Help with plant choices

[ilkleymoorbartat]

We've just cleared the front garden which was previously covered in weeds. We're left with this and we're planning on covering the bricks with a membrane and then gravel.

There are two small areas, one with a fuchsia (which I really don’t love), and one with a red rose and some weeds (which I really don’t love).

I want to replant these areas possibly with big shrub / small tree surrounded by flowers? Or just flowers and small shrubs?

can anyone help with some options? I think it’s East facing and gets morning light.

Thank you!

Trees you could have an weeping Japanese maple? Crab apple? Both would be lovely with flowers underneath. Or corkscrew hazel? We had one of these at our old house and it used to look amazing at Christmas with lights on it.

Shrubs / plants you could have hydrangeas, sweetbox, forsythia, Pittosporum, Pieris japonica or lavender?

Why are you covering the bricks - they look nice?

Well we might not definitely cover the bricks, but the house is red and the bricks are red and it's all a bit...red. Also we thought gravel was good anti burglary device

I’d leave the bricks and plant evergreens in pots. Put an acer in the middle or a small blossom tree, prunus brilliant or a weeping crab apple. Remember to feed and water everything.

Those beds are not very big so I would only out one tree or shrub in each and then underplant with a perennial once they have established a bit. Then add some pots with other stuff in. Gravel will be a very nice cat toilet.

Oh no, we have a cat. Stupidly never thought about that, thank you!

I was also wondering if we could take a few bricks up from around the edge to do some planting around there?

Would larger pebbles have the same litter tray effect?

Please don’t cover up the bricks, especially not with gravel. The bricks are a lovely colour and will really set off a lot of plants. I would love to see some ladies mantle, maybe a red tinged euphorbia, some sprawling cat mint , penstemon, geraniums ( the herbaceous kind), salvias. If you wanted a shrub or tree in the middle of one of the beds as a focus then a Stellata magnolia wouldn’t grow too large , or a twisted hazel, or a fig. If you decided against a tree then I have seen a lovely garden with similar brick where they had splashed out on a huge (and very very expensive ) pot , nothing planted in it, just a stunning focal point. Or buy one of those very tall obelisks and grow a climber up it. So many lovely possibilities!

The bricks are beautiful and would look lovely power washed. Gravel is a pain in the arse, and walks into the house, into the road on the paths and everywhere else. looks boring too.

So I would choose some flowing plants that would contrast well with the red bricks.

I agree, i think the bricks look good and covering them would be a mistake. Also be careful of power/ pressure washing the bricks, you could loosen the grout or whatever is between them and damage them.
Look at what is growing well in your neighbours front gardens for ideas

I wouldn’t power wash the bricks! I like that patina they have, as long as they aren’t too slippery with any algae I would leave that nicely aged look.

When you say take up bricks round the edge do you mean near the hedge? Hedges suck lots of water up so it will be difficult to plant down the side of them unless you have quite a deep border. at least 1m preferably 1.5m.

Yes that's what I meant @Geneticsbunny
Or even just closer to the path. This is all really helpful, as you can tell i know nothing at all super helpful!

Interesting everyone is saying leave the bricks. These were the reference pics I liked for the gravel ideas. Just feel like it might make it a bit smarter. The bricks are so muddy with weeds growing through.

Just so you know weeds will still self-seed into the top of gravel so i would stick with the bricks.

Another vote for keeping the bricks. You could break it up a bit with some pots, maybe a bird table / bird bath?