Garden planting and lighting advice

[HazyDaisy123456]

We are just getting a new patio laid with two planters (only one visible from photo). Any tips for what plants/small bushes to plant in the planters for year round greenery that require minimum attention. We also fancied some outdoor lights any recommendations for these too.

Anyone?

year round green = box or holly but they are dull & need regular pruning. Sarcococca is also good - has scented flowers in winter.

I'd put in 3 things with different seasons of interest, maybe hellebore + evergreen ferns for winter + hardy fuschia for summer. And a clematis or rose at the end to grow up that fence.

no recommendations for lighting because I spent a long time ripping out all the horrible lighting in my garden - it kept breaking & was expensive to fix.

Can I vote against garden lighting, or at least ask you to turn it off at bedtime?
Light pollution is not only a nuisance to neighbours, shining in their bedroom windows, it also adversely affects roosting birds and wildlife.

Thanks I will look into the plants suggested @parietal.

If we had lighting on it would only be fairly dim and only very occasionally if entertaining. We only have the high fence one side with our adjoining neighbours. The fence at the other side is much smaller and lower. Incidentally both our neighbours have annoying lights almost like flood lights (which annoy and disrupt teen DD). So I don’t feel any dimmer much more discreet lights on very occasionally would he disturbing them. But I take your points about disturbing wildlife.

Regarding lighting - I bought these solar powered lights last year and the patterns they make are really lovely. I would say they are very subtle 'mood' style lights with a nice warm tone. They certainly wouldn't be bright enough for neighbours to want to complain about them. I've moved them around the garden since these photos were taken, but you get the idea:-

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B082YNSP59/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

Thank you they look absolutely perfect. I will order some of those. Never having used solar lights or any garden lights would I be best putting them in maybe the planters so DH doesn’t get annoyed with any wires in the lawn. Thanks so much.

@HazyDaisy123456 they don't have any wires, you just push the long stem into the ground or a planter. Just make sure they're in a sunny spot - the fence in my photo is north-facing so I found that they weren't charging up enough. Now that I've moved them into sunnier positions, they usually stay on all night if it's been sunny, until early daylight makes them turn off each morning. Have fun with them!

Thanks

Anymore advice as I am unsure how many plants we need/how close together to plant them etc? I like the idea of a slightly taller one at either end (near one planter we have the fairly high 6ft fence and the other side is a much lower fence). We like our neighbours but at times he is a bit too chatty and I feel overlooked and it gets commented on if I try to enjoy a coffee or a glass of wine at my outside table and chairs which is wrought iron (to give you an idea of other furniture etc).