Forum home› Garden design

Help wanted for planters for front garden

IdunkleIdunkle Posts: 3
in Garden design

before my daughter came along I could spend hours and hours pottering in garden and researching plants etc so now I'm reaching out for help

i have two planters at front in house 

one is under the front window, it's about six foot by 3 foot.  It is mainly shade but on bright days can catch a few hours of sun late afternoon. 

by the path outside the house I have a smaller section, probably 3 foot by 3 foot, this does get a little more sun as sits further from house 

 

with the planted by window id like to have it crammed with plants of various colours, ideally fragranced, and would like them to be staggered in height, so I could see some from inside house.  So tallest ones at back say 3 foot high. Then going down in height. 

 

For the section near the path I'd like one tall central feature of colour, say 3 foot or so, and then colourful ground cover around it

 

for both areas I'd ideally like something that will come back as much as possible each year or at least self seed for following years

 

any help and advice appreciated 

 

thank you 

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,109

    For the big one you will be a bit limited for colours by the shade. Will you be watering them? Because there is dry shade and damp shade which can suit different types of plants. In shade it can help to have foliage shape texture and colour. Plants - Hostas, Astilbe, Brunnera "Jack Frost", Pulmonarias, hardy Fuchsia such as "Lena", Epimediums, Heucheras, Primulas, Astrantia, some of the hardy geraniums.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • IdunkleIdunkle Posts: 3

    Watering is no problem, have fitted myself an extension so easy get hose out front and also ready access to waterimg cans etc 

    the window planter is probably not full shade but obviously as house behind it gets limited sun. 

    Was thinking of seperating that one into four "rows" tall at back and getting lower

    but have no idea what is "tall" and "short" etc 

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,109

    Google the plants I've noted and see what you think. If it's 3 feet then that probably isn't enough room for 4 rows.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • royd63kroyd63k Posts: 63

    Hi

    Sarcococca (sweet box)

    Lovely perfume/

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/16452/Sarcococca-confusa/Details

     

    Roy

  • IdunkleIdunkle Posts: 3

    Thank you

    ill get googling, yeah i guess three rows may be optimistic 

Sign In or Register to comment.