Designing a flowerbed (shrubs) for front garden (no dig)

[AntiqueBooks]

Hello

At the moment, my front garden is just a rectangle of grass, about 4m x 3m.

I'm thinking of putting in a flower bed next year. Possibly via the no dig method so just putting down cardboard and compost and planting directly into it.

As well as the lawn, I have a load of pots of lavender, roses etc at the front. So the flowerbed could be evergreen/flowering shrubs rather than flowers.

But what to choose?! I'd like something that will last forever and look good all year round. Should I stick to 1 plant or more than one? So far on my list I just have: HOLLY I don't want anything that will get too tall as it will block light to my window.

Hope this makes sense, thanks for any ideas or advice!

The gardener came back a week ago and put down soil improver. And he will return in another 2 weeks i think, he said it needs time to work.

If anyone was in any doubt that gardening teaches one the art of patience...

Black lace elder is also an option if you want reddish colours. It has dark purple/red leaves that are fairly similar to some acers with pinkish flowers rather than the white of normal elder. They can be pruned hard - even back close to the ground so it can be kept the size you want.

I live near the coast and Pieris Forest Flame might be a good option - it seems like nearly every garden around this area has one. I have two and love them. Seeing the bright red foliage everywhere when driving around has been beautiful the last few weeks. I love the little white flowers too. They're evergreen so give year-round interest, like acidic soil, and are hardy and low maintenance.

Gardener delivered the plants today. He couldn't get holly so suggested mahonia instead. Also couldn't get skimmia but I have 2 in pots from last winter.

So this is what we are going to do (assuming it all fits!). All thoughts welcome! I've got until Thurs before they go in.

Mahonia Charity: red/green leaves, yellow flowers, blue berries

Hydrangea Paniculata:
Magical Mont Blanc (red stem).
Magical Lime Sparkle
Magical Matterhorn

David Austin Roses:
Port Sunlight (village in the Wirral) (apricot),
William & Catherine (Royal Wedding) (white)

2 x Hebe Starlight (white feathery), will grow to 3ft tall and wide.

1 x Skimmia Japonica Rubella
Skimmia Finchy small white berries

That's a funny mix! The skimmia need shade and ericaceous soil; the roses will like rich soil with some manure; the hydranges will want lots of water and the hebes, not too much. The mahonia won't get as big as a holly when full sized (which is good, since the holly could be metres high depending on variety), but even so, it's not small!

@SarahAndQuack wahhh it's so hard! The gardener assured me these would all be fine. I suppose they've been bought now so if it doesn't work, I just...try something else!

If you want a holly then look at ones which have a bit more interest than just plain green and prickly! Most hollies have to cross fertilise to get berries, and obviously you need the female to bear fruit (berries). Confusingly, I understand 'golden king' is the female and I think the same for silver king (female). You need to go to good nursery (rather than a generic garden centre) as hopefully they'll be able to advise you. There are all non spikey hollies, which you would be grateful for when clearing round the base/weeding.

I think I might actually just keep the skimmia in pots for placing at the front door in autumn. Sounds like they might well get too much sun in the new flowerbed - it's Scotland but southfacing.

Here we go!

Looking good, will look even better next year! I’d like to recommend some Erigeron to fill in between the shrubs. It’s low level and flowers for months. You could get 9 of them and dot them about. They are winter hardy. I got mine from Sarah Raven or Crocus.
And I’d invest in some alliums in Autumn for next May flowering. They also come back and are amazing. Get 100! They make me so happy at this time of year.

This autumn I’d also put in some spring bulbs as they are really cheerful at that early part of the year. Crocus, snowdrops, miniature daffs and perennial tulips - their leaves all die back quite quickly (unlike the full size daffs and tulips) so don’t leave much mess. The perennial tulips are work it as they come back year after year and multiply. Go for short ones though.

Oh yes I second the snowdrops. They take a while to establish but mine are amazing now. This year mine appeared at the end of Dec and lasted till March. Really lifts the mood. All these things get you through the depths of winter and are worth the investment.

thanks for the perennial tulip tip @MachineBeeI haven’t bought perennial and they disappear after a couple of years. I will get them this year.

Love the cat just checking things out too!

It looks pretty. I second erigeron - it's super cheap; you ought to be able to get a pot for about £2.50 from a proper nursery, so don't get sucked into thinking you need to pay Sarah Raven prices for it! Often you find it with the summer bedding/basket plants at this time of year, but it'll self-seed and come back so it's really worthwhile. And YY to snowdrops. You buy them 'in the green' in spring and they will establish beautifully. Maybe also some hardy cyclamen? They have lovely marbled-looking leaves and beautiful flowers when not much else is flowering.

I do think your flowerbed is going to get over-full within a few years; you will end up having to move things, but as long as you know that you can plan for it.

Thanks everyone! I have some snowdrops in a pot actually that I bought at the start of this year and left to die back so could stick them in later in the year.

Now just got to wait for them to grow! I will be out inspecting every night and brandishing my watering can!

It's the cat's one year adoptaversary a week on Sat! How his life has changed! (He used to be a stray)

Compact currant bushes look like jewels and are lovely. Heuchera, saxifrage, and sedums can bring year round colour and ground cover. Also very bright heathers.

Lobelias and salvias can bring amazing scarlet. And bergamot, which is also nice for bees. And geums. And poppies.

Scotland seed planting is about a month later than the packet says. Zinnias and nasturtiums?

Please don't put in rhododendrons and azaleas, which are invasive and also poison the soil for other plants.

It is worth sourcing plants from a Scottosh nursery, not garden centre or supermarket. They will be adapted to conditions. They also are less likely to bring in diseases and pests from overcrowding.

I love this nursery for herbs https://www.poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk/

Places like this also make for a nice day out: https://www.redhousenurseries.co.uk/

City councils and botanic gardens often have their own nurseries or plant sales, like Inch Nursery in Edinburgh https://www.edinburghoutdoors.org.uk/plants-sale

I realise I posted too late but maybe if hydrangeas go into pots next year or if you build up raised beds or more pots!

Black elder and erigeron are fantastic, as pp said.