How to transform a small bare spot

[SconNotScone]

I wondered if anyone can help please? I have a small spot at the front of the house, it’s triangular in shape, gets a decent amount of sun during the day, but isn’t a real hot spot. Currently it is a patch of mud, and I would like to plant it up, but I really don’t know what to put in. Pic is attached. It is about 170cm across.

I have a neighbour who has grown a large number of plants and is selling them off this weekend... I know that she has loads of hostas, hardy fuchsias, penstemons and antirhinnum, plus some other stuff which I don’t know about yet. I am very happy to pick up some bits in a garden centre also.

Can anyone suggest a plan and layout that may work for me? I had wondered about putting some trellis below the window and having something climbing at the back, but not sure if it will look weird being wide rather than tall. Any guidance welcome, please and thank you!

I'd start by looking at loads of gardens nearby/ books/pictures/Instagram etc so you have a feel for the look you'd like, there's so much potential but if best if you've got an idea for the style you'd like & then go for the planting. If you take a good look at nearby gardens you'll get to know the plants that grow easily in your area and that can help success rate. Try and find a garden area you like the look of and then select the plants to help recreate it. You may need to change a few to suit your specific conditions but it should be possible to keep to the overall look.

I hope you'll post a photo again when it's done.

It depends on whether you want plants that are low maintenance and if you want year round greenery. For an easy life you could put some hebes or similar in with a selection of autumn & spring bulbs. Honeysuckle or jasmine would be lovely climbers, our neighbour has a beautiful clematis, if you wanted a trellis but would you want bees potentially around an open window?

First of all I’d improve the soil by digging in some compost or soil improver. Easily bought at garden centres, one 50L bag will do.
Think about structure as it’s not a huge bed, you may want to draw a plan and then put in something evergreen, such as a slow growing small fir or hebe and then surround it with smaller plants.
Your neighbour appears to have green fingers and might be able to advise you about the suitability of what they are selling.
Spring bulbs, planted in the Autumn is a very good idea.

Morning all, thanks for the input so far.

@Beebumble2 I will definitely work on the soil. It’s not looking great at the moment, it has literally just been covered with bark for the past couple of years, so know it needs some TLC! Both you and @Polkadotdelight mentioned hebes, which is a great idea. I love hebes, I have a beautiful flowering one in the back garden, and you have reminded me that I would love another one (or more). The one I already have is a fairly small one, and shouldn’t get any bigger than about 50x50cm. Would it perhaps be worth putting in more than one (different, small varieties), and then dotting in some summer flowering perennials, plus putting in spring bulbs in the autumn?

@Polkadotdelight I am going off the idea of a trellis actually, although bees by the window not a problem, as it doesn’t open! But I think it might look odd being wide rather than tall.

@Timesdone thank you for the tips. My problem is that I can sort of envision what I want it to look like, but I am terrible at knowing how I can bring it to life. I also like instant gratification, but as I spend more time getting to know my back garden, I am beginning to get better at waiting for things to emerge and look lovely!

Do hostas get massive in the ground? I really like the look of them, and know that if they are in pots you can contain the size. Would a hosta look strange alongside hebes?

Some lavender or Heather mixed in might be nice too?

Hostas come in a variety of sizes, but they do like to be in semi shade and protected against slugs, so a bit of work unless you have the right spot.
Bedding plants like Coleus give an interesting leave look for the summer, also Heuchera are a great plant for interesting texture.

*leaf.

@Beebumble2 you reminded me that I saw some heuceras the other day and really liked them!

So I bit the bullet and went to the garden centre today, and just picked some things I liked the look of. I have come away with two hebes (Golden Sunrise and True Love, which will eventually reach 50x50cm and 60x60cm respectively). Also three heuchera (can’t remember varieties without going outside to check, but the dark one at the back could eventually reach 70x70cm, and the green one and the yellowy one will be 40x40cm). Finally my daughter has wanted lavender for ages, so decided to just go ahead and get a couple of those. I have laid it all out, not necessarily where it will eventually end up, but just to see how it looks in the space at the moment. Obviously I need to leave room for spreading, but I think I need to fill some gaps? So I’m thinking some penstemons towards the back somewhere (do you plant these individually, or in clusters?). On Sunday my friend is giving me as many antirhinnum as I can carry, and on Monday my dad is giving me some small Lupin plants, so perhaps small clusters of antirhinnum dotted in gaps at the front, and Lupins in towards the back? I’m still not opposed to the idea of a hosta if anyone thinks it’s worth it!

If anyone would care to take a look at what I already have, a look at what I’ll be acquiring in coming days, and then tell me exactly what to place where, I would love you forever! Otherwise I’m winging it!

I’d move the hebe towards the back, swap them with the lavender, as they eventually get quite large.
The Penstemons and Lupins can also go towards the back. I plant penstemons as individuals, you can prune them early spring and they’ll bush out.
Withe annual antirhinnums you’ll probably have enough.

Finally got everything planted up this afternoon! Thank you to those who contributed, it was really helpful! I also bought a hibiscus and put that in at the back. I know over time I’m going to need to prune things to keep neat and under control, and I can always move some bits and bobs in the future if it gets a bit much.

@Timesdone you asked for a photo, here we go!

That looks lovely. I have a largish raised bed with some plants and herbs in it but also an awful lot of horrid long grass ( new house) and I haven’t a clue what to do with it.

It looks really great already! Post a progress pic when it has all filled out too!

Looks really lovely. It will fill out in no time. I look forward to seeing it in a couple of weeks time.

I’d put a trellis up the wall to the left and plant an evergreen small is clematis (not a Montana!}. I think that would finish it off perfectly. Height is great in gardens.

Not left side...right side where the black pipe is.

We had a similar spot, and went for bee-friendly, drought-friendly and low maintenance. So lavender, rosemary and similar. We planted through weed control fabric but it can't be seen now the plants are bigger. It takes v little looking after.

I was so happy the other day as I overheard a toddler from up the way was calling it the bee garden

Have seen your after picture, it looks much nicer already, and will be great when it fills out.

Doing something like this will give you a lift every time you see it.

Thanks for all the lovely comments, I will definitely post a picture in a couple of weeks, and as time goes on (if I remember!). I keep going outside to take a look at it!

@DangerCake I did consider a clematis! I will see how it all progresses, and will keep it in mind.

OP it looks great, what a quick transformation. I love the variety of colour. It should fill out by August and look like it's been there forever. Do post up an update when you can.