Plants for lazy and incompetent gardener

[Fortunatepiggy]

Hi

I have some raised beds a rockery and a patch at the front of my garden and some pots. Please could someone advise what I should plant which will look good for longest and with minimal effort on my part. I spent a fortune on plants last year and apart from the hydrangeas they have all died! I've got an azalea but I have read that needs special compost so I'm going to get some of that today at homebase. My cyclamen and clematis are not looking too good. We have clay soil I think. The rockery is in the shade from midday the other area is full sun

Thanks in advance!

[MrsBertBibby]

Potential a love sun, flower from May to October and require little care.

www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-results?form-mode=false&query=potentilla%20fruticosa

[MrsBertBibby]

Stupid phone. Potentilla.

[bookbook]

something bomb proof and pretty how about a Hebe - they are evergreen, come in all sizes and lots of variants of flower, underplant with bulbs - crocus/daffodil etc . Then add some low growing things for winter eg heathers . Cyclamen are usually good too - they may be looking a bit bedraggled now, as they die down and come back in winter
Rockery - look in the alpine section, there are gazillions. I love campanula , aubretia , saxifrage and sedum

[Liara]

Herbs are pretty bomb proof in pots or raised beds. Rosemary, lavender, thyme and bay are unkillable ime.

Erysimum bowles' mauve is pretty bombproof too.

[aircooled]

Geranium macrorrhizum is good bombproof usually evergreen groundcover. Pale or deep pink flowers (now) - bees love it.

[Decorhate]

I also have clay soil & lots of dry shade to contend with.

I am a big fan of hebes too. Flowering evergreen shrubs in general are great for low maintenance gardens. I also like Choisya & ceanothus.

For bedding plants, I find snapdragons very slug resistant & the ones I planted last summer are now nice & tall & are flowering again. Heucheras also grow well for me.

[GingerKitCat]

Lavender in a couple of the pots? Tbh pots in full sun are going to struggle unless you think Mediterranean/ succulents or commit to a regular watering schedule

Are they big pots? The bigger the better to stop them drying out. Plus water retaining crystals/ reservoir. I love colourful annuals in the big pots on my patio but then you need to replant them every year!