Evergreen Shrubs in a Flower Bed

[DoUGetMe]

Total beginner here.
I have this stone retaining wall which hubby dug up and we filled with compost. It's about 2.5 wide by 70cm depth. We went to the garden centre and bought some shrubs (namely euonymus bravo and other shrubs as well as lavender which we've now planted. Now freaking out after realising how high these can shrubs can grow.
If it's in a small space and I prune once a year, will it still be high maintenance or should I just remove whilst they've only been planted two days ago and replace with something else?
Thanks

What would you do with them if you moved them? Have you got anywhere else they could go?

you could just enjoy them, prune them, and if they outgrow the space, remove them then.

The lavender will be fine

Thank you for responding @MereDintofPandiculation
I'm so nervous about anything gardening related. Really didn't know what to do with the space. I knew I wanted lavender and maybe hydrangeas behind but also heard they can grow quite tall too. In the end I settled for evergreen shrubs. If I removed them I would probably donate them to my parents. Do you think hydrangeas would look better instead of the shrubs at the back?

i would leave them.
They will be much nicer having evergreen. Hydrangeas just turn to sticks in winter.

Lavender can get huge if untamed, but it also doesn’t grow that quickly. Ours are really old, but kept easily cutting just once each September. Ours are still flowering with bees now so I wait until the flowers die off and then cut.

The Same with the other evergreens using just a decent cut in autumn will be fine. You might want to another in late spring on certain types if after growing but in a space like that it’s not a long job

Just see what happens, you've bought them now. If they get too big, dig them out!

If you do feel like getting a bit more involved, I would personally look at taking cuttings of those lavenders. Then, if you decide to take out the bigger stuff, you can have it full of lavenders which would work well. www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-take-lavender-cuttings/ www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-take-lavender-cuttings/]]]]
You don't need any new kit, just fill up one of the pots your plants came in with compost, stick the cuttings in, and put a big clear polythene bag over the top to keep the moisture in. Pop it on a windowsill until you can see it growing, then stick it outside in a sheltered spot.

Thanks all. You've encouraged me to keep them and see how it goes.

It'll be a long time (several years) before the shrubs outgrow the space, especially if you prune them. Hydrangeas can get huge too! And they like a lot of water so aren't so suited to a raised bed. I think your planting looks really nice. Enjoy it!

@DoUGetMe They can be clipped into a “hedge”. Lavender can be difficult in soggy soil conditions so keep checking it.

Gardening is a learning curve - many things affect growth, so some of the plants may not reach their ‘normal’ predicted size. Just enjoy them.

I find lavender really hardy. We get hot 30-35 degrees summers when it bakes, and then -10 degrees and thick snow buries it half the winter. Every year it just grows as usual.

You could try training the shrubs (euonymus and I can see pittosporum too) into a lollipop shape like this by cutting off any side branches lower down?

This will mean they don’t end up taking up space lower down so won’t shrink your garden or drown out the lavender and any other low flowering plants you might want to add.

That's great advice.
Thanks all.
@minipie love the idea of shaping the evergreens.
@Caspianberg I've heard that too about lavender. Love the look, aroma and practicality of it!