Town Gardens
Town Gardens
Produced in Association with AFDS
A little time and research in choosing the right plants for your garden can prevent frustration and failure.
For the best results you need three things:
- Quality plants locally grown ;
- A well prepared site;
- Weed control to prevent competition and allow establishment.
The 3 main factors controlling growth of a plant and consequently its selection are:
- Soil;
- Situation;
- Hardiness.
Soils come in many variations but if you have one which is either light or heavy, acid or alkaline (limy) extra care needs to be taken over the choice of plants. A heavy soil will feel really sticky and damp , a sandy soil will feel gritty and will drain quickly. You can easily find out whether your soil is acid or alkaline using a test kit from your local garden centre or just observing hydrangeas in your area they will be pink if the soil is limy and blue if it is acid and purple in neutral soil.
Situation whether exposed, sheltered, shady or sunny a plant in the wrong situation will not thrive. It may either not grow or grow long lank stems, fail to flower, fade or lose variegations.
Hardiness, we have a mild climate in Ireland as a result of the Gulf Stream but inland areas can suffer from frost and the most tender plants are not recommended inland especially those susceptible to spring frosts such as Pieris.
Not only do plants grow best when they are given the right conditions but they also look their best.
Most plants are now sold with informative labels - always read these as they are a good source of information
In town or city gardens space is often at a premium. Plants must be chosen carefully to give you greatest enjoyment while ensuring that they do not shade or spread into neighbours gardens
The following plants are all grown locally and recommended by growers as suitable for town and city gardens.
Small trees
- Amelanchier canadensis
- Betula pendula ‘Youngii’
- Cotoneaster 'Hybidus Pendulus'
- Prunus ‘Kiku-shidare Sakura’
- Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Simon -Louis Freres’
- Salix helvetica
- Salix caprea 'Kilmarnock'
- Malus 'Sun Rival'
- Prunus 'Pink Shell'
- Acer palmatum 'Ornatum'
- Acer palmatum 'Stella Rossa'
Shrubs
- Choisya 'Sundance'
- Corylus avellana 'Contorta'
- Cotinus 'Royal Purple'
- Drimys lanceolata
- Euonymus alatus
- Fothergilla major
- Myrtus 'Glanleam Gold'
- Osmanthus Burkwoodii
- Osmanthus Delavayi
- Osmanthus Het. Variegatus
- Pittosporum garnettii
- Photinia Red Robin
- Stransvaesia pallete
- Mahonia japonica
- Mahonia 'Winter Sun'
Herbaceous
- Astilbe fanal
- Campanula muralis
- Heurchera 'Palace Purple'
- Houttuynia Chameleon
- Iris 'Perry’s Blue'
- Iris 'Waku Murasaki'
- libertia 'Grandiflore'
- Lithodora 'Heavenly Blue'
- Lithodora alba
- Lupins
- Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes'
- Tradescanthia andersoniana
- Veronica 'Georges Blue'
Climbers
- Clematis ‘Mrs Thompson’
- Clematis ‘Nellie Moser’
- Clematis ‘Rogue Cardinal’
- Clematis ‘Countesse de Bouchard’
- Hedera 'Gloire de marengo'
- Hedera Colch. Dent. Variegata
- Hedera 'Sulphur Heart'
- Hedera 'Goldchild'
- Hedera 'Goldheart'
- Hedera 'Green Ripple'
- Hedera 'Green Ice'
- Lonicera serotina
- Parthenocissus veitchii
- Clematis 'Montana Elizabeth'
Alpines
- Diathus 'Pixie Star'
- Campanula 'Blue Chips'
- Geranium 'Ballerina'
- Veronica 'Heidekind'
- Viola 'Rebecca '
Pots
For very small gardens, yards, balconies or patios there are many plants which thrive in pots. Almost any plant can be grown in a pot if it is large enough and it is kept well watered. Pot gardens should include a mix of evergreen, flowering and architectural plants just as in any plan.
The shrubs below are all suited to growing in pots
- Dwarf Rhododendrons
- Camellias
- Fuchsias
- Buxus
- Bay laurel
- Skimmia
- Pieris
- Hydrangea
- Aucuba
Many of these plants are particularly sensitive to late frost so if grown in pots they can be moved inside if there is a risk of frost.
Herbaceous perennials can also be grown in pots alchemilla, hosta, astilble. lilies, asters, bergenia and ostoesperum thrive in pots.
Bedding
Bedding and patio plants can be used in any type of garden , there are a large range to chose from. For all plants look for well branched bushy plants with lots of flower buds and if possible plants raised from F1 seed.
Local growers growing for you
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