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Post by wendya on Jan 19, 2014 11:51:19 GMT
I have just a balcony, but have now took over the care of some planting boxes that have been ignored for 3 years. No one has tended or done anything so i have took over their care. I had to cut back the ornamental grass as it was so bad, so hopefully a new growth will come now but, i have no idea what plants these are that are in these 2 planter boxes,, can anyone help me please. PIC ONE  tall pink flowers when in bloom |
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Post by wendya on Jan 19, 2014 11:53:05 GMT
pic 2 some sort of climbing bush that was lost beneath all the ornamental grass  |
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Post by wendya on Jan 19, 2014 11:54:05 GMT
Pic 3 I have no idea what this is ?  |
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Post by wendya on Jan 19, 2014 11:55:43 GMT
Am also wondering what would be good to put in this corner ? rather dull not much sun light, any ideas  |
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Post by andy on Jan 19, 2014 13:48:17 GMT
1) Centranthus ruber or valerian. Often seen as a wild flower or growing out of peoples fence line. A beautiful show of red, pink and white flowers, they can be very invasive if left to seed.
2) Trachelospermum jasminoides or star jasmine. Evergreen climber that can get a bit vigorous if they like the spot they're in. I have to cut mine back twice a year to keep it in check. Clusters of small, white, highly scented flowers all summer make this climber well worth growing
3) Not too sure about this one. One of the penstemons was my first thought....maybe someone could confirm.
As for your planter, a lovely choisya ternata 'sundance' would brighten the corner up...you can let it grow or prune it back to keep it i check. Some nice pennisetum grasses, a couple of epimediums, maybe some small euonymous, a cornus midwinter fire, maybe fill the gaps with spring bulbs and summer bedding.
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Post by wendya on Jan 19, 2014 14:39:46 GMT
Thank you very much, a friend also said no 3 maybe penstamons too. Thanks again, i will now look into how to care for the other ones now i know their names.  |
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 19, 2014 15:11:38 GMT
I would say no 3 was a penstemon. It will need cutting back to about 15cm in February wendya! If you take some 20cm'ish bits off the bits you cut off, strip off the lower leaves and pop them in a jam jar of water they might root and you'll get lots of little penstemons! |
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Post by wendya on Jan 19, 2014 15:12:06 GMT
Another question the one you suggested choisya ternata 'sundance' would it be ok to grow in a dark area, as really it doesn't get much light this end and is NW facing?
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Post by Tig on Jan 19, 2014 19:13:06 GMT
Choisya don't mind partial shade, not sure if it would get the vibrant golden foliage in full shade though  I would plant a fatsia japonica there. It is a lush foliage, evergreen, shrubby plant and is perfectly happy in full shade. It also looks quite exotic, especially if you can plant some white flowered herbaceous perennials in front of it to add a bit of 'light', or the variegated or yellow leaved hostas would cope well as long as the box is kept well watered. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 20, 2014 7:49:22 GMT
I'd be inclined to go for Hosta in your shady box wendya. They need next to no care except putting slug pellets around them or using another method to control any slugs/snails that might want a bite. There are some amazing varieties out there to choose from. |
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Post by Auricula on Jan 20, 2014 9:43:46 GMT
Fatsia with foxgloves would be good in shade, or hostas with sarcocca ( sp), or the yellow flowered winter shrub, a bit like holly ( who's name is on the tip of my tongue), or ferns. Penstemons root quickly in gritty compost, take root tip cuttings when you cut it back and you'll have a penstemon family |
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Post by wendya on Jan 20, 2014 9:55:22 GMT
Thank you all for the advice i will look into all suggestions |
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Post by theinsidegardener on Jan 20, 2014 17:16:27 GMT
Is it Mahonia you're thnking of Auricula? You can get a holly-esque one which is gorgeous, or the soft caress Mahonia which is harder to get but is ferny and not prickly at all. Both gorgeous and on my wish-list! |
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Post by wendya on Jan 21, 2014 15:11:43 GMT
I cannot seem to find a holly esque ? I would not even mind a prickly holly as it would be good to stop children climbing on the end of the planters to get on a roof  in the summer when they are about. Sounds awful, but may be a deterrent |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 21, 2014 16:52:08 GMT
I cannot seem to find a holly esque ? I would not even mind a prickly holly as it would be good to stop children climbing on the end of the planters to get on a roof in the summer when they are about. Sounds awful, but may be a deterrent I think what theinsidegardener means by holly esque is that the Mahonia has large holly like leaves which are prickly with lovely yellow scented flowers in the middle. Tig has a lovely pic on her garden thread.  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jan 21, 2014 18:42:51 GMT
Following with interest - wouldn't Mahonia be far too big, in the long run??
RF
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Post by andy on Jan 21, 2014 19:02:45 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Jan 21, 2014 19:08:16 GMT
Now that plant look marvellous on the link andy - have put it down on my "thinking about it" list...thanks for the info!! RF |
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Post by andy on Jan 21, 2014 19:10:55 GMT
Now that plant look marvellous on the link andy - have put it down on my "thinking about it" list...thanks for the info!! RF Ive got loads at work RF....they seed in among the nooks and cranny's of the rocks and i let them get on with it. They smell gorgeous in april time. I just transplant the seedlings when they're about 12" tall and plant them around the seating areas so people appreciate the scent. |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jan 21, 2014 19:32:07 GMT
Now that plant look marvellous on the link andy - have put it down on my "thinking about it" list...thanks for the info!! RF Ive got loads at work RF....they seed in among the nooks and cranny's of the rocks and i let them get on with it. They smell gorgeous in april time. I just transplant the seedlings when they're about 12" tall and plant them around the seating areas so people appreciate the scent. Totally envious Andy - will be on the look out for one on this side of the water...thanks. RF |
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Post by theinsidegardener on Jan 21, 2014 19:48:08 GMT
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Post by wendya on Jan 23, 2014 12:19:13 GMT
Thanks all wow what a bush that is, its amazing will have to look more into this and see how tall they grow, but i love it. Insidegardener it was probably me not reading correctly The more i think of holly the better, as then it will stop these kids climbing up by the side of the planters onto garages which isn't safe, so maybe Holy will be a good deterrent and keep them away. The mohania is amazing thank you all again. |
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Post by wendya on Jan 23, 2014 12:28:57 GMT
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Post by theinsidegardener on Jan 23, 2014 12:38:39 GMT
I only know the Mahonia Winter Sun or Charity wendya, that aquifolium one doesn't look as spiky as the other two, but maybe it's just that picture and the others might tell you properly. |
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Post by wendya on Jan 23, 2014 13:00:38 GMT
ok thank you, oh is charity in this family too i would prefer the spikier one though the one lady gardener posted.
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Post by andy on Jan 23, 2014 13:24:39 GMT
Yeah that's the one Wendy. Don't forget that the more spikey one...M. charity will get to 3-4m high. As mentioned, they do respond well to hard pruning but they can get huge. This is one of mine at work and it's certainly 3m tall  |
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Post by wendya on Jan 23, 2014 14:52:12 GMT
Thank you, so the charity is the more prickly one than the one i put in the link mahonia aquifolium is less spikey?
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Post by andy on Jan 23, 2014 17:13:33 GMT
Thank you, so the charity is the more prickly one than the one i put in the link mahonia aquifolium is less spikey? Yes  |
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Post by wendya on Jan 25, 2014 12:19:05 GMT
Thank you Andy
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in the summer when they are about. Sounds awful, but may be a deterrent 
