Flowerbed Improvement

newbieni

Hi All,

This is the flowerbed at the entrance to my house. I've recently bought the house so I've inherited what the previous owner has planted. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to bring this to life?

Thanks in advance.

Emmia

I'd get rid of those big rocks, perhaps plant something like a low growing ceanothus.

Or rip it all out and just turf it.

KajiKita

The fact that there daffodils in there suggests that there might be other nice things in there too …

Typically the advice is leave a garden for a year and see what comes through. I can see a small lavender at the back for example and I’m not sure what the plant is around the front edge rock, third from the left.

I think I would get rid of some of the rocks - you’ll need a crow bar or some such, don’t break a fork on them. Weed out all the dandelions at the front (they are the rosette things) and the grass, mulch it with something (a bag of compost), leave it while and if nothing interesting looking is appearing in a few weeks, then either buy some pre grown annuals from a local garden centre or sow a packet or two of seeds - nasturtiums might do well there.

KK

rceebear

Looks like lavender at the back. I’d add some more similar Mediterranean herbs like lavender, rosemary as they would do well there. Oh and thyme. They like full sun, well drained relatively poor soil

twopenny

Good spot on the lavender but it's had it. Not even good for cuttings and wrong time of year.

I'd plan now, buy some plants you like this summer while there is plenty to choose from and pot them up for the summer to grow bigger.

That spot is too hot and dry to plant now and a long way to traipse with watering.

Clean out the weeds, dig it over and agree with something like nasturtiums for now to give lots of colour. I used giant wallflowers for colour and scent.

Then plant up with what you want in autumn.

Mine is that size and shape. I've got a winter flowering shrub, a Gertrude jeykll rose and wallflowers so there's always something there. The daffs at the base and taller ones at the back.

newbieni

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81914222#Comment_81914222

Plant around the daffodils and then dig them out in autumn?

Brie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81914183#Comment_81914183

"Plant rosemary at your garden gate. … Plant lavender and roses for luck." (Practical Magic)

newbieni

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81914753#Comment_81914753

Something like this?

twopenny

If only!

But daffs, roses and lavender don't always bloom together 🙂 then rain damage on dwarf roses , cats and dogs.

wort

I agree to tidy and and leave as there may be other bulbs etc in there. You could cut back the lavender see if it renews , mine responds well, if not hoike it out. Lavender can get big as do some roses. Are the smaller green mounds geranium’s? If so they will give summer colour for months.

KittenChops

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81915084#Comment_81915084

Another vote for weeding the area & leave to see if anything else comes up this year

I think there might be some forget-me-nots at the back left (these will self seed but you can easily pull some up if needed, or redistribute elsewhere), and some bittercress (weed) on the right hand edge by the daffodils

ETA - I wouldn't plant herbs there, unless the gates are always closed - otherwise you might get dogs weeing on them!