Ideas for plants in flower bed

[TyrannoSoreArse]

We live on a corner plot with wibbly flower beds around the side. The largest is 2 metres wide at its furthest point though this one has an enormous cherry tree growing in it with very large roots, so we can't plant anything terribly deeply.

We've recently put a fence up on our dwarf wall which makes the boundary about 5 foot high. We've planted some Clematis at various points and are hoping this will grow up the fence (we have wire) and make it look pretty.

This is the only planting we have done, however, and the rest of the beds are completely bare. Neither DH or I are any good at gardening though I enjoy it more than him; what we need is to put in some plants that will be evergreen, spread out and/or up, and be 'easy' to look after.

Could anyone advise what sort of plants we need to be looking for, and if it's OK to plant them now - I know it's a funny time of year to be doing this. We are completely clueless so will be guided entirely by you!

Now is the time to plant bulbs which will come up in Spring...there's not a lot of flowering stuff that's good for Autumn...maybe some Winter Pansies...but they are best in pots and containers really.

If I were you, I would concentrate on choosing some lovely spring flowering bulbs...tulips, daffodils (though I hate them myself) crocus, Grape Hyacinth, Frittillarias....there are loads if you look in the garden centre and SUpermarket right now.

Read the packs so you know how big they'll grow...

IN Spring you can think about getting some Annuals in....like Hollyhocks and Lupins...also in Spring you can just walk about any good garden centre and buy plugs with Geraniums and other easy, pretty things that are all ready for you to put into hangng baskets and pots...as well as loads of young plants that will flower for Summer.

So for now...look at bulbs that flower in Spring and SUmmer...it seems a long time away but you'll be so glad you did when they pop up.

If you really want some colour now, then get some winter flowering pansies in...they're easy....but they grow low and tight...so they won't give a show as such. which is why they're good in pots.

Sunny? Shady? Check out a book called Right Plant Right Place, really good for first time gardeners.

The biggest effect of the cherry tree will be a drying out of the soil, creating a dry shady area where it is. This won't be so easy to plant but I also would recommend early spring bulbs like crocus and dwarf hyacinth which will make the most of the time before the cherry leafs up.

I think lavender would be a good plant for you as it has a long season of interest. Buy english lavender, don't be tempted by the french or 'bunny eared' varieties as they will not last through the winter. Plant a group of three or more, about eighteen inches apart.

It's a good time of year to get perennials (the top growth dies off in the winter but comes back next spring) cheaply from the garden centre.
Names to look out for are:

Penstemon
Geranium (the hardy kind, not the ones also known as pelargoniums which are grown in containers for the summer)
Heuchera

Best of luck and check back here if you need any more help.

I have also become very fond of Bergenia of late for those dry spots. Look out for varieties such as B. cordifolia 'Wintermaerchen' or 'Purpurea'.

Can't thank you all enough! Went to nursery today and got a load of winter pansies which look absolutely stunning in big pots dotted about the place, I got three different varieties of Heuchera but couldn't find any of the other perenials people have recommended - though did get another three of some different types of perenials whose names I can't remember, but they're lovely and promise to grow nice and big. Also went to Lidl's and for a fiver got the most enormous bag of mixed daffodils and narcisi (sp!) bulbs which I'll put in tomorrow.

for everyone, not used this bit of MN before being a garden pleb but will definitely be back for more tips

Well done OP. Wilcos is good for cheap bulbs too btw

Don't plant the heuchera under the tree, they like a bit of a moist soil.

Am only putting bulbs around the tree, though my mum's advised I need to put them pretty deep as we're surrounded by oak trees filled with squirell families, and she said they like to dig them up and eat them. So will dig down as far as poss.

Will try Wilcos next, would like to get some tulips.

Am starting to get quite into this!

When I put my bulbs in on my front lawn, someone gave me the tip to throw them around so you get a more natural look when they come up. I had to crawl about finding them for a while but they did look good when they came up!

My dad told me to do that too! He said I have to throw them up in the air and plant them exactly where they fall so that it looks natural. Ooooh am very excited! Shame that the garden is going to be looking a bit bleak until Spring but hopefully by then the clematis will be doing something too and it will all look lovely!