How do you.....

[Deleted]

My garden is relatively new and was made from scratch about 5 years ago now. I'm veggie mad so did the veggie garden first. However, for the past two years i've been busy filling up my beds and borders in the ornamental garden.

Now i've managed to get the framework in of shrubs and left space for an apple tree. Now this is my problem....how do i fill up the spaces with perennials and the like...not sure how close to put them. Do i just bung them all in and then thin out when they get crowded? How do you get it so that there's riot of colour right through the season...someone suggested buying plants that are in flower so you know when they will flower in years to come?

Any suggestions and advice for someone who struggles on the flower side of her garden?

[jean]

Thats a hard one Ziggy, Best bet is have a look at what grows well in your neighbourhood and have a go. I am lucky being so far south as most will grow without too many problems. I tend to go for mainly perenials and fill the gaps with annuals, but find problems towards the end of Sept. Your local nursery would be a good first call, have a chat and see what is on offer now and later in the year.

[TeeGee]

It is a difficult one because of ones taste!

My taste might differ from yours so may I suggest you have a look in here tinyurl.com/ylmj3z and here; tinyurl.com/y88qs9

[Plocket]

All I can suggest is that you look at the neighbouring gardens and see what they have - if you like something and don't know what it is, ask! And you need to visit the garden centre on a regular basis throughout the year so that you get things in flower. Personally I bung stuff in coz I don't like seeing soil, and anything that can't cope will probably die! Something I try and do is have some evergreens/shrubs for year round colour and structure, and then fill in with perennials and other plants that flower at different times through the year.

[4pygmies]

I would sit down with a pen and paper and write a list of plants you like first of all..use a books, magazines or seed catalogues. Put when they flower and where they like to grow and what colour they are.. Then draw a rough sketch of your garden and see if you can fit them in. Maybe you could plan so you have particular areas that flower at the same time, after which another small group somewhere else will be of interest. People spend years of their lives doing this, Ziggywigs.....
I wouldn't advocate buying plants in flower but it's difficult to resist! What sort of garden do you want? A riot of colour or selective colours? If you are buying plants in flower, it's better to buy several of the same as they make much more impact that way. In fact I think it's better to have less types but more of each one - it's looks more as if you've designed it that way. The other thing you could do is to keep a photo journal so you remember what you liked or didn't, what worked and where you had gaps to fill.
But mainly I shouldn't worry! Two years isn't very long in a garden's life really. It's more fun if you keep trying different plants anyway!

[Deleted]

Thanks guys. I've decided to tackle it area by area and see how it looks.....if i don't like something i can always move it. Also it's difficult to see what it will look like say in two or three years. My front garden is now considered mature and i'm having to be ruthless with some stuff and move it out.

I'll let you know how it works out....i find veggie growing much easier.... ;D

[Deleted]

Forgot to say Tee Gee the links are very helpful...i've bookmarked them for future reference.

[jean]

Hi Ziggy

I started with veggies and still prefer growing them to flowers. My beds started with the plants I recognised and liked and I am still moving things around and ditching what didn't work (or taking them down to the lottie) The first couple of years I found that I had gaps and that when things had finished there wasn't anything to extend the season for a bit of colour. I now grow a few annuals to fill in the gaps (if I can find any) and I am still changing things each year, trying to get different heights and colours in the right place but I don't spend too much time worrying about it as my veggies will always come first.

[Deleted]

Thanks Jlottie....i've basically just jotted down what i like and the colours and then trundled off to the garden centre and picked up what i want.....there's still gaps but i think by the end of the summer these will be gone....i've still got other areas in the garden to do so i'm sure the plants will be dizzy!

Like you i prefer the veggie growing....flowers are nice but i get a lot more satisfaction from the fruit and veg.

Will let you know how it works out!

[nightowl]

Something I often do when I'm not sure where best to put a new plant is leave it in its pot (or pot on if it needs it)and bury it pot and all.

Leave it until you're sure it's happy there,and you've got a perfect planting hole to just drop it in.

If it becomes obvious it's not in the right place for some reason you can lift it and try it elsewhere without upsetting it

[Deleted]

That's a thought NL it might also help fill the gaps until the others get going and i can see how things pan out.