In order for the plants in the garden bed to grow and thrive, you should plant the different species according to their individual preferences.
Most flowers do best in the sun
Plants feel most comfortable in suitable locations
Always work with the natural garden environment, not against it. While you can adjust some conditions, such as putting up a windbreak to shield sensitive plants in exposed spots, there are some areas where you will never be able to grow certain species successfully - so sun- and warmth-requiring species will certainly not thrive in the shade, just like wet room plants will never feel comfortable in a stone bed. Respect the different microclimates of your garden and choose the right plants for them. In some areas, your choice of plants may be limited, but your garden is sure to thrive and thrive with healthy plants.
The right plants for different locations
Below are some plant suggestions for typical garden bed locations. An arrangement of healthy plants, even if they are just a few different species, always looks more appealing than many different but rampant, diseased and struggling specimens.
Plants for moist, shady locations
Damp, shady locations are among the problematic zones in the garden. But even here many different species still thrive:
- Astrantia (masterwort)
- camellia
- Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
- Witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis)
- Christmas rose (Helleborus)
- Hosta
- Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium)
- rhododendron
- Snowball (Viburnum davidii)
Plants for dry, shady locations
Incidentally, "shady" does not mean that light can be completely absent here: the gardener simply understands the absence of direct sunlight. Nevertheless, such a location can be comparatively bright, for example when light-colored house walls reflect the light in an inner courtyard. The following species, for example, feel comfortable in a shady but dry location:
- Japan anemone (Anemone japonica)
- Aukube (Aucuba japonica)
- Bergenia (Bergenia)
- Spurge (Euphorbia)
- Holly (Ilex)
- Ysander (Pachysandra terminalis)
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
- Skimmia (Skimmia)
- Periwinkle (Vinca)
Plants for dry, sunny locations
Many flowers and flowering shrubs feel very comfortable in dry, sunny locations, especially the species from the Mediterranean region:
- Yarrow (Achillea)
- African Lily (Agapanthus)
- Rockrose (Cistus)
- Globe thistle (Echinops ritro)
- Cranesbill (Geranium)
- Iris (Iris germanica)
- Catnip (Nepeta)
- Holy herb (Santolina)
- Ragwort (Senecio)
- Mullein (Verbascum)
- Yucca (yucca)
Plants for acidic soils
On acidic soil, you should give preference to appropriate plants and not constantly try to change the pH of the soil. The following species in particular thrive here:
- azalea
- camellia
- Lavender Heather (Pieris)
- rhododendron
- Skimmia (Skimmia)
Plants for alkaline soils
The choice of plants is particularly large on beds with alkaline soils:
- Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)
- Clematis (Clematis)
- Rock Medlar (Cotoneaster)
- Carnation (Dianthus)
- Lavender (Lavandula)
- Peony (Paeonia)
- Scabiosis (Scabiosa)
- Lilac (Syringa)
- Mullein (Verbascum)
Plants that also thrive on roads with higher exhaust emissions
Many plants only thrive in clean air and are therefore not suitable for planting in a bed that is on a busy road. Exhaust-gas-resistant types are, for example:
- Aukube (Aucuba japonica)
- Barberry (Berberis)
- Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles)
- Rock Medlar (Cotoneaster)
- Holly (Ilex)
- Mock Orange (Philadelphus)
- Lilac (Syringa)
- Weigela (Weigela florida)
tips
Vegetable plants generally prefer full sun, so beds for crops should always be in the sunniest part of the garden.