calling all gyo`s

[hawthorns]

i have a small path way behind my plot which i wish to put to good use. it measures 3 ft by 30ft. its currently just rough grass which i strim every month or so. i have it covered presently so to kill all the grass etc. i would like in 9-12 months time plant bulbs flowers etc. if possible a succession of flowering would be preferable. im in need of some suggestions as which types to plant, grow. ideally i would like flowers that are easy to maintain and continue to self seed and regrow. if wildlife friendly plants can be incorporated all the better

please keep the ideas rolling in.

i know very little about flowers, veg is my domain

thanks

[rustylady]

Instead of covering it, you could plant spring flowering bulbs now. Daffodils, crocus, tulips etc. Either use a bulb planter or just dig a hole with a trowel and drop the bulbs in.

[zazen999]

And sow some wildflowers in plugs, or modules - and then when they are yay high next spring, use a bulb planter to snuggle them into the new flower area and they will continue to grow in the summer.

[horticultural_hobbit]

I second that motion. Dib some bulbs in. Apparently, if you plant crocuses, tulips, dafs in a sequence; they will flower successively in a sequence. Sadly, my brain isn't that clever.

[Kaiya]

Not so much sequence but depth - crocuses shallow, then dafs middling, then tulips deepest (I think - working from memory). They flower sequentially.

Do you need to make it useful? Or easy to manage? Or does it need to be walked on?

[yummersetter]

If you do need to walk on it occasionally think about clover (as a nitrogen fixer), vetches, camomile, marjoram and thyme, all attractive for bees.

[hawthorns]

Not so much sequence but depth - crocuses shallow, then dafs middling, then tulips deepest (I think - working from memory). They flower sequentially.

Do you need to make it useful? Or easy to manage? Or does it need to be walked on?

its just a bit of space at the end of my plot all i do is cut it just thought a nice splash of colour would be welcome. would like it to be come a small wildlife area

[northepaul]

perenniels are good too - you dont have to resow every year - roses, geraniums etc

[Kaiya]

If you don't need to walk on it could you use it for comfrey? That way you get something out of it, plus the wildlife. And/or go for good bee plants like borage. I have a wildlife area that is comfrey plus whatever wants to grow there (marigolds, poached egg and borage at the moment). It does also provide a haven for slugs though, as well as beneficials.

[vegnut]

Not forgetting the odd small shrub for architectural value with a few perennials thrown in. Try Rosemary and Sweet Cicely and maybe a few perennial Geraniums etc.

[Kaiya]

Oo or hawthorne and blackthorn for you and the birds.

[veggiechicken]

I'd turn it into a herb bed - with lots of perennial herbs like thyme, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, lavender fennel, sage....... Not just the ordinary versions either but the variegated ones. Many of these are evergreen, attractive to bees, take very little maintenance apart from good clip now and then and all very useful in the kitchen. What's not to like??

[shona_b]

my vote would go for herbs but with some of the lovely edible flowers thrown in like nasturtiums (spelling?), voilas etc. I also always let some chives grow to flower as the bees seem to like that. But having said that I am a sucker for snowdrops as they herald the fact winter is almost over and I have an affection for proper bluebells and primroses (the pale yellow native ones) for bringing back lovely memories of walking in the woods as a child (need shade though so pobably hopeless for your project!)

[Mikey]

I have a long thin herb bed, there's some right bully boys in there, lovage and fennel spring to mind, they can soon takeover if you're not watching.

[alldigging]

i have a small path way behind my plot which i wish to put to good use. it measures 3 ft by 30ft. its currently just rough grass which i strim every month or so.

Is it 'on your plot' or is it communal space that other people are entitled to walk on?