What should I plant here?

[kezzykicks]

We have recently moved to a new house. It is an Edwardian house with a bay window and has a line of soil just under the window before the driveway if that makes sense. There is a climbing rose near the door but other than that there was just some dead flowers and weeds. I'm not a gardener and have no idea what to plant here - what would be suitable and would look nice? Any tips?

It;’s a tough spot - will be in a rain shadow and the walls will add to drying effects. If it faces south it will be baked, if north then shady. So it’s empty for a reason.

I would start with smallish bulbs - as many as you fancy of the littler things like miniature daffodils, crocus. Then add in just one thing across the whole area - id try alchemilla mollis/ladies mantle which is pretty much indestructible and looks lovely. Or some cranesbills.

What is the same spot in your neighbours’ gardens?

Thank you, the neighbours don't have it, they just have driveway. The front of the house faces south west if that helps.

Totally depends on the size of the strip and if you like them (I know some people hate them) but I saw a beautiful Georgian house years ago with a row of callicarpa under the window and thought it was completely magical. Would probably need some watering the first year but I've found mine thrive on neglect. Not very interesting in summer but such a show stopper from autumn to spring.

I have this same set up.
I have daffodils, pelargoniums (aka geranium) and an unhappy fushia.
Although the pelargoniums are not cold hardy, mine survive all but the hardest frost because of the heat from the house. They love the dryness, and are available cheaply as pot plants. In the bed they get big and lots of flowers - I had one that flowers until December last year

Lavender? Rosemary? Or have I overestimated the size of the space?

I have a patch of soil about 2ft deep in front of the bay window. I filled mine with bulbs in October- daffodils, alliums, crocus etc. and added a thick layer of topsoil. There were holly hocks when we moved in this summer which I'm sure will come back up after the bulbs are done (they're from next door).

Then I went to a plant nursery and found some cheap cyclamen so I planted a few of those because it looked bare. Then DH came home with a pack of wild flower seeds so I threw that over it too.

We'll see what happens next year 🤣

I have augustifolia type lavenders in a similar spot and they’ve been going strong for a few years even though it is partly shaded.

I'd plant cotoneaster horizontalis. maybe 3 or 4 of them along the patch. It's a wall shrub and so can withstand a bit of dryness - although do water till established. It has great blossom in spring which attract tons of bees and then nice coloured foliage and bright red berries in autumn and winter.
It is slow growing and so easy to keep looking tidy with minimum pruning
It'll spread along and upwards but easy to keep on top off.
I have one along my garage wall and it's such a great plant