ideas needed

[sibcy]

We moved in to our house in feb this year and the garden was all grass, after spending many hours on it I have managed to get most of it looking ok, most of the plants I was given but have ordered some more for a bit more colour, but there is one section that has been forgotten, I have built a raised bed for this small section because about 2 inch under the grass is concrete and have ordered some plants to go into the raised bed,
Astilbe ( Elizabeth bloom )
Astilbe ( visions in red )
Heuchera Autum leaves
Crocosmia (yellow flowering )

The small section is south facing but because of the fence only gets little sun, I have cleared the section since the photo so all the veg containers have been moved.
I just don't know how to make it look nice

Regards

Julie

[veggiechicken]

Grow something against the fence - a clematis, say, to make a backdrop for your perennials.

[sibcy]

Thank you, can't believe I never thought of that

[WendyC]

Think about the overall shape of the lawn not the shape of the borders. The edge of your border must be quite tricky to trim so how about reshaping it into more of a sweeping S shape. Lay a hose pipe out along the proposed new edge and look at it from an upstairs window. If you can get someone to adjust the hose for you from downstairs as you shout instructions. Or you can run up and downstairs a lot!!
Clematis along the fence is a good idea, but how about roses, evergreen wall shrubs such as Euonymus -Silver Queen. Once you have a deeper border it is actually easier to plant as the plants don't all end up being in a row. A general rule is a third each of hard landscaping, lawn and borders.
As the narrow section looks shady it looks prime fern territory, perhaps with bark and stepping stones so you can get in amongst them. I love planting up new areas as it means I can go shopping.
Have fun!

[sibcy]

Good idea I will lay the hose out and run up and down the stairs alot cos in my house if u want something done properly then I have to do it myself lol, as for the side section I have asked my partner ( ground worker ) to get me some stepping stones and I think at the weekend I will be off shopping for ferns, Euonymus -Silver Queen and lots more plants as the border will be bigger lol. I do have one clematis climbing up one of my fences at the bottom of the garden so a few more would be nice and I was thinking of a couple of Japanese Maples?