Hey everyone! We recently moved into a house with a garden that's in need of some serious love. It's split into two levels: the top half had a few plants, while the bottom was completely overgrown. After a lot of hard work, we've cleared and renovated the space, including building a sleeper retaining wall and steps to connect the two levels. Now, I've got this large 99ft x 30ft garden that's mostly empty with just a couple of patchy lawns. I really want to create that charming cottage garden vibe. I've planted several roses already, but I'm looking for suggestions on what else I can use as border fillers to fill those gaps and attract some wildlife back to the garden. I'm comfortable growing from seed as I have a greenhouse, and I consider myself an 'improver' gardener. We're located in the South East of the UK, and the garden is south-facing with clay soil. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! ??
3 Answers
Hey! If you’re okay with weeding, you can start slow by letting some self-seeders do their thing in the gaps. I've had success with plants like Welsh poppies, Aunt May (Sisyrinchium), and Columbine (Aquilegia) in my Yorkshire clay. They live for two to three years, so they give your garden room to grow while you decide on more permanent plant choices. You can also throw in annuals like Forget-me-nots and Nasturtiums for a splash of color!
If you want some low-growing options, geraniums like rozanne and sanguineum are fantastic! They'll thrive in your clay soil, just remember to mulch to keep it from becoming too hard in the summer. Also, adding some foxgloves and sweet peas can really brighten things up—they come back year after year and bring that cottage charm!
I love using Erigeron karvinskianus! It self-seeds easily and is really tough, perfect for filling in spots without too much fuss. Also, cosmos are great annuals to throw down while you decide on perennials to plant among your existing hydrangeas and roses. Don’t forget about Verbena bonariensis for height—it’s a stunner!