The fence around the back of our house has now been replaced, the strong winds of the spring finally finishing off the old one.

I may have been using the ‘I’m just waiting for the fence to be replaced’ as an excuse not to tackle this area for quite a while but with the weather still being kind to us, I’m not putting it off any more.

I expect a lot of things from the plants I am selecting for this area: some to be shade tolerant, big enough to give privacy from the neighbours but not too big that I can’t keep them under control, some need to be evergreen but I want some flowers and winter interest also....I don’t want much do I?

I’ve made my selection, a bit municipal gardens perhaps but that’s why they are used because they are tried and tested, reliable and easy to maintain:

Aucuba japonica (spotted laurel) – evergreen interesting freckled gold foliage giving winter interest and tolerating drought in my shady corner. H 1.5-2.5m W 1.5-2.5m

Mahonia japonica (Japanese mahonia) – evergreen shrub with leathery, spiny pinnate leaves, clusters of yellow flowers from late autumn followed by black berries. Happy in full or part shade. H 1-1.5m W 1.5-2.5m

Hypericum Hidcote (St John’s wort) – dense evergreen shrub with dark green foliage and masses of bright yellow saucer shaped flowers in summer.

Sun or part shade. H1-1.5m W 1-1.5m Pittosporum tenuifolium (New Zealand pittosporum) – large columnar evergreen shrub with round glossy light green wavy leaves. Small honey scented deep purple flowers in late spring.

Full sun or part shade. H 4-8m W 2.5-4m.

Ilex aquifolium (Holly) – medium sized slow growing evergreen tree with dark glossy green strongly spiny leaves.

Small white flowers in spring followed by bright red berries. Full sun. H up to 12m W 4-8m Ceanothus ‘Skylark’ (Californian Lilac) – evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves and small deep blue flowers throughout spring.

Full Sun. H1.5-2.5m W 1.5-2.5m

Planting notes:

Water plants well; dig hole no deeper than the roots but up to three times the diameter of the root ball; dig in some organic matter; tease out the roots; place the plant in the hole; refill the hole eliminating air pockets by firming the soil in; water well and continue watering until plant is well established.