Please sugguest some nice plants/flowers for novice

I spent all summer working on this side garden (first time doing anything like this!!!) and need some more things to plant to really fill things out. I want this to look like some of those garden magazines. I have Tiger Lillies, Hosta's, Clematis, Climbing Roses, Chicks/Hens, azalea and several other things I can't recall off the top of my head. What other perennial can I add to improve things? Do they sell any dwarf evergreens that won't get very tall? Any input would be appreciated. Oh almost forgot. I'm in Zone 7 which us Central Virginia. Thank you. Joe

This message was edited Sep 24, 2008 9:25 AM

Another view...

And another of the rose trellis

Now remember all those plants are going to fill out in a couple years. I'd use annuals to fill in till your perennials reach full size then see where the holes are and then pick some more perennials to plant.
I love the advanced search on blustones website
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/adv_search_mod.html?id=nKebH9AC

Is your garden in shade for a good bit of the day? It looks as though it is from your photos. I have some really nice Pieris Japonica Variegata growing in part shade and they don't get too tall either - around 4 feet. Although Holly can get quite tall, it is another good plants for a shady place and doesn't mind being clipped back to give it a good shape and to stop it growing too big - Hollies are pretty slow growing anyway.
Good luck with your garden.
Rosie

roseimp: The garden is in mostly sun. I want to explore getting another set of plants and flowers. I guess I will have to research the net for some stuff. flowerjen: Also want to than you for your input! Joe :-)

You might try adding more tiger lilies, hostas, and hens & chicks and clustering them with what you already have. In my humble opinion, I think gardens are more attractive when you have several plants of the same species grouped together, instead of just one plant of a lot of different species placed singularly throughout the garden. It gives the garden more continuity, rather than a hodgepodge effect. By the way, it looks like you've done a very good job of preparing the bed ... no weeds! :-)

Shebs45: Thanks, I'm trying my best. Never grown anything before this project. I used the standard weed block paper and mulch with Preen to keep termites away and kill weeds. I did ALOT of hodge-podge. I think I will do what you are suggesting about grouping things together. I am still a beginner and had no clue what a Hosta was before April. lol. Thank again! Joe

If you get mostly sun I hope those hostas are a more sun tolerant variety.

Why don't you concentrate on winter plants for now and worry about other plants after winter is over? Pansies, snapdragons, dianthus and ornamental kale/cabbage should give you nice winter color.

Go to the coleus forums and look at pictures... Really easy to grow, and get starts off. They make a beautiful bed in just one summer.. You'll look like a pro...

Don't buy coleus NOW. Worst time ever. Buy them when the weather begins to warm up; in your area, probably late April. But they are easy to grow and come in amazing color patterns. And they need to be in part shade. There are sun-tolerant varieties, but they don't have the wonderful coloration that they would in some shade. Some can tolerate FULL shade, but most would get leggy.

Caladiums are another easy plant. Order bulbs from happinessfarms.com in February. They will mail them to you at the proper planting time, probably late April/Early May. These also need some shade. Some are best in full shade.

OOPs!

This message was edited Sep 24, 2008 9:49 PM

that is not bad you well done but if you use sansiveria in thecorner
and box tree all around it gets better with plants can glue to the wall by the climate of where you live

Sansevierias are wonderful "exotic" plants. However, if planted out-of-doors, they turn to mush at 32 degrees F. If you have a greenhouse they can be overwintered there and taken out during warm weather.

Have you considered a/a few Topiary? They are fun, easy (but time consuming), and can be kept at the size you choose. Good luck. Nice spot. :)

Here is a public garden planting scheme that turned out well. Take note that all the plants tend to be 'round'

Here is an English style bed. Tall stuff in back, short stuff in front and everything else in the middle. It is best to use a mix of perennials and annuals with this planting scheme.

This, a kind of 'carpet' look, with most plants the same height. Coreopsis and yarrow are the main plants.

As suggested above, by flowerjen, a mix of annuals and perennials will keep the bed colorful thru the growing season.

A mass of color, this is Salvia farinacea in 4 colors. This should be a perennial for you. Blooms all summer.

Had enough?

I am a big fan of coleus, to fill in a bed for summer.

No matter what you do it will take time to mature. Here is a freshly planted median.

And someday it will be mature.

LOVE that coleus shot!

Thanks Jen

Iris are a good plant for up North>

Since every part of the country has different plants that thrive, going out and about will help you make plant selections. Public places like botanical gardens are a great resource. You might even see nice plantings in your own neighborhood.

I saw this bed on the way to a botanical garden. I have no idea what the plants are. I just wanted to show you all some nice compositions.

Plants that I have had success with, that I feel are bomb proof yet pretty all year long:

MINIATURE roses!
Dianthus
Abelia
Quince
Irises
Veronica
Liriope (may need some shade)
Montauk Daisy

Have you thought about a dahlia or two as focal points? Few flowers have the "wow" factor they do. Not perennials but you can dig up and save the tubers. The would fill out any blank spaces this year with wonderful blooms.

If you're interested, posters at the Dahlia forum I'm sure would give you some suggestions depending on what height you want, if you want cutting flowers, a bushy plant etc...


http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/dahlias/all/

Looks like a nice start. Having grown up in the south I have to say I really don't like azaleas. Sure they're nifty while in bloom, but most of the year are very blah. Think about good border plants. Anything that doesnt tend to get over a foot tall should be fine. Marigold (make sure they're going to be small, some can get big), begonia, dwarf zinnia (be sure it's dwarf, the full size ones get to over 3ft tall), many herbs...a mint (but they tend to run wild...in four years it could cover that whole space) oregano, thyme...it all depends on what you want to do with it: more flowers, herbs, or veggies. Do make note of how much light it gets for the various seasons, if you're acid or alkaline, and find plants that like what you have. Plant the taller plants closer to the house and the shorter ones up front. Peace.

Celosia is my most favorite annual. They grow in sun to part sun.

A couple other folks have mentioned dianthus, and yes- they rock. Very nice light blue-green foliage with various colors (mostly red or pinkish) for the flowers. Nice scent also.

Echinacea is a good low care plant. There are many different colors available now.