Choosing and caring for plants in your garden
You may choose plants based on their colour and shape, but there is much more to consider. Think about the type of soil in your garden, how much sunlight it receives and how much time you want to spend maintaining it. Some plants require more care than others.
Good soil
The first thing to consider is the type of soil in your garden: sand, peat or clay. Sandy soil is drier and less fertile than peat or clay soil, so it requires different types of plants. Ornamental grasses, sedum and globe thistles are well suited to sandy soils, while delphiniums and bergenias thrive in clay soil. The same applies to the soil’s pH level and the amount of sunlight your garden receives. There are suitable plants for every location, but you can also improve the soil if necessary. You can improve drainage in wet soils, fertilise less fertile soils and add lime to acidic soils. In some cases, you may choose to replace the existing soil with nutrient-rich garden soil.
Making a plan for planting
Once you understand your soil conditions and how much sunlight your garden receives, you can start planning your planting scheme. Consider the different heights of the plants and the shapes of their leaves. This will help you create attractive contrasts and add depth to a smaller garden. The ideal garden offers colour throughout the year. Choose plants and shrubs that flower at different times so that you can enjoy colour in every season. Winter-flowering plants, such as witch hazel and hellebores, can add interest during the colder months. You can also include bulbs or ornamental grasses that remain attractive after flowering.
Ground frost
Love exotic plants? With a little extra care, many can thrive in a northern European garden. Some Mediterranean plants, including lavender and rosemary, are hardy. Others need protection from frost. You can protect them during winter with horticultural fleece or cover the soil around them with a layer of mulch or bark chips. Frost-sensitive plants, such as oleander and bougainvillea, are best grown in pots so that you can move them indoors for the winter.
Cultivating your own plants
Of course, you can visit a garden centre and buy plants that are ready to put in the ground. However, growing your own plants has become increasingly popular in recent years. With the right care, you can grow plants from seed, take cuttings or divide existing plants. This allows you to share your favourite plants with friends and family while saving money. It may take more time than a trip to the garden centre, but it can also be a rewarding hobby.
Maintenance and time
Every garden requires some maintenance, but the amount of time you spend on it can vary considerably. With the right plants and ground-cover plants, even a low-maintenance garden can be lush and full of flowers. You can decide whether you want to spend time sowing, planting and composting or prefer to keep maintenance to occasional pruning and mowing. A well-designed planting plan is half the work.
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