Re-Planting A Flower Bed

[chokkie]

Hi folks, OH has just cleared a flower bed in our back garden, and it's all nicely dug up and clear. We would like to replace the mess that was there with some flowering and/or evergreen shrubs. However, we don't want anything that's going to grow higher than about 1 foot, and not spread too much. We want to plant shrubs which are: (a) easy maintenance (b) compatible with a mixed soil (c) low growing (d) sunny aspect in the afternoons and (e) slow growing.

I have contacted various plantsmen but can only find shrubs which are too high for what we want.

Any suggestions - one from OH was euonymous, and I also believe that Hebes are quite low growing and low maintenance.

Would appreciate some advice/suggestions. Not hydrangeas, ceanothus or lavender please - we have more than enough of these in the rest of the garden, thanks.


Many thanks, Chox.

[woofgang]

Patio roses underplanted with variegated periwinkle. The periwinkle isnt slow growing but it chops to shape easily.
http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2219/variegated-common-periwinkle.php

[coccinelle]

Are you sure you're looking for something as small as one foot in height? At that height you'd have to be looking at dwarf plants.(these by the way start growing normally after a few years if conditions are good).

[murraymints]

Some genes get very big.....dwarf azaleas or rhododendrons...synonymous ..trim back each year...euphoria polytheism.. schillingii or myrsinites varieties...any alpines...

[murraymints]

Hebes not genes

[murraymints]

Euonymus

[murraymints]

Euphorbia....my predictive thingy is going haywire

[chokkie]

HI folks, some great suggestions - coccinelle - I think we're going to go for some heathers, and some dwarf plants - we really aren't keen gardeners, and just want something that won't grow too fast or too high. Had a look in B&Q this morning which sort of cemented the suggestions here. Thanks so much folks. Chox.

[hammerman]

Heathers mixed with dwarf conifers would look great. Some of the dwarf conifers i have in my rockery are only 1 foot x 1 foot and have been in for 15 years !!!!