Hardy flowering plants to brighten up my front garden

[Riya011]

Hi all,
I’m an absolute gardening beginner. My front garden looks quite dull. My house is east facing, so we get lots of morning sun. Last year I bought some lavender and also got 2 pots (on either side of the door) with crysanthemums. Half of the lavender saplings died. 2 survived :( Crysanthemums are nearly dead. I trimmed, fertilised and watered them - they still are nearly dead.

Given my sad entry into gardening, please can someone help me feel better this year?

I’m looking for :

1. some bloody hardy plants that can go in the pots on either sides of the door (outside, but shaded). Flowering ones are a bonus.

1. This year I want a flowering riot in my front garden. I’ve zeroed on Marigold. But I live in a tight house without a conservatory. Can I grow saplings from seed in the garage (unheated)?

1. Any other plants that grow quickly from seed to bloom THIS season and are reasonably hardy?

1. My soil is perhaps quite old and tired too. Would putting a layer of compost make it fertile?

Many thanks :)

I’d love to make my own compost. My mum still makes it :) unfortunately, time is tight so I keep postponing the idea

Any hedging plants that grow like crazy?

Lidl is another good source for cheap seeds and (sometimes) plants.

Where do you want to plant the hedge? Photinia Red Robin grows quite fast and privet will match the house if it’s Victorian. Box makes a lovely low hedge but can be prone to disease. Hedging plants are often quite cheap if you bulk buy small plants from the specialist nurseries which advertise in the back of gardening magazines, although then (obviously) you have to wait for them to grow.

Photinia Red Robin is stunning!!

Wilko has great plants at the moment. They have a pyracantha or a Photinia for £3, and plenty of climbers including an RHS MErit climbing hydrangea, Passion flower, clematis, solanum (white or purple) honeysuckle. Absolute bargains for £3 each. They also have decent sized pots of campanula for £3 each which would suit you.

Wilko also has cheap bulbs which can be planted direct now. Lots of summer flowering ones like lilies, agapanthus, lily of the valley, anenome, dahlias, loads more.

Tesco has a flowering cherry bush for £8. Waitrose has hebe burgundy bush for £8 which is very reliable.

Go to Lidl as they have lots of seeds .29 or 5 for £1.00 and I bought Nasturtium from them for .20 a package with about 30 in each pack.

Cosmos are extremely hardy and tall annuals with brilliant blooms in all kinds of colours such as the Klondyke orange & yellow, sea shell cosmos, whites, pinks and so on. Foxgloves are easy and cheap and long lasting flowers. Hollyhocks are easy and dramatic impact. I never hesitate to ask a friend or neighbor if I can take a cutting off a plant I like.

Hydrangeas are no fuss, fantastic shrubs that are extremely hardy and easy to grow. I would suggest a mixture of a few shrubs or roses and annuals and perennials so that you can have year round colour in your garden.

Go to Wilko for bargains on Dahlia tubers and Begonias instead of buying baskets or ready made containers. Lidl also has bargain bulbs and a great selection. Dahlias 3 tubers for £3 at Lidl right now.

Poundland have fantastic plants and shrubs for £1.00 as well as bulb packs.