Planting ideas for my garden ?

Asters are good for late colour if you're going down the perennial route.
Or you could go to www.rhs.org.uk/plants and put in your information and see what comes up...

I must admit I feel totally overwhelmed when I look out at my back garden ,
It is a case of the head is willing but the body isn`t !
I will try the RHS site for some ideas too .

In the summer people will open up their gardens to the public, under The Open Garden Scheme. They are all varieties and situations, both large and small. Sometimes whole villages, roads and towns.

Why not see what's in your area? They are great for getting ideas. The owners are always ready to chat and will often sell plants that grow well in the area.

You can find what's open, usually from Easter onwards, on the Internet.

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Most of the time at this time of the year I also feel overwhelmed when I look out at my garden, f77ms! I did make a brief foray out there on Sunday to chop down some stuff but only because I was in a bit of a strop and needed to work through it! Better gardening days lie ahead!

We're due more snow here, so not a lot to be done here but look at catalogues and gardening mags for ideas... too cold to put any plants out either - so I'm jumping them in and out daily as my greenhouse is full of pansies, violas and primulas that I haven't got planted yet! The open garden scheme is a great idea for visiting other gardens and getting ideas as J52 says. They may be selling off plants too?

f77 take it in small chunks. So just look at say the first 6 ft and concentrate on that for the time. Just keep the rest from taking over the garden. So assuming it is the bit nearest your house and south facing. So if your fence is 6ft as is mine. Begin to look at climbers. Something that will behave itself and not go mad. Good to plant in March.

If you are happy to train and prune then a climbing rose is a delight. Look on the David Austin site - you can get an idea about eventual height, colour, and fragrance which I think is important. I have just planted "The generous Gardener" for an arch.

But say pruning is not an option then Actinidia kolomikta is a very well behaved shrub growing very slowly and as it matures its leaves look as if it has been splashed with white paint in spring and early summer which gradually turn pink as the season progresses. You will get lots of comments with this one!
Both are for summer interest.

So that's the first 6ft back sorted, now let's look at what to plant in front. Right in front a fragrant shrub would be good near the house.
If you are feeling flush then aDaphne odorants "aureo-marginalia" is evergreen 5'x5' and smells divine in mid winter/ early spring.
Or if you don't fancy that then say a Sarcococca humus is evergreen fragrant in late winter and grows to about 3'x3'.
If you would rather have something for summer interest a Hebe is a good choice. Say "purple Queen" if you can get it. But make sure it is one that only grows to a maximum go 4-5' and summer flowering.

In the autumn plant say daffs. Or other bulbs you fancy. You could also bung in a group of 3 stipa tennunisima (can't spell that!) They will wave in the wind, good for planting in April.

Mulch the ground with say a 4" bark to give it a good appearance and stop weeds.

Thanks so much Whitewave ! do you want a working holiday in Cheshire lol .
I have been looking on Ebay at all the suggestions to get an idea of what they look like .
Would you do anything to the soil pre planting? compost, manure , soil improver? It is clay soil and some things do very well ie Lupins , geranium family , large daisy type plants -which I love .
Beginning to look forward to spring now and making a start xx

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