What annuals for next year?

[mothhawk]

I've spent these last two weeks cutting down and digging out my two 20ft long lavender hedges. Eight trips to the recycling place! They were 12 years old and getting very large and woody, and frankly, beautiful as they were whether in flower or not, I've had enough of the annual trimming back and carting the waste to the recycling place. It always took at least two carloads.

For next year at least (maybe for always), for easy maintenance, I intend sowing/planting out annuals over narcissi (that will be planted deep so I don't disturb them).

So what I want is some ideas of annuals to use. The beds will be 20ft long x 1.5ft wide against a low paling fence, in full sun and very dry. Once established, they won't get any cosseting or watering.

Best ideas please.

[veggiechicken]

Why don't you grow perennials then you won't need to keep sowing every year?

[mothhawk]

Why don't you grow perennials then you won't need to keep sowing every year?

That's not a bad idea, as long as they don't need lifting and dividing every other year. I want stuff I can keep under control easily. I considered hardy geraniums, lupins and delphiniums, some of my favourite perennials, but I'm not sure they would tolerate the dry, no water regime.
I want plants that flower well for a long period and are not just green most of the summer, but herbaceous so they need no care over winter. Not asking much am I?

[veggiechicken]

I've lots of hardy geraniums here but they do need cutting back (about now) as they've gone floppy and brown in the middle!!

[mothhawk]

I have hardy geraniums in the cooler damper back garden and always give them a haircut about now - easy job compared to the scratchy, spider filled lavender, so that type of trimming is no problem. Plus the trimmings can go in my dalek. Couldn't do that with the lavender as the volume was too great and it took a whole year or longer to rot down. That's why I don't want anything woody to replace it.

[Mitzi]

I'd definitely go for some perennials. Some of the ornamental grasses might be nice in that situation. Maybe something like cistus, gaura lindheimeri or some other mediterranean or coastal type plants. Eryngiums.

Annuums can be really time consuming if you sow indoors and plant out. Broadcast sowing hardy annuals (like I did this year) isn't too labour intensive as long as you don't have lots of weed seeds germinating at the same time as your sown ones. (If you prepare the soil then sow immediately, they will all germinate together and unless you're an expert at distinguishing weeds from desirables at seedling stage, you can spend ages tending what turns out to be weeds. Speaking from experience.)

You can't go far wrong with poppies and I'd include californian poppies as they would probably thrive in the hot dry conditions.

[Mitzi]

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/plan...-sunny-borders

[Dynamite]

I would have said lavender. Maybe start a new hedge from cuttings if you’ve still got some leftover.

Kind Regards.............Rob

[mothhawk]

I've spent these last two weeks cutting down and digging out my two 20ft long lavender hedges. Eight trips to the recycling place! They were 12 years old and getting very large and woody, and frankly, beautiful as they were whether in flower or not, I've had enough of the annual trimming back and carting the waste to the recycling place. It always took at least two carloads.

I would have said lavender. Maybe start a new hedge from cuttings if you’ve still got some leftover.

The hedge I removed was grown from cuttings off an *sda reduced bargain - 40 feet of hedge for £3 and it served me well.

BUT

No more lavender. I'm keeping the little munstead dwarf and a pale pink dwarf, but no others. No shrubs wanted.

I've even hacked out the winter flowering honeysuckle by the front door.

All change.