Message from
In forum: Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor'
Hi, Laura,
It's best pruned in spring but if you want to tidy tatty leaves, you can - just don't prune too much now. Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor' is here on Shoot and if you add it to your 'Plants I Have' list, you will full instructions on when to prune and how to best go about it. Kathy C
Message from
In forum: Garden Landscaping and Design Forum Event
Antonia,
Great to hear you don't want to pave your front garden. Wildlife is a great thing to want to encourage and I commend you. Grass is high maintenance and when not looked after really makes things look uncared for. I removed all my grass at the front of my house and replaced with a gravel garden, feature pots and some planting.
You have limited space, so perhaps a small tree, like Malus 'John Downie' or M. 'Red Jade' would give you interest and height, somewhere for the birds to hag out! Underplant with predominantly shrubs and a to a lesser extent perennials to keep work load down. I suggest that because the area is raised up and I presume on reasonably free draining soil, a selection of Mediterranean plants (see Shoot lists) would be good. Teucrium fructicans 'Compactum', Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens, Salix lanata, Lavanders, Kniphofia 'Little Maid' perhaps even a Dwarf Lilac. This list goes on but pick plants that are not going to get too big. If you have a fence of cover, a Pyrocantha is great for insects, winter cover and birds love the berries. You should be able to get an APL registered landscape company to do something reasonable for £700-1000 excluding any design work? Need help with a design?
Matt
Matt Nichol MSGD
http://www.broadviewgardendesign.co.uk
http://www.sgd.org.uk
Message from
In forum: Gardening for wildlife
Hi Jo
This is one of my favourite subjects. :D
Now you will see from the title I am assuming that this is what you mean but if you want slugs/snails/rabbits/deer/squirrels/moles/aphids etc I'll happily post again. ;)
I'm going to post ten plants avoiding those already mentioned but I could go on and on! Some of these get a bit taller than 2 feet but you can always pinch them out if need be:
Aquilegia vulgaris for bees
Borage for bees
Heliotrope for bees, hoverflies and butterflies
Hesperis for bees and hoverflies
Lavender for bees
Mustard for hoverflies
Nasturtims for bees (and as a companion plant)
Oxeye Daisy for bees, hoverflies and butterflies
Salvia officinalis (Sage) for bees
Verbena Bonariensis for bees and butterflies
Georgie