Instant impact

[Unijourney]

My garden was decimated during a building project and I'm needing to start again..it's mostly just lawn and there is a a border which gets lots of sun. I do have some pots on the patio but otherwise the garden is desperately lacking in colour.

Towards the end of August I am hosting a group who just happen to be all keen gardeners so would love to have something in the border to brighten up the space.

I would ideally plant plants that will be mostly perennial and low maintenance so would really appreciate ideas on what and where to buy....otherwise I'm hoping that it rains really heavily so they can't go out 😀

I've seen "buy a border" online dso wondering if that's a solution?

Not really, no. Those 'buy a border' kits are usually small plants to be grown on. Your best bet is to go to a garden centre and buy a few specimen shrubs and perennials that are at their absolute best, and do it about a week before these friends are coming.

Alternatively, if they are all keen gardeners... why not tell them that your garden was destroyed by builders and you are having to recreate a new one from scratch, and do they happen to have any spare plants, seeds or cuttings they could bring with them. Most keen gardeners are more than happy to share stuff from their gardens.

I second asking the gardeners for 'advice' - you'll end up being offered lots of free plants, and possibly their gardening services for a day! Don't worry about impressing them, they all started somewhere and will love a blank canvas.

Tell them in advance that the garden has been trashed by the building project. Ask to borrow ideas, inspiration, and recrecommendation That will be way more fun than having bought some plants just because they're big.

Make your patio area look great with annuals,and big jungly things - buy a banana plant now and pamper it so it'll grow fast between now and then

Absolutely ask the group for help - send them a photo now, I bet you’ll be inundated with advice and free chunks of plant. They are unlikely to be impressed with a “buy a border” (expensive cop out) and will see your blasted heath as a wonderful opportunity to meddle help you out.

Can I come? I have some lovely salvias to offer, and a buddlea Black Knight.

Thank you all. I should ask them, not sure why I'm reluctant, fear of judgement perhaps and my obvious lack of knowledge. I should have had time to sort this summer but with full time work and looking after elderly parents it's been lower priority.

Thanks again.

As a keen gardener I would LOVE to bring cuttings and help you out your garden to rights! I’ve got some gorgeous hydrangeas that are always a winner.

Just ask them! I don’t judge people just because they’re not garden freaks like me… I wasn’t for most of my life until I got into it.

I should have had time to sort this summer but with full time work and looking after elderly parents it's been lower priority.
Also lob in something about "it's been far too hot and dry to plant anything this summer". They will nod along with you.
I agree with everybody else's plan of asking for any cuttings / divisions going spare. (But phrase it so that you can reject without causing offense if the plants don't fit your plans).

But to answer your question: look at the Aster family.

Don't know if this will help, but I had to replant a trough this year as everything had died. I've used a red cordyline, two coleus and two trailing petunias and they've done really well. I bought what the supermarket had at the time.

I bought a couple of stunning salvia nemorosa plants yesterday. Gorgeous purple flowers, and the bees are loving them.

I would LOVE to have a garden to start from scratch. Forget about the August gathering - plant something to look good in each season long term.
If I started from scratch, these would be my dream team of plants.
Spring, I would go for a lilac, daffodils and crocuses.
Summer, I would go for a rose and hydrangea.
Autumn, I would go for euonymus and cyclamen.
Winter I would go for a daphne, witch hazel and you will have the dried hydrangea heads.
Plant a few pretty annuals in between the shrubs. Vary them each year.

@BarnOwlFlying Thank you , really useful.

And to everyone else..thank you,.gardeners are lovely people!

You wouldn’t go far wrong with a David Austin rose or two. They flower so nicely and some have a gorgeous scent.

Salvia’s in between would be lovely.

It could be a real conversation starter though if it’s work in progress

Yes if they're keen gardeners, ask them to help you fill it, they'll almost certainly have 'spare'

Instant impact is expensive and will be doubly so from a garden centre.
I would suggest checking on ebay and facebook marketplace.
I get the vast majority of my plants via these sites and have found a few local regular sellers with excellent plants at half the price of my nearest garden centre.

I bought two liatris spicatas recently and they definitely had an instant impact! I’m still filling my borders, and the slugs are slowing me down, so that impact was much needed 😂

Dont be tempted by any too good to be true offers - I bought some £1 nurseryman choice perennials last year. The first box arrived dead and the second were also pretty sad but bounced back this year. It’s better to buy a few good quality plants than lots of cheap ones that just die.

Yes agree with others - ask them. They will love it, spend the whole time discussing plans, and probably bring you some free plants. Have a notebook ready!

Think about next year too, there will be spring bulbs in the garden centres from August

It won't help for this August, but if you want instant impact next year look into lavatera/ tree mallow.
I planted one when I first moved into my place with a blank garden and it can grow 2mx2m and covered with flowers in its first year!