Over the Easter weekend I had my back garden paved and to take the 'dullness' out of it I bought a few troughs and containers for the wall and planted them up myself.  The thing is I've never done anything like that before and to be honest I quite enjoyed it :-o  I think they look fantastic :-D  My next move is to tackle the front garden (luckily it's very small) at the minute I've got a lawn with a border round it all- there isn't anything in the border except for a 'flowering cherry tree' which is in one corner where the cat's buried.  I've been scouring the net for ideas but none of the sites have an idiots guide to gardening or plants etc.

1) I'm wanting to plant a mixed border with a layered effect- (3 layers?) - taller plants at the back, smaller at the front.

2) I'd like it to be reasonably easy maintenance. 

3) I would like a variety of plants so that I have year round colour/ something is always in bloom.

4) Preferably plants that will return year after year.

Is this possible or am I asking too much?  I realise that I'd have to leave spaces for bulbs next spring etc.  Let me just add- dogs do not go on the front or have access to :-)

Does anyone have any ideas what sort of plants to use and height/ spread? Please help x

Stacey x

    

Border Perennils?????? But that would mean winter wont have colour!!!!!!
Blooming all year round is a hard one even for the professionals!!!!!
How big a borders are they??????? As the easiest option is shrubs at the back, that can be evergreen and blooming or just evergreen, things like Ceanothus blue mound (Dark green small leaves with Blue flowers from about now onwards)
Photinia (evergreen large green leaves but new leaves come out RED)
Osmanthus another small leaved plane with small insignificant flowers but highly fragranced.
Depends on soil but you may have the options of Azaleas and rhodys!!!!
The border perennials in the middles can have alot of vareid lovely flowers :) Things like Michalmus daisy, etc
Then small ground coverat the front, aubritia for coulour this time of the year.
Bulbs can be planted in amongst the ground cover and border perennials!!!!
Books that are our bibles when we dont know something are the Hessyon series, ie Tree and shrub expert, flowering shrub expert, flower expert etc etc etc
Gives you good ideas.
But forst you need to know is you soil acid or alcaline??????????? Easy way to find out if you dont know LOL
Sorry not much help but a start :)
Lea :)