Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Autumn and Winter colour in my garden - Very novice gardner requests suggestions / advice please?

Hi,


My house has a small yard type back garden (6ft fences on either side and a wall at the back), it faces east so only gets sun in the mornings untill about 12-1.00 summer - although it is quite bright - earlier in the winter I am guessing).





I would like to put some pots out (large and small) to brighten it up. - any suggestions ?


Also I have made a trellis which covers the big oil tank out there- what can I have growing up / down it? - nice colours, foliange or flowers etc?





I particually like unusual, bright and striking plants - but as I am very new to all this havent a clue where to start.





If anyone is kind enough to offer advice, may I ask how do I plant / buy your suggestions? eg, bulb? seed? little plant? big plant? and when is the right time of year to plant them into my pots / baskets.





I havent purchased the pots / baskets / soil yet so anything specific about these would also be appreciated.





Fingers crossed and thank you for your time.


Rachel x

Autumn and Winter colour in my garden - Very novice gardner requests suggestions / advice please?
Wow! You don%26#039;t want much eh ;-p


Good winter plants - Winter flowering Jasmine - climber %26amp; smells good - also some of the clematis are really early spring climbers - check with your local garden centre for the relevant varieties.


Winter shrub - best is Mahonia - several types available but most are good in large pots - brilliant yellow scented flowers in winter,


Of course you can%26#039;t forget the good old pansy - they flower throughout winter - some stronger colours and patterns available these days too!


All the above can be bought as plants in pots of varying sizes.


Bulbs - lots of varieties here too - try some of the snowdrops (although these are generally better grown when they%26#039;re green rather than started from bulbs), also crocuses - loads of colurs %26amp; shapes - also some autumn flowering varieties available.


Goodness - I need to go %26amp; re-design my garden now!!!!
Reply:For foilage interest and colour (especially autumn) try any of the Acer Palmatum (Japanese maple) shrubs or trees. Hostas are very good for foilage colour too and are tolerant of shade.





Lonicera (Honeysuckle) is a good climber with fragrant flowers and the larger leaved varieties of Ivy are good for year round colour. You could try Lonicera Baggesons Gold - they can be pruned into whatever shape you require and some of the variagated Euonymus can do well in pots.





For your pots themselves use good quality compost and add slow release fertiliser and water retaining crystals. Remember to put broken crock or stones at the bottom of your pots for drainage.





You can also buy large half barrels, waterproof them and create a small water garden.





All sorts of plants can be used for container gardening. Have fun making your garden.
Reply:shrubs for autumn color:


red, orange--japanese maple, smoke tree, smooth sumac goldenflame spiraea, staghorn sumac, winged euronymous, red chokeberry, enkianthus, photinia, persian parrotia, stachyurus, stewartia, oregon grape holly.


purple, maroon, bronze--black chokeberry, dogwood, japanese deutzia, fothergilla, oakleaf hydrangea, anise magnolia, heavenly bamboo nandina, highbush blueberry, fragrant snowball


yellow, gold--yellow laceleaf maple, japanese barberry, smoke tree, enkianthus, dwarf farthergilla, witch hazel, kerria, maxim%26#039;s honeysuckle, photinia, pomagranate, cascara sagrada, mollis hybrid azalea, flame willow
Reply:You can%26#039;t beat Autumn Sedum for fall color (it is a perennial so it comes up by itself every year) In the Spring it comes up and stays bushy but pretty. I plant annuals in front of it for Spring color. In the fall....wow! It blooms brilliantly and stays that way til winter. Pansy is a nice winter flower. Holly is a winter bush that has berries. For a vine, I%26#039;d plant wisteria. It has a grapelike flower that smells heavenly. Also there is trumpet vine which has orange flowers that hummingbirds love. Clematis is great too. Some bloom in early spring but I like the one that blooms in August and stays that way til winter frost. It has tiny white flowers all over it and smells great too.
Reply:i found this web page on the computer maybe it will help you . in my own garden i am from new england and i planted theses flowers: chrysanthemums, ornamental kale and flowering cabbages, also dusty miller does quite well in the fall and winter. they will provide lasting colour even after the frost sets in also marigolds will provide colour some for a long time some won%26#039;t last that long depending on the species of the plant. they have many catalog companies that will provide tips on planting certain bulbs and plants.
Reply:Think about doing it by each season,it%26#039;s the simplest way.Start with winter evergreens ,small group of three to five of various heights,one tallish conifer, a mid height one say in a round shape and off-set it with a spreading evergreen at the lower height.That%26#039;s the bones of each side of the garden.Now plant lots of spring flowering bulbs.Next add the summer flowering shrubs and perrenials plus some climbing plants.Clematis and Ivy are good and finish with one or two shrubs that give good autumn colour,perhaps acers.All year round colour. Summer flowering baskets can be repaced with winter flowering pansies and even indoor plants can come out for a breath of fresh air in summer.



dental

No comments:

Post a Comment