Help Me...Please !

Hi Katie
Perhaps you have simply chosen early flowering plants which are beginning to look a bit dull and have stopped flowering. What you need to do next year is check the garden centre and other peoples gardens in your area and see what is flowering in late July and August. My garden always looks fantastic in June and July. I have to work harder in August to keep the colour going.
Don't worry
Linda

Thank You Linda, Do you know what If theres anything I can get for this time of year flowers?

have a look in the garden centre they have quite a range of autumn bedding and also things like Sedum spectabile and asters, beddig chrysanthemums, and Dahlias until the first frosts, winter pansies of course, have a look and then next year grow some yourself-- its cheaper!

Thanks Im going to have a garden center trip sometime this week actually ... Wouldnt know where to start with growing my own lol

I agree that the end of summer can be a bit duller re summer colour but i 'do' think it's a good idea of Pams to go to a GC and see what 'they' have ..... perhaps buy a few autumn bedding plants to inject some colour - that'll brighten things up.
I didn't used to like that kind of thing but the last few years i've come around to it because it brightens things up so much :-)

There's no reason why you shouldn't have colour until the frosts Katie, good look at the GC.

just try one or two things next year--- we'll help with advice if you ask---maybe dahlia tubers --- or I noticed at the weekend--- young chrysanthemum plants its really satisfying to grow things-- even just growing them on from small plants can save a lot of money

Hi Katie
Even in the garden centres August flowering plants are fading a bit, but they are selling them half price. Add a few to your basket for next year.

I've had a quick look through your photographs - looks like you've chosen a fair few perennials and annuals, rather than grouping evergreens/deciduous shrubs with flowers in between. That's probably why you're dissatisfied Kpjo. I can see two Aucubas (spotted laurels) and a Phormium, so that's a start! You can get a lot of colour in the garden from leaves, by combining the right plants. My advice would be to choose some small shrubs, preferably evergreens, to give a framework to your garden, and fit the flowering stuff around those, as you've started to do in the bed with the spotted laurels.

Thanks People your all sooo helpfull and nice - youve all made me feel a bit better - will put some pics on of my GC finds (hopfully) katie

Hi Katie, I had the same problem when I started gardening, many years ago, I read somewhere to visit garden centres all year round at various times of the year and see what they have flowering and what colours are available at different times in the seasons. It has worked for me, only trouble is I got addicted and still keep visiting and buying and planting, but it is good fun, just get out there and enjoy looking and planning. I have always planned mentally in my head that is, never on paper, that is because I cannot draw and I find it works for me. In winter time I plan and look out at the garden and imagine what would look good and then come spring get started, it hasn't failed yet. So hope you have some good luck as I have. Best wishes with the gardening.

Ps. remember gardens develop over a long period of time they change all the time and it will be many years before your garden is perfect if ever. Mine is not perfect and never will be(hopefully) and it has been developing for a number of years now. Keep at it and you will be amazed at how it changes.

Violas are lovely for winter and flower and last better than pansies,which I have in hanging baskets or pots, you can also get some winter flowering Clematis or Autum flowering ones.

Thanks so much ... All very welcome and needed advice - havnt actually made it the the GC yet but back to normality next week (kids back at school) so will fit it in then did get some winter pansies though for baskets !
K