'Bowers of Flowers' planting scheme tips and maintenance notes

General layout of plants:

As every garden is different, the following guidelines should be followed in placing these flowering shrubs in your garden. Some of them grow to be quite large, so it is a good idea to know how tall and wide you can expect each plant to grow and to read the information given below. The best mature specimens are the ones which receive only minimal pruning, so always ensure that there is sufficient space for each plant to grow to its full potential. Of course, it is fine for plants to knit together somewhat as they mature. What you don't want to happen is to find that just as a certain plant starts coming into its own it is pressing up against a path or window and will require major cutting back. Many of the plants in this scheme lend themselves to a naturalistic style of gardening and can be placed amongst existing trees or in grass in sun or light shade. As with all plants, ensure that they are well watered while establishing and that they are kept free from weeds. All of the plants in this scheme can be incorporated into a garden where they are 'underplanted' with lower grasses, ferns or flowering plants. Alternatively, these plants can dotted around a more wild garden where, because of their ultimate size, they will provide colour, scent and structure at different times of the year. Traditional 'shrubberies' are high maintenance and leave large amouts of exposed soil or mulch.

Details on positioning, size and preferred environment for plants in this scheme:

Magnolia 'Leonard Messel'

This magnolia has gorgeous lilac-pink flowers in spring, with 12 petals, giving the blooms a star-like appearance. They grow into large shrubs or small trees up to 6 metres tall and 5 metres wide. Suitable for the back of a border as a specimen. It should be planted in sun or light shade in soil that is fertile, moist but well-drained. Pruning should be kept to a minimum, though lower branches or crossing branches may be trimmed off young plants. Magnolias prefer a part of the garden that is protected from strong winds - they do, however, cope with heavy or clay soils.

Spiraea 'Arguta'

This smaller shrub has arching branches which in Spring creates a graceful flowering mound. It is suitable for the front of a bed or on a bank, where the cascading branches can be seen to best effect. It is a resilient plant which can cope with most soils, though it is best in full sun in well-drained soil. For best flowering, it can be pruned after flowering. Trim approximately one third of branches to ground level and lightly cut back the tips of all branches. It can grow to a height of up to 2.5 metres x 2.5 metres wide, though this is easily controlled by pruning.

Hydrangea 'Annabelle'

This hydrangea is suitable for a partially shaded part of the garden. It prefers moist soil and should not be allowed to become too dry. It flowers with white pom-pom like flowers in late summer and these flowers fade to lime green. For best flowering, prune off old flowers in late winter / early spring, as well as any older or very woody stems, which can be brought right down to ground level. Like the Spiraea, it can grow to a height and spread of 2.5 metres, but can be easily kept in check if pruned according to the above regime.

Exochorda 'The Bride'

Smothered in white flowers in spring, this unusual plant can be trained against a sunny wall or be allowed to grow into a floppy, very arching shrub up to 2 metres high x 2 metres wide. It prefers sun or partial shade, and moderately fertile soil which is well-drained but moist. Little pruning is necessary. Although not tender, it is best if sheltered from heavy frosts, which can damage new leaves - again, making it ideally suited for against a sunny wall. Note - it does not like limey soil, so top-dress the soil with plenty of organic matter such as leaf litter or garden compost.

Mahonia x media 'Charity'

We chose this plant because of its ability to cope with a shadier spot than most plants. It should, if possible, be planted somewhere where its wonderfully sweet winter scent can be appreciated, but slightly off the beaten track as its leaves are spiky. Mahonias deeply resent being pruned and should really be allowed to do their own thing where they can grow to 3-4 metres in height. Ideally suited for a shadier spot or the back of a border. Once established they can also cope with dry conditions such as those encountered under mature trees.

Magnolia stellata

Like all magnolias, this plant has very pretty flowers in spring or early summer. It is smaller than many magnolias, and quite slow growing, but it can eventually become a small, graceful tree up to 4 metres high x 4 metres wide. If at all possible, find a spot for it where it will be allowed to grow to its full potential unchecked. It can have ferns or low perennial plants planted around it, or even be planted into a grass lawn - it may look a little lost at first! Magnolias can cope with heavy clay soils, but benefit from leaf-mould or orgaic matter at the base, particularly when they are establishing.

Viburnum x bodnantense

Like the Mahonia, one of this plant's greatest assets is its great wiinter fragrance, so plant it somewhere that you pass regularly in the winter months such as near your front door or by a parking area. As it can grow to be up to 4 metres tall x 2 or 3 metres wide, it requires a good amount of space. It prefers sun or light shade and benefits from being near mature trees or high walls to protect from hard frosts which can damage the flowers or emerging leaves. To keep its flowers lower down, once established you can prune out a third to a fifth of older shoots. This will encourage a steady stream of younger shoots, keeping the plant full and graceful lower down.

Philadelphus

Nothng beats the scent of this plant in summer. Best planted in full sun. When established these plants are remarkably tolerant of dry soils. They can be quite unsightly and twiggy in the winter, so ensure that there is a good distraction nearby such as the evergreen, winter-flowering Mahonia. If Philadelphus get too large for their allotted space, they can successfully be pruned down to ground level. However, to avoid having to do this, it's best to cut down about a fifth of all shoots (ie the oldest or woodiest ones) to ground level every winter, encouraging a steady stream of vigorous younger ones. Like lilac, Philadelphus are ideal as an informal garden boundary plant or at the back of a sunny border - make sure that you can access the flowers easily as the scent is only revealed when you are trght up against them!

Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii'

This is a wide, spreading plant with masses of horizontal branches which are covered in white flowers in early summer. As it requires plenty of space, plant as a specimen in a lawn or in a wide border, or in a woodland situation in dappled shade. Once established it is tolerant of drier soils, but while establishing it should be kept moist but well-drained. Some shoots can be pruned off to encourage the 'horizontal' look, but it should on no account be 'trimmed' as this will compromise its best asset. Ultimate height and spread can be 4 x 4 metres.

Syringa vulgaris

The lilac is a beautiful summer-flowering shrub which should be planted in full sun in almost any garden soil. They are care-free and easy to grow and require next-to-no maintenance. Established plants can be cut down to ground level to rejuvenate them, whilst newly-planted ones should be kept moist. As they mature, older shoots can be removed at ground level to encourage new shoots and better flowering. Spent flower heads can be removed as they look unsightly, although this isn't necessary to encourage more blooms the following year. Lilacs are particularly suited to garden edges and boundaries, or to the back of flower borders. Ultimate height and spread of 4 x 4 metres.