Help for rubbish gardener

[ceecee32]

Hi, I have been ill for the last 3 years. Last summer was the first time that I was well enough to sit outside.
I paid someone to fill pots for me but apart from freesia I have no idea what the others were but I had flowers most of the summer.
I am thinking of replanting them myself but no idea what to get. Complication is that I am going to have to order online as I can't walk far to get round a garden centre.
Can you wonderful people give me some idea of what I should get.

Also I have 2 cordyline plants. One seems to have survived and the other has gone really flat - not sure if it will recover in some sunshine or not.
Thank you

Sorry to hear you haven’t been well OP.

For filling your pots it really depends what kind of plants you like and the look you’re going for.

If it were me I would focus mostly on long flowering perennials (plants that die back in winter and come back next year.) Good options that will give you months of colour would be geranium, mexican fleabane and lobelia. Add a bit of height to your pots with verbena bonariensis and agapanthus. If you want some nice foliage plants to contrast with the flowers add some heuchera and phormium.

Ordering online shouldn’t be a problem. I’m not sure where you are based but Hayloft deliver throughout the U.K. and NI. Sorry I can’t make more recommendations as I’m based in NI.

How many pots have you got OP? How big are they? Are they in sun or shade?

If you decide on a specific plant The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) may have an article about it that'll give you information on its care and growing conditions. They often have links to nurseries that sell that specific plant.

There are lots of garden centres and nurseries that sell plants on line.

If you're going to sit near the plants, perhaps something scented might be nice.

Hi thanks for your help.
I've only got about 8 pots, one has an acer in it which they put freesia around the bottom and looked really nice so I'm going to do that again.
One pot has something that flowered last year and has stayed as foliage over winter. That one had some little flowers planted with it.
I'll have a look at your suggestions and the website.
Thanks again

Hi OP, I’m sorry to hear you’ve been unwell and hope you get some useful tips on here.

I’m a beginner / minimal effort gardener myself but I’m married to a professional gardener and have picked up on a few bits over the years.

Don’t worry about your cordylines. They seem to have suffered a badly this winter and a lot have died off. We have several and all have struggled despite protecting them from the elements. Cut back all the dead leaves as they can and do regrow again then perhaps leave it alone this summer and see what happens.

I still find choosing plants overwhelming at times but Ive learned to experiment.
Some of my favourites and easy to keep are - Hebes are a great all year round plant that are cheap and easy. Acers offer fabulous focal point but need protecting in winter and cant stand too much sunlight. Fox gloves are great for a bit of height and good for the bees!

For shopping online I’d suggest you find a local nursery or garden centre that delivers. Or if you’re like me and you like to see pictures and guide to what you’re getting - www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk have a good website and good customer feedback. Or larger centres like Dobbies do click & collect if you want to order and can collect / return if not up to standard.

I hope you really enjoy getting outside this year and that gardening brings you much joy.

If you still feel really nervous about choice, type plants hanging basket into google and you’ll find lots of places selling a selection of plants for hanging baskets, like this one . Some of these would be equally suitable for pots, or the same places may do selections for pots. (Googling plants pots or plants containers doesn’t get you anywhere)

Sorry you’ve been unwell, I hope tending your garden will help the healing process.
The RHS website is very helpful in suggesting plants and how to care for them. It’s lovely to spend some indoor time planning and choosing plants. Crocus is a good website for on line ordering. Don’t forget to get some plant food for the plants in the pots. The Acer will need ericaceous food, all easily got ( and cheaper) from Wilko, they also have on line ordering.
You don’t say how large your pots are, but dahlias and bush roses are lovely in pots and don’t need a great deal of attention.
if you supermarket shop, in the summer, they often have good deals on flowering annual plants.