Complete gardening virgin begging for help

[Devora]

I can't quite believe I'm visiting this topic. I have been a happy flat-dweller all my life until I moved last year and inherited a 90ft back garden and standard square front garden. Yikes.

The back garden can probably withstand a bit of benign neglect, but the front garden is a mess. The previous occupants completely overplanted and we inherited a jungle. They also ripped down the front fence so the whole mess spills out onto the street.

We have put up a wooden fence and pulled out most of the plants. What we're left with is a square of earth (12ft square?), NE facing, with a dwarf willow (horrible runty thing) in the middle, a holly tree in the corner, and a red-leaved bush thing by the fence alongside the neighbour's. We've also left in a few plants that looked healthy and nice.

When time/money allows, I will get someone in to give us proper advice and help design the front. But right now, I just need to make it look respectable. In particular, I'd like to put something alongside the border of the path, because it's just bare earth. I need something that will grow quickly, need minimum upkeep, preferably have a bit of colour in the summer, and not attract too many bees (because the dc will squeal).

Any advice on what would work? Do I need to plant seeds or get some baby shrubs?

Hi Devora, Unfortunately I don't think you'll find many colourful plants without attracting bees. Maybe consider a little box hedge (buxus sempiverum). Now is the right time to be planting these. Or you could try some ornamental grasses. There are some good gardening blogs out there to get inspiration - I like this one by Stephanie Donaldson - blog.theenduringgardener.com/
perhaps you find some ideas there. Best of luck.

Bless you SS, that's really kind. I'm off to read Stephanie Donaldson right now.

As it's NE facing, I'd go for Bergenia. It's evergreen so is excellent bordering a path like that and flowers beautifully in early spring.

[Scribbling notes furiously in preparation for tomorrow's trip to garden centre.]

Thanks so much! Bergenia looks lovely.

I just discovered a site that offers 'borders on a roll' - basically all your plants and a paper template: idiot-proof! Except that it is expensive, and feels somehow like cheating. I'm going to do it myself, and start learning about these things. I see the front garden as cutting my teeth in preparation for the 90ft at the back...