Forum home› Garden design

Greek inspiration

vikkilaurievikkilaurie Posts: 16
in Garden design
have finally landscaped and paved our garden, and now I want to fill my massive borders with Mediterranean plants and shrubs. I know I want the silvery greens, blues and whites, but I am a newcomer to horticulture, and with British weather and clay like soil I recognise hibiscus' etc, are not the way forward. I am the proud owner of 2 olive trees, but the are looking very lonely. Has anyone got any ideas/suggestions that will add aesthetic Grecian beauty, colour and fragrance to my north Warwickshire garden please?
«13

Posts

  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    If you have clay soil you'll have to sort that first.  Plenty of gravel/grit dug in to make it free draining.  Herbs could be a good start.  I'm sure you will get lots of good recommendations soon.

  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    I have an Hibiscus on the strip of land just outside my fence. Years ago I was told the Hibiscus need water more than heat, my one gets watered by me about every 2 years and I live in one of the driest parts of the country. It is poor soil out there with, I think, good drainage. It gets sun from around 2 or 3 pm on. ..and it not only survives, but flourishes.image

  • vikkilaurievikkilaurie Posts: 16
    Thank you Lesley k - I will address the soil asap. And herbs would be ideal - I've heard there are many types of oregano, and rosemary would be a lovely addition too.



    Thank you too Phillips. Your first paragraph had me in stitches! What can I say, I'm a dreamer!

    Definately going to utilise rosemary, and any other shrubby herbs - I will research further. I have never heard of the parasol pine, but will be on the internet looking this up.

    I feel I may need to reconsider my geographical inspiration, and widen it to sothern Europe - my partner won't know the difference - he doesn't know his pine nut from his pine tree.



    My garden is 40ft by 15ft, with, now, a large patio area. The borders are all 3 ft wide.
  • vikkilaurievikkilaurie Posts: 16
    Thank you artjak - I give it a go. That's reassuring, as I do love them.



    And yes Phillipa, small, but adequate for a taverna for 4 in the summer image
  • vikkilaurievikkilaurie Posts: 16
    Sorry just checked with my Partner - I have the measurements wrong. Our garden is 80ft by 15ft - we can now invite friends to our soon-to-be, fingers crossed, taverna/grecian hideaway
  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    Ah vikki now you can have a goat at the bottom of the garden to supply feta, Grow tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce and with the olives from your trees you have a ready made greek salad.  If I get an invite I'll supply the ouzoimageimage

  • vikkilaurievikkilaurie Posts: 16
    Sounds perfect! I'll have to research how one milks a goat thoughimage
  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,063

    You definitely need Jasmine

    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,126

    Oregano! 

    I've got a patch beneath my back door to the gdn where it's seeded itself.

    Every time I go in/out I get a reminder of walking in the Greek hills and some thyme

     


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • vikkilaurievikkilaurie Posts: 16
    Thank you Pete, I do love the smell of thyme. I have seen several types of oregano - are any harder to maintain than others?



    Thank you yviestevie, jasmines are beautiful. May I ask, where are they best planted?
Sign In or Register to comment.