ᐅ Garden Photos Chat Corner

I’ll give it a try in this wonderful thread: I have a "problem planting bed" that I would like to plant, but I can’t find the right plants.

Here are the details:
- It borders a cherry laurel hedge (left by the previous owner, will be removed eventually) that takes all the nutrients from the soil and makes it very compact
- It’s quite steep (rise of about 50cm (20 inches) over 1.5m (5 feet) width)
- Currently, a currant bush and an alpine currant bush are growing there
- Light exposure: partial shade

Do you have any ideas for a nice ground cover that blooms or something similar?

Best regards from the Rhineland

You can plant many different things. For example, roses will bloom. You can also opt for a prairie-style garden, a natural look with “wild” plants, or a Mediterranean style. Ultimately, it has to suit the house and your preferences.

Is it a good idea to keep the cherry laurel and plant the hand plant in front of it? I would remove it right away. You will probably end up trampling half the bed anyway when trying to get rid of it.

It certainly doesn’t make sense to leave it standing, but at the moment there is no alternative... It has been rooting there for 30 years, removing it will be a massive project... I like the idea of planting roses, but then you probably won’t be able to reach the currants anymore... I like the Mediterranean style; do you think a low-growing flowering thyme can handle that? Alternatively, I also really like heath pink and grass pink—do you think they would work?

You can place stepping stones in between. Roses are not foot-traffic resistant. Sand thyme and dwarf lilac ground cover should tolerate it.

I wouldn’t invest money if it’s foreseeable that the hedge will be removed.

Thank you for your tips. In the next few days, I will visit the local florist and try to implement the ideas cost-effectively.