Crap gardener needs help

[compo]

After living in our house for three years we've just cleared out a load of weeds, brambles, six foot high elderflower bushes ( you get the idea)
so now I want to plant some things to stop weeds coming up and taking over
they need to be low maintenance
greenery so last all year as well as some flowers too
what do you experts recommend?
We've got daffodils and what I think is one tulip
the rest is bushes ( don't know what kind)
a fern I think although it's very brown
and a sorry looking rose bush

How about a Red Robin shrub (photina), they are evergreen and the red foliage is absolutely wonderful. Box (buxus sempervirens) are low maintenance and evergreen, a quick snip once a year and they really do look after themselves. Heuchera is available in a multitude of foliage colours, it's also evergreen, and looks lovely at the front of borders. I'd dot some spring and summer flowering bulbs here and there too, snow drops, tulips, alliums and dahlia's perhaps.
You could also have some herbs, rosemary and sage (both evergreen), and perhaps you could grow some strawberries and some other fruit and vegetables too

A lot depends on the aspect - is it shady, is it full sun. Also, what sort of soil? Is it wet? What do other people grow in their gardens sucessfully nearby (in fact, that is often the best option - if you choose things you've seen growing sucessfully nearby, they are likely to like the conditions).

Herbs are great - however, if you have clay, you'll not be able to grow things like rosemary and thyme in the ground - they'll have to be in pots (I know this, I have a clay soil and they just rot)(as does lavendar) - but damp loving things grow well - and we seem to do well for the perenial geraniums that I would not be without.

what about a tree - they always benefit a garden (in my mind) - choose for the soil and situation again - and don't choose a big variety if its only a small garden, or a dense one if its going to cast shadows on things you don't want heavily shaded.

Sorry, more questions than answers really.

If in doubt, plant a (perennial) geranium. They are great for ground cover.

I've got heavy clay soil and my rosemary, sage, lavender, thyme and camomile are absolutely thriving

Phlox are lovely in borders too, and the more trees the merrier I say!

Ooh
this is fab
we've got one tree - a minature weeping willow which seems to be doing well
notsure what the plants in next doors garden are called but they are keen retired gardeners

Is next week a good time to plant these things mentioned? Or would a frost kill them off?

Definitely agree with Red Robin and Box - we have both, and they're glorious.

Hebes are also lovely....I am a huge fan of hebes...have loads of them, all different varieties, either planted in borders or in stone pots on terrace/decking areas etc...they complement other plants well and I've found them to be pretty low maintenance too.

Thanks dietcoke

another daft question

when I go and buy these things do I need to come home and plant themstraight away or do you leave them in the garden for a couple of days before you have time?

Also does anyone order plants off the Internet and any good site recommendations ?

melina - I have a heavy clay soil - I have broken 3 forks so far (and am now canny to the problem and attack very carefully) thymes, sage, rosemary, lavendar - all the things that like dryer conditions fail miserably because their roots are just too wet all winter - standing water in the edge of the border rings etc.

Compo - if your next door neighbours are keen gardeners, that's a really good way to go - ask for some advice - I'm pretty sure they'll probably give you some bits and pieces too (if you're nice neighbours anyway!). They will also be able to advise you on the best and or the least expensive local nurseries. Companies such as Suttons and Thompson and Morgan tend to have things like 'perenial collections' or 'shrub collections' that you might want to keep an eye on - until they come down to a reasonable price. However, normally best to find a local nursery that's down to earth rather than one of the larger companies - and you'll probably get what you want more cheaply that way.

Thanks mistlethrush

3 forks ..ekk! Perhaps mine's not so much on the heavy side

^Yes excellent point mistle, stay well away from 'The Garden Centre Group' formerly Wyevale, I went to my local nursery this mroning and saved a heck of a lot of money, and the plants were much healthier too! ...plus the staff are always happy to advise/help you, whereas I'm usually confronted with zombified teenagers at the other place

I normally worth on the basis of having about 2 weeks per year I can do any work on my front garden as the clay is so heavy and the top soil so thin on top - before the week its just too wet, really difficult to do anything, none of the soil comes of the weeds etc - after that week I can't actually get the fork in the soil its too hard. I dug a bog garden to help with drainage in the back garden - I put the soil into a raised bed - I picked it out of the wheelbarrow in the cubes it came out of the lawn in, and packed it in the raised bed like that. luckily with compost (lots) and lime its now really quite good - and because its clay based its actually ideal for a raised bed because it doesn't lose the water too quickly!