|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2008 20:26:28 GMT
Been looking round some garden centres for inspiration for Spring. Quite like the look of various things but they have to be idiot proof for me.
Like the look of some Cordylines, Skimmia, Cytisus & campanulas (which are really cheap at the mo). Do you reckon these will do in NE Scotland in a stoney dry soil, with a bit of sun through the day?
|
|
|
|
Post by Weeterrier on Feb 13, 2008 13:27:18 GMT
Hi Genie, Tigridia alerted me to your question. I have found Skimmia very hardy, but they do require an ericaceous soil. No problem in that, you can buy the special compost from Garden centres. Similar growers are Pieris, Rhododendrons, Azaleas. Viburnums are also very reliable. V. bodnantense flowers on bare wood at this time of year, and V.tinus a bit later. If there are strong winds, Escallonia is a good shrub to try. Evergreen and very pretty pink or red flowers. Campanulas will do fine in your soil, you cannot have enough varieties of them in my opinion. Cordlines good too. As for Cytisus, I would think that they would be fine too, but they are not favourites of mine. I find them not very attractive once the flowers have gone. Let me know more about your situation, as Mediterranean plants would grow in your stoney soil, but they wouldn't like the cold. Whereas many alpine plants would thrive. Soils can always be improved ;D With the proper nutrients added, you could try these easy shrubs Look at Mahonia, Hebe, Leucothoe, Osmanthus, Cornus, Pyracantha, Potentilla are just a few which are easy to grow. If you lack a depth of soil, you could always have an Alpine Garden, they can have some of the prettiest flowers. I love them. If you give me more information, I can finely tune this list a bit.  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2008 19:16:09 GMT
Cheers! Hardy would be preffered, I have had enough of buying plants I would like, but won't do well (my japanese maples for example). I have no real shelter getting winds mostly from the North which can be very cold & often from the west which can be destructive. Half of my garden will get good sun especially during the summer but half will be in shade for most of the day. I have a pieris & rhododendron in pots in ericacious (?) soil & they are doing really well but I reckon they will have to go in to the garden soon. Have never heard of Escallonia, but if it doesn't mind winds it may be just the shrub for me. Don't know anything about campanulas the fact that b&q were selling loads for 89p at the moment was what drew me to them to be honest! I was drawn to the cytisis & Corylines because they looked hardy. I got a hebe with the garden but desite cutting back & feeding with general plant feed for 2 years now we have seen no sign of flowers, plenty of leaves though! Alpines? I never gave them a thought, are they not a specialist thing though, as I said I need idiot proof stuff! |
|
|
|
Post by Weeterrier on Feb 14, 2008 10:56:34 GMT
Wind and Japanese Maples are not good together, it is the wind which shrivels the leaves. Alpines, or Rock plants are not, in the main, difficult at all. There are some which require to be kept in an alpine house, but you would normally find them only in specialist nurseries. But if they grow in the high mountains happily, with the snow and winds and rocks, then they would suit your garden well, I would think. Also, garden Centres sell large rocks now, very suitable for alpine beds. Haven't much time now, but I will write a list to investigate later, unless someone else gets in first Off to do some ironing.  |
|
|
|
Post by Shrubrose on Feb 15, 2008 7:37:12 GMT
Hi Genie. My soil type is different from yours but we get strong winds here and have found generally that cordylines cope with it but the leaves can look a little battered at times. Also got escallonia which is fast growing and copes really well with shade and looks lovely all year round.
|
|
|
|
Post by Weeterrier on Feb 15, 2008 9:47:39 GMT
I believe Escallonia makes a good hedge ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2008 18:33:47 GMT
Have googled campanulas & Escallonia so far, both would make very pretty additions & look that they may fit in quite well in my garden. I do love the ornamental grasses I already have so a couple of cordylines would fit in nicely too.. Going to have a look in to this alpine option. I have small area where this may work. Thanks. ;D The sunny weather & appearance of bulbs is getting me back in to the swing again!
|
|
|
|
Post by Weeterrier on Feb 16, 2008 10:50:27 GMT
Look at the alpine Phlox, Dianthus deltoides, Parahebe, ground hugging Campanula, Aubretia, Gentian, Iberis, Pulsatilla, Viola cornuta, Salix helvetica, small Geraniums, small Aquilegia, Veronica prostrata, Lithodora, and there are masses more.
