Ideas for a total blank canvas?

[Moonkin123]

Here's a picture of what we're working with, there is a border at the back around a foot and a half depth, very long and we'd love something to screen out the back neighbours and add some colour and different heights, and be child freindly. There's also a thick border going along the wall from the end of the steps across, the rest will be turfed in two weeks.

I've been to 3 garden centres and nurseries today and like the look of clematis and climbing roses, are they much maintenance? Assuming they'll be slow going to cover the back fence, and will I need a trellis?

Sorry I'm a complete newbie at this and feel so out of my depth! What would more experienced gardeners do with this space?

Just to add, the children are desperate for a cherry tree, apple tree and strawberry plants, would they be suitable for the back border with climbing plants or would that be too much in that space?

The clematis and rose would work well together, it’s a classic combination and if you carefully chose the colour of each, could look spectacular. My favourites are yellow roses and rich purple clematis.
Both will need some support, so a trellis is a good idea. We put wire along fixed at each fence post.
You haven’t said where the sun falls throughout the day. This will affect where you plant things.
Small stock fruit trees would be the way to go, the nursery/ garden centre would advise you. Strawberries a definite yes. Have fun.

Which direction does the back of your house face?

Instead of climbing plants like roses and clematis I would instead do fan trained fruit trees, they don’t take up much room at all and are very easy to care for.

‘Stella’ cherry is a nice sweet cherry tree variety and self fertile so you only need one (most cherry trees need other cherry trees to make fruit but self fertile trees you only need one)

Make sure any fruit tree us a self fertile variety and pick apple varieties that are ‘spur bearing’.

Then around the fan fruit trees I would have some nice small, fragrant rose bushes and tall airy flowers like cornflowers and cosmos.

Then I would put everbearing strawberry plants in front.

Picture of a fan trained tree

Thank you so much for the advice and suggestions, off to google them all. I wasn't aware you could fan a tree like that, we have some space to the side of the steps near the patio I think would work well, ds loves cherries so definitely interested in doing that.

Not 100% on the aspect but the left half of the garden gets full sun for most of the day in winter and the entire garden gets full sun all day with the shade creeping up to the border around 5/6pm in spring/summer.

Dd was quite taken with the pink roses we saw, any suggestions for the clematis? Maybe white or would that be a bit boring? Also is it too late to plant this year or should I just keep everything watered morning and night? Thanks again!

I think you’re on the right track to cover and break up the heavy horizontal lines of the fence with a mix of climbers and an espalier tree.

I agree with a white clematis but then I like muted colour schemes (eg pink and white as you said). Clematis armandii has small frothy white flowers and is evergreen.

For underplanting, you could try this design from https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/garden-design-traditional-garden-chicago-phvw-vp~988515?irs=US (see photo)

“Key design features:

• Restraint in both color and plants
• Repetition of colors and plants down the entire border
• Gaining height by using the fence to support climbing roses

Color notes:

• A restrained palette of pink and blue is accented with chartreuse
• The deeper shades of purple provide depth, ensuring that this combination will still turn heads even in late summer

Plant selection:

• Climbing 'Mary Rose' provides height and fragrance
• Billowing mounds of golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea') and May Night salvia (Salvia nemorosa 'May Night') form the lower tier
• These perennials are tolerant of low water, poor soil and hot sun.”

Another small salvia you can use is Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue bouquetta’. I have it and it has lots of intense purple flowers that will continue blooming for a long time as long as you remove the faded ones (on YouTube look for tutorials on deadheading salvias, it’s pretty easy).

https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/garden-design-traditional-garden-chicago-phvw-vp~988515?irs=US

Areas next to fences tend to be dry due to rain shadow, so plants that like dry, sunny conditions will work.

That said, one thing to think about (if you haven’t done already) is to improve the soil at the foot of the walls and fences before planting, especially where the espalier tree will go, by adding well-rotted manure or garden compost.

For ideas for the thick border, try going to https://www.crocus.co.uk/ready-made-borders/ and under ‘Aspect’, select the ones with ‘sun’ in them.

For example something like: https://www.crocus.co.uk/bomcard/_/ready-made-border/sun-lovers/classid.2000009673/#prettyPhoto (see photo)

Maybe add some grit/gravel if you are using lavender as they will appreciate good drainage.

You should be able to plant things now as long as you're prepared to water them regularly. We planted up our garden in June last year. Things like lavender and salvia, although drought tolerant, will need water to support them while they establish themselves. A moisture meter is cheap and handy for checking when you need to water.

CAn I suggest you double the depth of the border. It’s not deep enough and you and the plants will outgrow it.