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Best plants, shrubs for a border in garden?

I have a west facing garden, and will be creating the border where there is direct sunlight. As its west facing the sunlight is stronger in the afternoon and evening... I'm a complete novice, and need some suggestions of the types of plants or shrubs best suited. I need something simple but challenging to care for... Is it best to get the plants already flowered or to plant seeds?!? Any tips would be useful!!!

Public Comments

1. Your best bet would be to speak to a good independant garden centre or nursery (ie not places like b&Q or home base) Really though there is not enough information to answer your question. Here is the information you need to get it right What is the soil type, is it heavy clay, light and fluffy or sandy Does the soil drain well Is the site exposed or sheltered Is it acid alkali or neutral soil.( this one not so critical but is useful) If you go to the garden centre with this info they will help you. For easy growers look at virburnums, mahonias, or possibly hebe's
2. red robins bamboo azelia all sort of grasses bottle brush. buy some every month so u will have something growing all year long . buy ones in flower and next year u can enjoy watch them come back in bloom . good luck and enjoy.
3. I personally wouldn't bother with seeds. There are so many beautiful shrubs available, some need little attention others need pruning at the correct time. I am not going to tell you much, because the best thing for you is to look up "small shrubs". Make sure they give some kind of colour during the year not just in spring. An other thing, not sure whether you want them different heights, taller ones at the back, front smaller ones. I love Pieris there are sooo many of them, Go to Pieris and look under Ed's favourite - Pieris. Gives you great information, the grow from 1-6 meters, some flower other have bracken which turn colour. It's very difficult to say that what I like, you'd like. Planting time too is very important, and now is a good time. You might even consider Dahlias, I just love them, depending where you live they can be left out over winter just cover them with leave mould etc. I have to take my tubers out with some stalk left on them, dry them off upside down then later I wrap them in newspaper and overwinter them in the shed. Again, the different types are just so wonderful. I have been lucky with Annual Dahlias, they have come back to live for many years, used the same method as above for overwintering. So I meant to make this short, but I sometimes do go on a bit. Good luck
4. I HAVE CHICKEN WIRE AROUND MY GARDEN AND I PLANT MORNING GLORY FROM SEED TO VINE IN AND OUT OF IT. IT LOOKS NICE IF YOU LIKE THAT SORT OF THING
5. I would put daylilies there. there are very carefree, pretty and love full sun. I buy mine at oakesdaylilies.com. I buy plants because I dont have the patience to wait on seeds. mini roses are also very pretty and dont get as big as a regular rose bush, hostas would add a touch of green and are easy to take care of also.I have boxwood shrubs in my garden, they only down side to boxwoods are they are slow growers.