None of these are tiny, and most will spread to the size of a dinner plate. Trouble free and masses of colour.
Also there are tiny narcissus and Iris that look great too in a rock garden.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2008 17:16:29 GMT
My job requires me to drive round lots of farms etc & inspect them I was at one today much further north than me with these beautiful shrubs with pale pink, white & dark pink berries on them, I did enquire as to what they were the owner is certain they are escallonia, if so they are definetely for me! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Shrubrose on Feb 20, 2008 8:13:34 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Weeterrier on Feb 22, 2008 0:00:22 GMT
My job requires me to drive round lots of farms etc & inspect them I was at one today much further north than me with these beautiful shrubs with pale pink, white & dark pink berries on them, I did enquire as to what they were the owner is certain they are escallonia, if so they are definetely for me! ;D Genie, that sounds more like Pernettya to me. For berries, you need different sexes of plant, though both are usually available together, so not usually a problem. Although the berries are attractive, to my mind, the Escallonia is the better plant. But perhaps that is just me. |
|
|
|
Post by farmersboy on Feb 22, 2008 6:39:24 GMT
My job requires me to drive round lots of farms etc & inspect them I was at one today much further north than me with these beautiful shrubs with pale pink, white & dark pink berries on them, I did enquire as to what they were the owner is certain they are escallonia, if so they are definetely for me! ;D Hi Genie,Sounds a great job you have,id be interested to know what exactly you inspect on the farms. |
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Feb 22, 2008 8:14:14 GMT
Careful where you plant the Cordyline - look at JennyWrenn's Garden in Garden Gallery - mine is only about 14 years old and almost as tall as the house - I actually regret buying it - it looks out of place with everything else  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2008 19:21:21 GMT
My job requires me to drive round lots of farms etc & inspect them I was at one today much further north than me with these beautiful shrubs with pale pink, white & dark pink berries on them, I did enquire as to what they were the owner is certain they are escallonia, if so they are definetely for me! ;D Hi Genie,Sounds a great job you have,id be interested to know what exactly you inspect on the farms. Em um! Am frightened to say incase I get linched! LOL But seriously I inspect hen laying farm sites, packing centres & wholesalers of eggs for the Scottish Government. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2008 19:32:49 GMT
My job requires me to drive round lots of farms etc & inspect them I was at one today much further north than me with these beautiful shrubs with pale pink, white & dark pink berries on them, I did enquire as to what they were the owner is certain they are escallonia, if so they are definetely for me! ;D Genie, that sounds more like Pernettya to me. For berries, you need different sexes of plant, though both are usually available together, so not usually a problem. Although the berries are attractive, to my mind, the Escallonia is the better plant. But perhaps that is just me. Ooooooh!!!!!! That's them! thats them! Your a wee gem! May get both, I see that those Pernettya are sold in groups on a website I was on. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2008 19:38:36 GMT
Careful where you plant the Cordyline - look at JennyWrenn's Garden in Garden Gallery - mine is only about 14 years old and almost as tall as the house - I actually regret buying it - it looks out of place with everything else Oh dear I had no idea they would grow to that size, my garden is small so possibly not the way to go. Tanks for the heads up on that. I have not really looked at the gardens on here. Jenny your garden is really nice! |
|
|
|
Post by farmersboy on Feb 22, 2008 20:04:13 GMT
Hi Genie,Sounds a great job you have,id be interested to know what exactly you inspect on the farms. Em um! Am frightened to say incase I get linched! LOL But seriously I inspect hen laying farm sites, packing centres & wholesalers of eggs for the Scottish Government. I wont tell anyone if you wont. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2008 20:18:14 GMT
Em um! Am frightened to say incase I get linched! LOL But seriously I inspect hen laying farm sites, packing centres & wholesalers of eggs for the Scottish Government. I wont tell anyone if you wont. ;D TA MUCHLY! LOL ;D |
|
