Could a complete beginner make/plant a border?

[DonnyAndVladSittingInATree]

I don’t grow anything My back garden is all paved and the front is just a small lawn. There is a very low (about 6-8 inches high) boundary fence between my house and next door. I would like to plant a border along it. I would love roses but I have no idea if that is very ambitious of me or even if the area is ok for roses. It is south facing and gets sun all day long. Could I have roses? What could I have with them? If anyone could point me in the direction of a good (step by step) guide that would be very helpful. Is it very hard to dig a border in the first place? TIA.

[Ffsnothingworks]

I always wait to be able to smell the scent of the roses before I buy, but that is just personal taste! My parents had an amazing climbing rose in one of their gardens. It is a pale pink called Albertine. I can't describe the scent, but just amazing. A clematis climbing up through a rose either before or after flowering looks fab.

[MrsBertBibby]

Chive/poppy combo from last spring.

[MrsBertBibby]

Aliums are wonderful, and great for bees. Get some chives too, easy as anything and lovely snipped into salads or, well anything really. All pretty indestructible. You could add some other herbs: marjoram is very easy and tastes great. Sage is a bit of a thug, and mint will invade everything.

For shrubs if you want height, potentilla are great long flowerers and love sun. Also really easy care.

Annuals tend to be slug fodder, but snapdragons don't seem to appeal to the slimy bastards at all, so I always have those: I grow them from seed, there are some lovely varieties, but they are easy to get in strips from shops,

Poppies are great too, I have a lovely yellow Welsh poppy next to my chives, they are stunning together.

Have fun with it!

[Doctordonowt]

Definitely the right time for bare root roses

[MikeUniformMike]

As long as the ground isn't frozen. You can add well-rotted farm or horse manure if you have any. The bin-liner type cover will warm the soil a bit for when you want to sow, but you could cover it with weighted down cardboard or newspaper, which you could then dig in if it's quite rotted, or use old carpet or something. If you leave soil exposed, it will be kittykrap korner.

[DonnyAndVladSittingInATree]

BTW is now the right time to dig the bed? And then cover it with black polythene for a while?

[DonnyAndVladSittingInATree]

Oh no, this is all good mike, much appreciated. I definitely would love to see some birds and butterflies in the garden. We get little chaffinches and robins in the back garden. I’m actually terrified of them but they’re nice to look at.

I’m getting very excited thinking of all these lovely plants.

[MikeUniformMike]

There's no shutting me up today is there. It might be an old wives tale, but alliums near roses seem to work.

[MikeUniformMike]

Birds, bees and butterflies in the garden are wonderful.
Another plant - alpine strawberries. It should be a good time to sow them. I'd definitely recommend cottage garden type flowers for attracting bees and butterflies. The birds seem to like the honeysuckle - another cheap and cheerful plant with scented flowers.

[retirednow]

Also think about if you want to attract the birds, bees and butterflies into your garden and they love some plants and shrubs.

[MikeUniformMike]

You're welcome. How about some lavender and rosemary? Sage and mint are good too but they can spread. Do your bit for the bees.
I would have a look in the library for books, but you can also look at magazines. There's one for about £2 that comes out every fortnight with a couple of packets of seeds on the front that's not bad.

[Iamnotacerealkiller]

I am a plant killer. You have to accept a certain amount off loss with gardening so I usually buy lots of hardy anuals. Salvia are particularity good value and flower for ages. I'm sure there will be some roses that will work for you. They are not always the prim and proper plant. Why not try a hardy climber or wild rose. If you buy a wide selection you will see which ones are most successful in your plot and soil type and learn over time. It great fun. I'm waiting for spring to plant up our recently competed beds.

Personally I avoid roses as they don't like company. Need space and mulch etc. I do have some lovely ramblers though which look more cottagy. Go for it!!!

[retirednow]

It's called big dreams small spaces, yep it's on bbc2. You will need a higher fence, trellis or some sort of support if you want climbing plants.

[DonnyAndVladSittingInATree]

Thanks mike

[MikeUniformMike]

BBC2 on Fridays, I think. Monty isn't the most knowledgeable gardener - I think he's a self-taught one, but his garden looks and dogs look nice.
GQT on Radio 4 is good.

[DonnyAndVladSittingInATree]

I don’t retired what channel is it on? I might find it on catch up

[retirednow]

Do you watch the new Monty don gardening series, there was one last week about rose gardens.

[MikeUniformMike]

For scent, how about night scented stocks, and sweet peas.

[MikeUniformMike]

Wilko seeds are great and really good value. Yes to climbing nasturtiums too. If you fancy daffodils and tulips, wait until the autumn, but you can buy things 'in the green' to plant now.
I think that red roses have the best scent but it should say on the packaging if they are scented.
I wouldn't plant forsythia, but I'd go for winter jasmine instead. Both get a bit vigorous after a few years but are almost foolproof. I probably would just stick to roses where shrubs are concerned. Look for repeat flowering ones.

If you are digging the border now, cover with black polythene to warm the soil and to prevent it being a cat's toilet.

[XmasInTintagel]

I def think you can OP. There are no courses on 'Border Creation', so everyone who makes a garden with borders has been a beginner at it, at some point.

[Doctordonowt]

Planting along a fence is very easy. The main thing to remember is that soil near the fence ver dry and usually poor. Dig the trench much wider than you think. When you plant your roses or other climbers dig in some compost and don’t plant too close to the fence. Plants need some air to circulate around them. Newly planted things will need plenty of water in the first year. If you are unable to water as often as necessary cover the soil with ornamental bark. This stops evaporation and will also break down and be taken into,the soil as nourishment.

I like David Austen Roses. Even though they are a bit more expensive, they save money in the long run. You need less of them to cover a wall. They are well established with good root systems when sent out and will cover your fence quickly, they have a very helpful phone service and after sales guarantee. I don’t bother with their stuff they try to sell you, the granules etc. I give mine a to tomato feed in the summer.

Climbing roses will go straight up, rambling roses will travel along the fence, and bush roses will be form a bush.

I would add in a coulple of summer Jasmine as they will cover the fence when the roses are bare, and give a wonderful sent.

Other good border plants are, Weigelia, Philadelphus and forsythia. Dead easy to grow and will give you lots of colour all year. If budget is an issue, climbing nasturtiums are great. They thrive in poor soil and neglect.

Have a look at Wilko. I bought loads of plants last year from them and they were amazing.

[DonnyAndVladSittingInATree]

It comes up to my front door so something scented would be lovely.

[PrivateParkin]

Agree re the crocus site - I used their ready made border page when digging out our border (previously a massive pile of broken bricks and rocks in the back garden) and it was really helpful - except I just wanted to buy everything! I used a book called The Virgin Gardener as well which was quite good. If it's near your front door, what about something scented, so you get a nice whiff every time you step outside (and come home)? Salvia (sage) is dead easy to grow, pretty hardy and smells lovely. If it's in the shade, virburnum (sp?!) is beautiful and smells lovely too.

[MikeUniformMike]

Roses are really easy. You can get them in places like pound shops.
You dig a hole about 1.5 times bigger than the root ball , put the root of the plant in water for 1 hr, then pop the root into the hole. Water the root and fill the rest of the hole with the soil.
Annuals are really easy - buy bedding plants and plant them.
Perennials and biennials are also fine.
You can also sow things like herbs and veg in a border. Some are pretty or decorative too (e.g. swiss chard bright light, kale, bronze fennel)
Look on RHS website or search for more info.
Good luck.

Generally, plants from pound shops are cheap ones that are indestructible.

[DonnyAndVladSittingInATree]

It’s the front garden. Thanks for that retired