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Hi Higgy. Many thanks for the suggestions. Do you think all of these would survive in this area? I have the gravel all the way round and it does have some earth below it but I don't think the quality is too great.
I think the Weigela would go well in the corner near to the roadside with the other two taking up space on each side.
Another one that has sprung to mind and is in flower now is 'Ribes' - The Flowering Current....
I have one in the garden and at 06:30 this morning in semi-darkness it had bees on it!!
All of these suggestions would do ok in your garden and could create quite a nice 'loose' hedge. Let them grow for a year or two and then prune them to how you want them.
I would suggest that you scrape away the gravel and then dig out some of the old earth and backfill with some decent compost, plant the shrubs in this and then finish off by pushing the gravel back around them. I personally think that they would look nice a suit the location really well, especially as it's a residential street. It is only my suggestion so see what others think?
Hope that helps a little?
Best
Higgy
Makes sense to improve the ground as much as possible. With regards to planting them do you think mixing them up would look good or should I split them apart a bit? Maybe the honeysuckle could go near the area between us and next door and grow amongst the fence?
My understanding was that you wanted them to run along the small wall between you and next door. I think they would look good planted alongside one another and then let them form a loose hedge. With all of these plants you can prune them as you go to get them to form as thick a hedge as you want. I think one of each spaced out evenly on that boundary would look nice but of course you can add more along the front etc if you want, depends how grown up you want it to get?
One thing to think about though is security and any good Crime Prevention expert would tell you that you don't want to obscure the view of your front door or give an area where someone can hide behind so think carefully where you plant them and how high you let them grow, just prune accordingly... :-)
Hi Higgy. My aim is to get something running along both walls. I like the idea of mixing them up as you say and with the pruning I will look to keep them at a level around half way up the metal fencing. Going to concentrate on the back garden this weekend and then tackle the front in the next few weeks.
I managed to get out recently and plant out some recent purchases along with some plants that Higgy kindly dropped off for me. Looking forward to seeing how they all settle in, and I am sure I will want to make changes in time as I learn more.
The one plant I am looking forward to seeing in flower is the Angelica. I was considering taking it out over the winter as it does take up a lot of room, but I think it is going to end up looking great and will hopefully attract a lot of wildlife. Does also provide good cover as shown by a recent blackbird fledgling taking residence under it.
Hi Paul, it's all looking very nice there and as you say it will be interesting to watch it develop through to the summer.
I'll let you know if I have any other plants that might be of interest. My greenhouse is full to the brim and I have more seeds that I want to sow! I'm sure there will be some 'extras' come planting time...
No update for a while but here is a latest picture of the bed growing well. It has been a good learning process about what plants to use in such a small space.
Have decided that I won't be planting teasels again after they flower this year and will take up the Angelica over the winter.
Elsewhere, the Verbenas in the pots are close to flowering and the various plants in the 2nd bed are coming up well.