Please could you help me soften this ugly wall?!!!

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hello Houzzers

Would love some advice. I am wanting to create a flower bed and plant some ornamental style shrubs in front of the wall (which I am also going to paint now it has been rendered).

I thought of interspersing shrubs with seasonal bedding plants. Should I do a row of the same shrub or vary them? I want them to be evergreen shrubs. I like euphorbias, cordalynes, buxus but would welcome any other ideas. It is west facing with sandy soil. Thanks

so much in advance

Comments (3)

Jonathan
5 years ago
Presumably you are trying to avoid the feeling that the garden banks steeply up to the house. For this reason I would likely avoid painting the render a crisp white in favour of a dark shade to echo the boarders and the roof or a stone colour to match the house. As far as planting I think you are on track with your ideas- personally I would repeat plants in threes or more to give move impact quickly. I would also add some taller bushes or trees that help you feel more private on the terrace- I would continue your theme of finding interesting and contrasting colour foliage and add acers, holly, photinias, Portuguese laurel, sambuca Nigra, Robinia Frisia, fatsia japonica, rhododendron and cotinus grace to the list to be considered.
design novice thanked Jonathan
design novice
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi Jonathan this is really helpful thank you. I have posted another pic to show perspective as it is an even steeper bank that the original pics show! It is a quiet road and given the elevation I am not too worried about privacy. I will look up those plants thanks and appreciate the tip about repeating plants in threes
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PRO
Linsey Evans Garden Design
5 years ago
Here are my go-to evergreen shrubs: Choisya ternata (you can also use the gold variety 'Sundance') - keep it clipped into a mounded to control size, beautiful, scented white flowers in summer, Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki' - looks a bit like holly and very tough, again, keep clipped - it won't grow too large and stays in a tight shape, Myrtus communis - again, white flowers, again holds a nice shape, but keep clipped so it doesn't get too big, Hebe pinguifolia 'Sutherlandii' - is a low growing mound forming Hebe with white flowers in summer, doesn't need pruning, pair the Hebe with Phormium 'Bronze Baby' for contrast - it's a smaller Phormium and hardier than some. Use some Hydrangeas and Paeonies for a spot of colour.

I would not use Cordeline as they eventually grow a stem and get very large and leggy.

Put in some grasses for texture - depending on how big you want to go. Smaller grasses - Pennisetum 'Hamelyn', Deschampsia cesspitosa, Stipa tenuissima. Larger grasses - Mischanthus, Calamagrostis. Cut back in late winter - very easy to look after.

Instead of annuals use low-growing perennials - die back in winter, re-emerge in summer, so need to re-plant each year. My favourites - Geranium 'Rozanne', Sedum 'Purple Emperor', Geranium 'Dragonsheart', Eryngium 'Bourgatii', Vinca minor, Teucrium lucidris, Heuchera 'Obsidian'. If you want some taller perennials use Salvia 'Caradonna', Helenium 'Wyndley', Kniphofia 'Tawny King', Veranicastrum 'Apollo', Echinacea 'Purpurea', Aster frikartii 'Monch', Iris 'Butter and Sugar'. Plant in minimum clumps of 3 and upwards in odd numbered groups. Add some early flowering bulbs and you should have colour year-round.

Go onto the Crocus web site for a bit more inspiration on what to plant.
design novice thanked Linsey Evans Garden Design

Please could you help me soften this ugly wall?!!!

Comments (3)

Jonathan

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Original Author

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Please could you help me soften this ugly wall?!!!

Comments (3)

Jonathan

design noviceOriginal Author

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Linsey Evans Garden Design

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

design novice
Original Author