All the confiers have gone. So what do I replace them with?

[FunkyGlassSlipper]

I have had 10 conifers removed today. They were in front of our back fence. We now have a soil bed about 1 metre deep. I want to put hardy, nice looking shrubs in their place.

But I dont know much about gardening. So can someone help me please?

Years ago we did the same and replaced the conifers with laurels - they are nice shiny green and grew well. No idea if still going strong as left house in 2002!

I have 1 laurel already which I planted to fill in a gap from a dead conifer. Not sure I want the whole lot to be like that though. Was thinking shrubs really but not a great gardener!

Do you want evergreen, deciduous or not fussed? Flowering or not? Native or not? How much sun does the bed get?

Hi Tangle,

I'd like a mixture but definitely some evergreen. And again, some flowering but some just leafy.

At the moment I have 2 laurels that were already there and also a pieris that was potbound so I've planted that today.

The fence is to the south of the bed if that makes sense so it will be shaded and get very little direct sunlight.

If it's shady that's quite tricky, but you might be able to try:

-Euonymous (variegated, leafy) - prefer a bit of sun but can survive in most situations. Can get some that climb

• Choisya (mexican orange blossom) which I admit is far from my favourite shrub, but grows anywhwere, doesn't mind being hacked and is tough & childproof

• pyracantha - v. prickly but blossom in summer, coloured berries in winter. Grows almost anywhere, can train to shape up a fence

Maybe go for something like this, and underplant with geraniums or ferns?

Lol. I have just looked out of the window and what was always shady before is now full of sun. Half the bed is in shade and half full sunshine.

Aha ... well with a bit of sun you could also try an evergreen jasmine (gorgeous scented white flowers) which is a climber; honeysuckle (native type - not japanese type unless you like hacking back every year!), and most types of clematis ...

Ooh, I have a jasmine on the front of my house (same position) which is lovely so I know what that looks like.

Hadnt thought of clematis but defo makes sense as we will probably get trellis on top of the fence to add height.

Thank you

Some climbing roses do suprisingly well in fairly shady locations - we've got a "Mermaid" (I think) on the front of the house, which is basicaly north facing, and it was still flowering in December last year.

• Holy would be a nice shiny evergreen (be aware of the male/female bushes if you want berries.

• Philadelphus (mock orange) has flowers with the most fantastic scent, some varieties are double.

• Budlejia? Not my favourite () but definitely wins on the abuse stakes. Will self seed and/or take over if you don't keep it in check, though.

• Hebe. Take your pick of size, shape and colour, just check you've got a more hardy one (the fancier flowered ones can be a little tender, but some are tough as old boots).

• Garrya elliptica (silk tassle bush). My inlaws have one of these and it does look lovely when the catkins are out. Not sure how tolerant of being kept within bounds it would be.

• Viburnum. Hack it as you like, and the most gorgeous scented flowers.

• Ceanothus.

• Flowering quince (chaenomeles) (added advantage of the fruit, if you go in for preserves)

• Dogwood (cornus). Huge variety of shapes and colours (of leaves, stems and bracts).

• Fucshia, the hardy ones with delicate flowers.

• Witch hazel (Hamamelis). Deciduous, with spidery flowers on the bare stems in early spring. Likes an acid soil.

Just the odd one or two to think about !

Some fantastic ideas. I have googled and some look lovely.

I realy like roses but not sure I could trust DDs to stay away from them

I'll write me list and head ooff to garden centre as soon as we are chicken pox free household.

Having inherited a garden with a lot of roses, I'm figuring DD will be learning about thorns and staying away from them pretty early...

Have fun shopping