Design my front garden!!

[Bramble_killer]

I'm rubbish at flowers, even rubbisher at colour schemes (the whole house is being done up in magnolia, beige and cream ).

I have 2 bits of frontages

The first one is the proper front (the lawn needs cutting) and there's the usual side and front flowerbed. The front is edged with some lavender (to grow into a bush, now in 2nd year), the 3 bits by the door are some hebes and there's a fucshia tucked in the corner.

I was going to put some globe artichokes and have some spare sunflowers and some sweetpeas (not yet sown ).

Any ideas anyone? Ideally would love it be to low maintenance but colourful.

the other bit is also our front but it's edged by public footpaths so just needs to be tidy and not pretty, was thinking a wildflower type garden but heard they are hard to do. There are some bits in there from the last owner, there's a box (i think) hedge and some other bits.

If anyone can identify the random flowers here it would be a great help too.

Many thanks

[Guttata]

I've never bothered with colour schemes. A gardener on gardeners world said what I think on this about things not clashing in nature so they can't clash in the garden. I think it was in episode 6 which is still on iPlayer. The first one looks like a hyacinth, the second a polyanthus.

Wild flower meadow gardens are considered hard because they require a bit of work. All the plants must be cut down and carted off otherwise the ground becomes too fertile and then grass takes over.

You could go for a mediterranean type garden and use drought resistant plants. Tends to be easier to look after. Except some frost protection may be needed.

[northepaul]

Bramble, you could pop some perennials near your window to the right, to give a bit of height to the back, or maybe a climber with some trellis next to window? Then possibly plant some more interesting flowers in front of them?
To be honest if you have some lavender along the edge (by the drive) why not add more and have a whole sway?

The pictures look like hyacynth and the other a primrose.

[tamsin]

Do you want to keep some grass?

[jackyspratty]

Red robin is a good choice for colour, easy to care for, the more you chop it the redder the leaves get

Christmas berry Common Name: Christmas berry
Genus: Photinia
Species: x fraseri
Cultivar: 'Red Robin'
Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Moist
Height: 400cm
Spread: 400cm
Flowering period: April to May

Would put a picture on but can't work out how to do it! Doh!!

[Bramble_killer]

thank you all, investigating perennial options at the moment but am easily confused so it may not be prettified this year. I have no idea what is good value or isn't and hate spending money so it's difficult.

lots of nice ideas, esp northepaul

[tamsin]

Why don't you use this year to sow some perennials from seed/take cuttings then plant it all up in the autumn. That way you could really fill it up with plants and it wouldn't cost a fortune

[Jeanied]

BK how long have you been there? There are several things in your pictures that look like perennials that will be coming up later in the year - it looks like you already have a hydrangea, some perennial geraniums and what may be either a rhododendron or azalea as well. Perhaps a hebe. Flowering plants - white hyacinth and little clumps of primroses. The primroses can be divided after flowering to increase. If I were you I'd bide my time till I've identified all the shrubs and perennials coming through - not sure what the white flowering bush is but if the picture is taken recently then it is a member of the prunus family. The first thing you need to tackle is the grass - so give it a cut and define the edges. Then post some more pics on here and we can see what to suggest. Lavender is a good idea - as are hebes, ericas, roses - well the list could go on!

[Bramble_killer]

thanks tamsin, I'll have a think about what perennials I'd like.

Jeanied: moved in Jan last year and popped bedding plants in the empty spots as we kept having skips. Still got a skip there at the moment actually. I should try and identify most of the plants as the old lady before us was a keen gardener and am sure she's put in lots of stuff. So another year of a bit of a mess!

The front front lawn has 3 little lavenders (from last year) at the bottom of the drive, and 3 hebes (just to shade the front door). There's a fuschia to the right of the hebe (just under the window that's hidden from view, and I think it's a fuschia). I've kept some alkanets and think we have nigella kicking around. Just hate it looking bare so was contemplating having something that will flower a bit in spring and continue to flower until the end of the season.

Might get a honeysuckle to plant on the right hand side by the window as I love fragrant flowers. going to mow the lawn soon too!!