How do arrange plants in a narrow bed?

[Littlemiss74]

I’m new to gardening & would appreciate some advice please. We have made a bed outside the front of our house under the front window. To keep it in line with our neighbours it is 60cm deep. It’s about 4m long & 1.2m high to the windowsill. There is already an established rose but nothing else.

I was thinking of planting a mix of hebes & lavender but how many should I buy & how should I arrange them? Is it best to alternate them, or group same together? Can I plant under the rose bush otherwise that space will look bare? Is there anything else I could plant that would look good? I really wanted evergreen shrubs but I think many of them would grow to big for the 60cm wide bed..

I think plants grouped together look better than alternated (gives them more impact). For spacing it's best to follow the guidance on the label as different varieties grow to different sizes. It might take a couple of years for everything to spread to full size but you could pick up some bedding plants to fill gaps until everything grows in. I have salvias under my roses and some allium bulbs planted behind. Apparently they help roses with pests and diseases. You'll need to look into which variety to buy to fit the space as they're both so varied.

I think most daphnes are evergreen and smell beautiful. I've never had much luck with lavender, it always goes woody for me.

www.gardenersworld.com/plants/20-spectacular-salvias-to-grow/

www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/alliums-grow-guide/