Desperate for colour!

[Cetti]

We're putting our house on the market straight after Christmas and our garden is going to look - well, just full of green shrubs and very boring.

 Are there any plants, shrubs or bulbs that could be planted now (that won't cost a bomb!) to give us that much needed colour? Any help very welcome.

[silly moo]

winter flowering pansies , early bulbs - may need to but potted ones though.

[silly moo]

but should read buy

[woofgang]

Winter flowering Jasmine, viburnum bodanantense (pink and scented, keep it in a big tub and take it with you) winter pansies or polyanthus, buy in bloom when you want them, ditto winter flowering cyclamen, I got 6 for a fiver in homebase last year. Winter flowering heather...actually best suggestion is to pop along to the garden centre when you are ready and see what they have got. There is loads of stuff but it depends a bit on what the weather is like....also if it snows, you won't have to bother!!!

[CT]

Snowdrops perhaps.

[Quizmonster]

Surely you're not leaving Dorset, ma'am!

[Robinia]

Hi Cetti - As well as what has already been recommended you could buy two or three evergreen shrubs that have gold or gold variegated leaves.  The best blob of sunshine in my garden during the winter is choisya ternata Sundance. Buy the biggest you can find, put them in tubs & tuck them among your green shrubs - they really stand out.They would be a nice start for your new garden too!

All the best with your house sale!

[andyjevs]

I'd probably go with a few colourful leaved shrubs such as Euonymous or choisya. Mix with some golden ivy, small conifers, polyanthus, winter heather and some forced bulbs. I'm sure garden centres sell small pots of daffs etc which are a month or so early....or else grow some of your own bulbs such as hyacynths on a window sill and you might have them in flower after xmas. HTH

[Cetti]

Thank you everyone, what wonderful suggestions. .

You've probably realised that I'm not a  gardener never having got the hang of seasonal planting for colour - now I'm being paid back!

.I do like the idea of winter pansies, cyclamen, heathers as well as the bulbs  and the polyanthus. Bulbs are the most difficult thing for me to grow as they either don't come up or they come up blind. I'd love to know the secret.

Now growing in tubs makes a lot of sense but do I use compost especially for pots and tubs or do I fill them with bulb compost?

Indeed not Sir, nothing  would make me leave Dorset. Just need a garage for Mr C to play in if he ever decides  to  retire - and I desperately want a wildlife pond with a rill perhaps..... well, I can dream!

[mimififi]

also cyclamens are good in the winter.  You could also put in some of those little solar powered lights in strategic places, esp at the bottom.  That way if you have a viewing at 3.30 or 4pm, you don't need to trapse all the way down to the bottom of the garden in the dark, and you will be able to see to the bottom.  It will have the added advantage of looking magical too.  Also, as they are solar powered, you will be able to take them with you and have them round you pond in the summer eves.

p.s. do put any new plants in tubs.  Get coloured ones and that will add colour too.  Also you can take all those lovley new plants with you.

good luck