which way does the garden face and what is the soil like?

Mike Donnison

Hi thanks for replying, the garden is facing NE from the house, as for the soil I am unsure apart from the neighbour has plenty of different plants, we have planted daffs and made a small rockery with assorted alpines, edelweiss, some snowdrops, lavinder which all come every year, having planted them in 2010, the garden never gets waterlogged, thats all I know, if needed I will add the appropriate materials to alter the soil

 

 

Mike Donnison

this is the area in question, it was occupied by a leydandii until the landlord removed it because it was taking over the garden

Fairygirl

 The bed must be south west/west facing so it should get reasonable sun from early afternoon onwards. For a bit of structure, if Lavender's happy there, Hebes will be too. There are loads of different varieties and sizes but they're evergreen and most have flowers which attract bees. Palest pink/lilacs through to pink/ purple for the flowers. Easy to obtain. If you like that sort of colour, there will be lots of perennials which will grow well to accompany them - hardy Geraniums and Phlox  to name a couple. If you're allowed to use the fence, you could put a few wires on it and get some Clematis in to cover it. Hundreds to choose from, but readily available everywhere and you could have a couple of different ones to give you colour from now till autumn. I take it you may want to sit nearby so scent might be important. You could use a climbing Rose in place of a Clematis or pop some sweet peas in which are very easy. Straight into the ground at this time of year, or you can buy as small plants. They're annuals so you need to sow or plant every year.  Lots of colours to suit your own taste. Everything I've suggested would be easy to find in any GC, Nursery or diy outlet.

Hope that gives you a few ideas to start off with 

Mike Donnison

Many thanks Edd and Fairygirl, I appreciate the advise, I wil start doing some homework and keep my progress posted

Mike

Fairygirl

I assumed that you meant the aspect was North East from the house not that the bed was facing that direction - hence my suggestions.  If Edd's right then some of my suggestions would be unsuitable! 

Mike Donnison

Hi all, sorry for the confusion, as you see I am a complete novice, when I look down the garden from the house I am facing NE so the plot is facing NW or there about

flumpy1

Have ypu thought of having a raised bed there, you could grow ypur own veg : )

flumpy1

Sorry i keep hitting the wrong letters : /

Kevin dale

Hi mike if you dig a good amount of organic compost into the soil add some grit with the compost work it in together and for plants I would go for foxgloves and primulas and coneflowers cottage garden plants