Shrub ideas for low maintenance garden

trickytrolleys

Hi everybody,

I am on a mission to sort out my patchy back garden :eek:

Its not a very big garden but its not tiny either, my plan is to dig out a border all the way around and what I'd like in there is alot of greenery, I like the idea of low shrub type things (but not a hedge) that will come up (or even hopefully stay all year)

I dont want to overload it and I would like some colour with flowers as well but Im not sure which shrubs to use and which flowers are then suitable to plant underneath them.

The plan is that I will do this as a one off project then just maintain (after all this is done I plan to really sort out the grass as well but that will have to be done afterwards)

I like the 'traditional english garden' look - could anybody suggest what I should go for - I can't spend an awful lot so any tips would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks

conradmum

What height of shrubs are you looking for? Hebes are low maintenance and look nice and often flower too but often don't grow large.

In my front garden I have a deutzia, a cistus, lonicera purpurea, a hardy fuschia, a mexican broom and a virburnam. These give all year round flowers and are low maintenance but I chose them because they were most suitable for the soil and the site. This is the key to trouble-free gardening.

What's your soil like? You need to find out if it's on the alkaline or acid side as this will affect what grows well there. And is it clayey or free draining? If you can answer these questions you can get some good advice that will save you a lot of work and expense in the long run. (One way you can find out the acidity of your local soil is to look or ask around about the plants other people have growing in their gardens.)

trickytrolleys

hi, thanks for answering.

I have clay soil but have no idea if its acid or not, not too sure what other people have - one has nothing but weeds and theyre thriving

most gardens in my area are paved and I cant see into the backs im hoping for some mid-height evergreens, I do like Hostas as that kind of thing - i will google the suggestions you made and have a look

Does anybody know where the best place to buy these things are ?


thank you

amcluesent

Mexican orange blossom, aucuba japonica, yew, cider gum, hebe, cotinus coggygria "Royal Purple", japanese quince all do fine for me in a clay soil.

trickytrolleys

thank you very much !

conradmum

trickytrolleys wrote: »

hi, thanks for answering.

I have clay soil but have no idea if its acid or not, not too sure what other people have - one has nothing but weeds and theyre thriving

most gardens in my area are paved and I cant see into the backs im hoping for some mid-height evergreens, I do like Hostas as that kind of thing - i will google the suggestions you made and have a look

Does anybody know where the best place to buy these things are ?


thank you

Sorry I don't know which weeds thrive in an acid soil!

Another way you could try to find out is to ask at your local garden centre what the local soil is generally like (although it can vary a lot even within a small radius). Or buy a soil testing kit.

These people are good quality, cheap online suppliers and should be able to give you some advice.

You haven't said if the garden is shady or sunny. Hostas will prefer the shade.

trickytrolleys

Hi, thanks for you help.

The garden is east facing so its blasted with sun until about midday then shady for the afternoon and evening