Never lifted a green finger

[GraysAnalogy]

Ive just moved into a new house and we now have a beautiful turfed front garden and the landlord has give us some beautiful large floor plant plots, as well as those trellis things.

My question is, what do I plant? Can I even plant at this time of year? What plants are climbers? What tools do I need, is there any special soil?

As you can see I have no idea what I'm doinf. Unfortunately my great nana passed away before she got to pass down her amazing gardening skills! Any help would be appreciated.

Where to start...

If you want some colour now, go to a garden centre and have a look at bedding plants - winter flowering pansies, primulas etc. Then in summer you can replace them with summer bedding plants. Care instructions will be on the labels, but fill the pots with multi purpose compost. In summer you can add some water retaining granules and slow release plant food.

As for the trellises, you could put in a small clematis when they come into the garden centres in early summer. This can be left in all year and you can add sweet peas for extra colour, height and smell (just push the seeds into the soil at the right time. Or there are bedding climbers which are more colourful but only last the summer

Or you could go for an evergreen perennial option - not so colourful but you don't have to keep replacing the plants.

You'd be best buying a book and reading up

As for tools - fork and trowel for the moment - and gloves if you feel the need!

You could also look at seeds for the cheaper option and if you have the space/windowsills to grow them and get them started for the summer - just have a look at seed packets

Thankyou so much! I'm going to nip into town and see what I can buy

soil: john innes compost or similar from garden centre

climbers: such as clematis nelly moser or jackmanii or polish spirit: you need to plant a low growing plant with shallow roots at the base of the clematis to shade its roots: pinks or petunias perhaps

lilies eg regale look nice with a little rose

yes to sweet peas and pansies

hostas prefer shade and need watering

you could ask the landlord!

Do you have to keep all the lawn, or could you have a bed in, or around it?

I've copied this from my reply a few 'posts' ago:

www.blackmore-langdon.com/

www.fuchsiaflower.co.uk/index.htm

www.cranesbillnursery.com/

plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Geranium.html

plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Geranium.html