Nice Plants instead of Weeds !!

Helen_from_yorkshire

My back garden has no plants in it at all and we've lived here over five years. It's really neglected but we are getting a new patio laid and we are going to level and re-turf the lawn but I need some help with what plants to put in.

I don't know the difference between a perennial, annual, bi-annual but what I would like is some contemporary plants and, if they flower, as long a flowering period as possible. If possible, I don't want anything that needs much pruning (as I have no idea what to cut off) but plants that look nice year on year.

I can't imagine many plants fitting this description but I'm hoping.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

I'mcomingbackasaman

Helen_from_yorkshire wrote:

My back garden has no plants in it at all and we've lived here over five years. It's really neglected but we are getting a new patio laid and we are going to level and re-turf the lawn but I need some help with what plants to put in. I don't know the difference between a perennial, annual, bi-annual but what I would like is some contemporary plants and, if they flower, as long a flowering period as possible. If possible, I don't want anything that needs much pruning (as I have no idea what to cut off) but plants that look nice year on year.
I can't imagine many plants fitting this description but I'm hoping.
Thanks for any help you can offer.

If I were you, go into your garden before you obtain any plants and see what time that it gets sun, and which are the 'cool' :cool: shady areas to give you an idea of what to plant where. Get any ideas of the 'right' plants to have from watching a gardening programme, the internet, out of magazines, books from library, local bookshop on gardens and make a note of the names. (perennial grow year in year out. so I'd plump for those. Annuals are only once a year, and bi annuals, twice year.
Then to be a true MSE visit all your friends, and family with gardens and see what they have, and more importantly which are they willing to give you, if not a full plant then cuttings, then go to the shops, B & Q have a good range. You could have containers with plants in dotted about so that if they are in the wrong position in the garden you can simply move them, or if you manage to kill them off easy to sling :T

I'mcomingbackasaman

Oh and don't forget you need to decide what colour plants you'd like, and if you like smellies then lavender plants are really nice, and tobacco plants

cerce123

Get to your local Wilko's quick - they are clearing out seed trays, seeds and similar gardening equipment. You can stock up on flower seeds to be planted early next year (they keep for a couple of years). Some, like lupins, need need to be planted the year before anyway to flower the next year.

General compost will do, although you can get potting compost. Fill the trays up to about a couple of centimetres short of the top, press lightly, pop seed on, cover with a fine sprinkling of water. Cover with clear plastic or a propigator top (it will say on packet if seeds need to be kept in the dark, in which case cover with newspaper or put in garage). Water, keep covered and moist. Remove cover when green bits start appearing, can take a few weeks. It is trial and error to begin with, but it is one of the cheapest ways to get a lot of colour over summer.

An annual, I think, just comes up for one year and then dies. A biannual is like a lupin, foxglove or hollyhock, where you plant it in year one and get a plant but no flowers, and in the second year it flowers, I think!. A perennial comes up every year, like lavender.

You can, take cuttings, as the previous post says. My father-in-law is an organic allotment owner, and reckons I should wait until august to take cuttings from my lavender to make some new plants.

I have got a couple of those big gardening manuals like the RHS Plant Guide and an RHS Plants for Places little book, which I've found quite useful. As the previous post says, you need to go and have a look at your soil and get an idea if it is really sandy or really sticky and clumpy. These books will tell you which plants prefer somewhere shady, for example, and what sort of soil they can tollerate. They also have instructions for taking cuttings.

If you can wait until next year, you might want to prepare the soil this year and just put things in plant pots for now. Our soil is very stoney and wants sifting really. When this summer is fininshed, I'm going to sift it out properly to take the rubble out, then dump a load of fresh manure (friend has horse) to rot in over winter. The soil will then be nice and happy ready for my seedlings to plant out from the trays next spring!

Best of luck,

Sarah W

oldandhappy

Have a close look at your neighbours plants to see Overall what they ALL have and that is a good guide to what will grow well in your garden also..I realise you dont know the difference in types YET but a few words with the locals with your pen and paper in hand to take notes of what looks good to you...Hardy geranimums..there are loads of varieties and colours will grow in most soils and although they like a haircut to improve and tidy them they will not be eaten by snails and slugs. Lavender, Roses or Shrubs like Potentillas Hebes are easy to grow and keep....Honeysuckle for an Arch mixed with Climbing or Rambler Roses looks good but do need some cutting back yearly.The list could be endless...depends on your taste too.

coolagarry

Helen. Plants and gardening are not rocket science but, like most things, there is a fair amount to learn. The easiest way is to clear the ground completely and put in some plants.
Put in some bedding plants in one are and you will see than anything that grows and is not what you put in is a weed... so that will give you an idea what a weed is.
Put perennials in other areas (Limit their numbers to half a dozen different types) anything which is not one of the half dozen you put in will be weeds.
That way you will build up your knowledge of what different plants look like and where they like in your garden
A good simple gardening book can be bought at any car boot sale and will provide a lot of knowledge.
As with most worthwhile things in life, the only way to do it is to do it!!