So far this year, to go either side of the front porch I have bought;
2 bay trees... died
2 box hedges cut in topiary... died
2 (not sure what they were) bit like xmas trees but very pale green, nice orangey scent, cut into pom poms....... also died
2 palms..... are you starting to see the pattern... :(

I buy the compost stuff with all the nutrients and swell gel and slow release foodie stuff, Ive put holes in the bottom of the Galvanised steel planters, I water (when I remember usu once a week)
Theyve all kicked the bucket!!
I think the spot by the porch is quite a sun trap (theyve all gone dry and brown)

So which plants are fool proof/sun proof/can suffer a fair bit of neglect / HG proof??
Before you say it..... Ive even killed cacti :rolleyes:

Thinking sun trap, thinking mediteranian, what about something like a rosemary?  They go woody eventually, but they can look good for a few years, you can trim them to shape and you can fling some in the dinner.  Or an olive.  I have had one that has survived a considerable amount of abuse on my patio and is being to look cutely knarled.

Plastic? :D (Don't worry, I'm the same!)

How many dogs are using them as urinals? ;)

http://www.replicaplants.co.uk/ :)

yep - go artificial - I kill more plants than i care to mention !

oh no!! I couldnt have plastic ones!!

The dogs dont venture to the front of the house, its the 'posh' part they are restricted to the Somme battle field hidden away at the back ;) But I had considered the foxes, OH was horrified to observe me sniffing the pots!! Im not sure fox or dog could lift its leg high enough (which didnt occur to me until after I'd sniffed) they stand about 3ft (the planters)

Olive! now why hadnt I thought of that, perfect (also like the sound of the rosemary for the scent.. is it possible to buy mature ones?)
Just had a flick through some online places and by 'eck they're expensive though :(  (especially as Im not convinced their life expectancy can be garuanteed to warrant the price ;) )

Don't want to burst your bubble but my MIL bought me a lovely Rosemary plant and it died in no time.  She bought me another and it also died   I don't normally kill my plants so bit confused.  MIL not impressed as she told me that Rosemary is hardy and grows wild in Spain so what on earth did I do? (shrugs shoulders). 

When I buy something I check the label to see what the plant likes and dislikes and if it doesn't suit I don't buy it.  I had a Hibiscus in the front garden for about 5 years which hasn't grown or flowered since I planted it.  Last autumn I dug it up and put it out the back and it's starting growing and looks very green and healthy. Hopefully I will see a flower this year.

Perhaps it's not you or the position but the soil type.

Might be the compost maybe :) Certain plants like certain types of soil :)

Lucy
xx

I bought Rosemary seeds and plants grew ;) I transplanted them into the garden beside Thyme and Lavender. I've still got the Thyme and the Lavender, but the Rosemary (all 8 plants ) have died :( A neighbour told me that to make a Rosemary plant to survive you need the man of the house to be the boss There isn't one in my house so maybe that old wives tale is true :rolleyes: I'm trying again with a new plant this year. It's still in the pot. I'm too scared to try and plant it :D

There are lots of rosemarys I have just had the bog standard one.  A single in a pot and it lasted about five years which I think is lively proof that this saying is a bit dodgy ;)

>A neighbour told me that to make a Rosemary plant to survive you need the man of the house to be the boss

Where is Lea Titchmarsh?  She will surely have an idea, I've had a baytree and two buxus outside of my house for at least ten years they get a trim each year, fed once weekly in the spring/summer and neglected during the winter.  I  have a dehumidifier in my hall and always use the water from that to water the plants outdoors, don't know if that contributes to their success.

Get a good artificial one, they do some really complex and realistic ones in TK Max.

They do in Booker too if you have one near you as the firm I do the accounts for supply Booker and I've seen them.  Our local council have all artificial hanging baskets from us and they look great. 

Holly?  But not one of the normal leafed varities, something a bit more delicate - look under Ilex.

I haven't got very green fingers and have successfully killed lavender, rosemary and a bay tree in my very sunny south facing front garden, but I have found a plant that grows - sage, pretty foliage and useful too.  I believe there are many different varieties with different foliage to choose from and also apparently it is a meditteranean plant

This looks attractive & a little bit different!

How about some variegated ivy - if you grow it up a trellis in a pot it shouldn't get out of control and is almost impossible to kill off through neglect :D or any other way which is why I would only put it in a pot.

The other plant I would recommend is a Passionflower - again would need to be grown up a small trellis but has lovely flowers and bright orange fruit :D

On second thoughts I am not sure if they are dog friendly but googling would tell you :)

Passion Flower....spreads like weeds.......
Karen

But if it's in a pot it won't matter if it takes over

I've got variegated Vinca growing in my garden. It has a blue-ish flower and looks like an ivy. It grows and grows and grows........ It can be trained anywhere too ;) I've also got a variegated sage. Looks and smells lovely. Lemon balm also smells nice when you brush up against it.

Most Mediteranean herbs will be great in a pot as they like the dry conditions (just in case you forget to water :) )

How about Ceanothus, California Lilac. Good in low water and bright sun. Blooms are lovely this time of year. They don't mind being clipped; I have it as a hedge at my house. Makes a lovely tree to if you prune into that shape. Try regular compost, you may be getting soggy roots. Most people who kill a lot of plants water too much.

>California Lilac<

Does it attract Bees though?

Thanks everyone.. Im off to the Garden centre tomorrow (watch all the shrubs & trees shy away from me, quivering in their pots)
I think its a toss up between Lemon trees and Olive trees :)
They are horrendously expensive though, had a flick round the internet as I nearly gave in and opted for artificial but it would cost me about £300

I cant find many places that do mature bushes/trees.. but then I suspose they cost a small fortune too :( but presumably they'd be harder to kill?? would they?

Citrus is not easy HG. I'd stay away from the Lemon trees if you're looking for something Liv-proof.

I've never noticed many bees near our lilac. They would love the blossoms on the lemon tree.

I've never noticed larger plants are harder to kill but that may just be my experience. Bamboo grows quickly and is easy to grow (it is just grass after all) so that's another option if you want an architectural plant. It spreads in the ground but is great for pots. I really like black bamboo myself, Phyllostachys nigra.

Buddleia are almost indestructable I've got one in a pot that self seeded itself, I often forget to water it & it looks half dead but douse it with some water & he's as good as new

I am desperately trying to kill mien off that self seeded and blocks the light in one window.  Main problem I ahd it that it grows so fat that I can't get rid of the prunings (Our council don't take them unless you pay for green bin emptying) which amount to almost a tree a year.

what about some privit hedge (sp) in a pot and shape it , you couldnt kill that ............could you ?:D

Gave up...went to Greenwich Market and bought a cow hide rug instead! (at least its dead already..)

:rolleyes: And how is that going to look stuffed into a pot next to the porch?

Now now Isabel, I think it looks lovely :D

Damien Hirstish :)

>a cow hide rug

My dog would eat that :D

Lol - my two would love to chew that up too.  And the Bamboo.  And the Buddlea.  In fact practically all the plants mentioned except the sage :rolleyes:

If you want to cover a fence/house try a Russian Vine :D :D :D :D

Daisy