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!

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

Stupid phone. Potentilla.

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

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.

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

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.

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!