Garden design/plant choice help - tropical style etc?

Hi everyone,

Been trying to tidy up the back garden over the last few weeks. Was completely overgrown when I moved in a year or two back.

Managed to get it all cleared out. Sorted the shed out, new path and cleaned the patio up etc. Thinking of levelling the lawn out a bit and re-turfing at some point.

Always loved the look of Cordyline palms, so treated the place to a nice pair of reasonable sized ones. Have bought a few other plants now but I'm currently a little stumped.

Basically, I'm not all that creative. Can't quite decide what to get and where to plant it, etc.

In the picture below, below the plants where the dead sqaure of grass is there's a drain cover underneath (hence the grass always dies etc).



I'm thinking of losing the grass in this area and would like to plant a few bushy/sprawling plants around the cover to spread over the top of it.

Anyone got any good suggestions or any other ideas? Was thinking of putting some slate or gravel type stuff over it as well?

Thinking of some kind of fern or something? Could use some more of the little palms like the one in the pot but I'd like a bit of variety.

Any help/suggestions/pointers would be most appreciated

Cheers,

Will

whats the location?

shade, full sun etc?

have a look at these guys website. theyre not that far from you and they will deliver to you. very good quality plants of the style you are after and well priced

http://www.bigplantnursery.co.uk/

Hi Thermo,

Location is in Surrey. Garden is pretty much south facing, so it gets a good amount of sun throughout the day. Not sure what the soil is known as, but it seems averagely good - not too clay like or anything.

I'm basically trying to think of a few plants to stick around the edges of the cover, that would hopefully spread a bit and disguise it whilst giving some interest - some kind of ferns/palms/grasses (just guessing, not sure!)

It does get a little dry in this spot, but I don't mind watering as needed during the drier weather.

Any suggestions most welcome

Thanks,

Will

I had a look at this set of plants last week. Your very own no brainer rain forest!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270377874355

I agree you should get rid of that awful grass, dig the area over and plant some ground cover.
As your paving is pink in the photo I would avoid orange or yellow flowers, therefore:-

Helianthemum 'The Bride'
http://hta.shootgardening.co.uk/plant-data/view/plantid/843/accountid/9

Geranium 'Rozanne'
http://samshrub.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=130

Phormium 'Rainbow Maiden [sometimes listed as Maori Maiden]
http://www.mailordertrees.co.uk/Phormium_'Rainbow_Maiden'_(New_Zealand_Flax).htm

would all be my choices for situation near the drain. The first 2 will cascade over.

You have a gorgeous wall there with trellis work, it would be a shame not to make use of that with some climbers, such as roses or clematis tied in. A nice dark red climber like 'Crimson Glory' mixed with lavender blue Clematis 'Mrs Cholmondeley' would be great I think for that position and complement the paving which is quite a light pink colour to my eye.

That tropical plant you've got in a pot which looks like a Trachycarpus Fortunei, I wouldn't plant it where you've left it, but further down the wall towards the corner to the right of the Cordyline palm.
Just a few suggestions.