Help, I have to plant two beds and am clueless?

[DreamingOfAxl]

I have two empty beds approx 6 x 4, bought spring bulbs for it but do I need to put in something for summer before I put the bulbs in, if so, ideas please (not roses).

What do you want to have in your beds? They are small enough that you could have just bulbs and bedding if you wanted, in which case you would only put the spring plants in now, and the summer bedding in in spring after the bulbs are finished.

Thans ib, I did wonder if I could just do that. I have not idea at the moment what I want to do with them so think I will go along with your plan.

It's probably the easiest thing to start out with, you can always move onto more permanent things later.

Someone in a magazine suggested bulbs in pots so when spring comes along you can plant seeds and put pots around the empty spaces. I've done a mixture of both. But the squirrels pinching bulbs has upset me.

I'd probably put a couple of shrubs in each bed as well as the bulbs, ideally at least one evergreen shrub per bed so you have something to look at over winter.
What you woudl choose depends in soil type, amount of sun etc.
Is there a good local nursery you can go to for ideas and advice?

Pannacotta, if you put a couple of shrubs in a 6x4 bed, you won't have room for anything else!

If you planted for example a Skimmia and small Daphne in one bed and Choisya Aztec Pearl and perhaps small Xmas Box or small Osmanthus or Viburnum in another you would have plenty of room for other things.
They could be clipped as needed to keep them small or moved when they get too big.
Otherwise it will be bare ground until spring.
The shrubs I have mentioned are mostly evergreen and have scent/flowers/nice foiliage or berries in the winter/spring to give some year round interest.
I think bedding is a lot of effort just for one season of flowers whereas shrubs or perennials offer will give you much more than just one season, also better for wildlife etc.
There are some ready made borders here and lots of other ideas too
www.crocus.co.uk/designing-with-plants/

perfect time to sow annual seeds outside too... and much cheaper than buying plants later on. look for hardy annuals though...

Mankymummy which annuals? Pannacotta going to look at the site later. Good idea

any of these...

www.thompsonandmorgan.com/seeds1/ilist/hardy-annuals

Cheers

panncotta, Have add website to fav. I used to do little drawings for my planting schemes before DH and Ds it's all gone to pot now

You're welcome, I was also more organised in the garden (and house too ) before DSs...
But its nice to know that you can get someone else to do it for you.
Another great site is Woottens, they also do a border design service which they charge for but the cost is refunded if you order plants from them and they have a lovely range
www.woottensplants.co.uk/border_design.asp

I used this in our last house and was really impressed.

I've added this one too. Can't see anything serious being done until next September when DS is at school. He loves the garden and planting. It's just hard to think while chatterbox is in your ear and expensive compost is being thrown around. I like to do a little planning and grown up maintenance. Did grown weird pumpkins and courgettes with him this year.

Why not sow some plant seeds with him now then and/or some autumn flowering cyclamen or winter flowering pansies and plant them now? Add some markers where you sow the seeds and wait for them to come up in spring, he would love this.

Would really love my DSs to be into gardening but it is just not happening, DS1 (nearly 4) has the attention span of a gnat and DS2 is only 18 months.

Anyway hope you enjoy whatever you do choose!Here is another site you might like (I have a whole folder of lovely gardening sites I like to look at).

www.turning-earth.co.uk/

Ds has turned out to be my best little mate. He did have a tizz when I planted bulbs in 'his patch' This might not last when DS can go to football with dad.
Do you have advice re squirrels by the way? I need something that is rain proof as I work P/T and have little time.

Sorry no advice re squirrels not sure there is much you can do...

ta anyway