Plant advice - plenty of sun

[Time Waster]

We've just cleared a modest border of pervasive weeds, until they come back, we dug out a fair few large rocks so we used them to divide the border up and allow for the addition of more topsoil to raise the border or part of it up to nearly the height of the path behind to the front door. This masks ugly foundations of the path and the new, graded topsoil will be better than the old soil which was lowered by all the weed roots removed.

The area gets full sun almost all day. The border is a corner and both sides are 2m or so wide and up to a metre back. One corner next to the path we have anenome, choisia and iirc convolorys our something like that. They'll grow too big eventually but we'll cut the choisia and other shrub back, possibly move the, later.

They mostly fill the path border. The other is empty. We were thinking wildflower meadow types to give bees and insects something plus us height and flowers.

Anyone got any good ideas? Full sun and water comes from a water butt up a flight of stairs. This front garden is our only flat area. The rest is a hill.

 

[tom73]

For wild flowers you want a good seed mix most one's you buy as seed packets. From shops or garden centres are pretty basic mix of common annual "wild plants".
Try https://wildflowerlawnsandmeadows.com/ for real professional selected mixers.
Roses will be fine in full sun underplanted with perennial verbena for example.
Both will only really need watering until they get established.
David Austin roses have a good range of roses and are a cut above most ones you find in the shops.

 

[Dave 123]

Some of the garden centre wildflower mixes can be a bit hit and miss.

Try these people. It’s always good quality

https://www.wildflower.co.uk/

 

[annedonnelly]

Wildflower mixes are annuals. You might be better with perennials to give interest throughout the year and to save spending money every year. If you want to do something for insects then it's good to have things that flower at different times of year.

My front garden has been full of bees for the last few weeks. There is lavender, a border of devil's bit scabious, purple loosestrife and a sea holly all of which the bees love. Earlier a red valerian attracted moths.

In a sunny spot things like Mediterranean herbs should do well. And they're more drought tolerant.

 

[Trull]

Could I be slightly daring and suggest a fruit bush? even if you don't eat them the birds certainly will and they also provide excelent places for moths and other beneficial insects to live.

 

[Gillstay]

Rosemary will work well in a dry area and you could also use it to grow onions and garlic at the same time. Primula sp too.

 

[All uphill]

Rosemary, lavender, thyme would make the most of the sun, and would tolerate the rocky bits.