Hey everyone! We're brand new to gardening and just bought our first home this summer. We've cleared some turf and dug out a nice-sized bed (about 2m x 5m) along a fence. It's in a sunny spot (morning to mid-afternoon) in SE England, and we're looking for advice on what to plant this autumn that can survive the winter and bloom beautifully come spring.
We're aiming for a cottage-style look, focusing mainly on perennials and naturalizing bulbs. I'm not keen on too many annuals unless they self-seed for future years. Plus, I'd appreciate recommendations for evergreen shrubs to add some structure during the winter months.
We don't have a greenhouse or much space for starting seeds, and there's no garage to store anything, so it needs to be hardy enough to stay outside. I absolutely love flowers like verbena, echinacea, Japanese anemones, lavender, foxgloves, aquilegia, and astrantia. Also, if you have any tips for reliable online plant delivery services, I'd love to hear them!
3 Answers
For bare root plants, I recommend checking out Farmer Gracey. If you're willing to be a bit patient, this is an affordable way to fill your new bed with perennials. Also, it’s okay if the plants aren’t looking their best right now; as long as they survive, they’ll flourish next spring!
I love hebes! They’re evergreen, many have lovely shapes, and they bloom nicely. You might also want to consider bare root roses at this time of year. Spirea are deciduous but can give you some great spring blossoms if you plant them now. Plus, crocosmia is super low maintenance and can go in the ground now too!
Generally speaking, bulbs do best when planted in autumn, while deciduous trees and shrubs are better in winter, and herbaceous perennials can be planted in spring. It’s smart to start with evergreen plants that can provide some winter structure, like certain grasses or even stems from plants like fennel.
Also, take your time with the design. Don’t rush into it all at once; consider color, texture, and how everything looks throughout the seasons. The RHS website is a great resource for finding suppliers for specific species you might want. Remember to mulch bare areas while your garden is still getting established. It’s a learning journey, so observe how everything grows and adapt along the way!
Thank you for this detailed response! We’ve got some gardening books for guidance, and having gardened before, I know my style—just finding it tough to visualize the plan. I’ll definitely focus on grouping the plants!
Thanks! Yes, we can be patient - as long as they will come back, I’m okay with them being small!