WELCOMING COMMITTEE. HOW TO MAKE MORE OF A FRONT PATH WITH VERTICAL AND LOW-LYING PLANTS.

Byline: DIARMUID GAVIN

RECENTLY I've removed a lot of paving from my front garden - it had lifted and buckled over the years.

It was an opportunity to create some curved pathways using a creamy quartz gravel. Gravel allows water to drain away, and as a natural material, it looks well in a garden setting.

The construction of the paths has yielded me some more planting space, always a bonus, so this week I got to work.

This time of year is great for planting as the soil is still warm and friable, and any new plants will be well watered in by me and the rains of autumn and winter.

First job as always was improving the existing soil with a thick layer of dark crumbly compost and removing any perennial weeds.

Then came the fun bit, placing plants in different combinations. I keep them in their pots as I juggle them around until I am happy with the overall effect, mixing low growing plants along with some that provide vertical interest.

A mixture of textures is important too - this means using a combination of bold, architectural foliage as well as lighter feathery or finely cut leaves. For example, I am using Pachyphragma macrophyllum which has large, round scalloped leaves and sprays of white flowers in spring, alongside Blechnum spicatum, an evergreen fern with dark green pinnate slender fronds.

The stars of the planting world right now are ornamental grasses. Miscanthus sinensis 'Hermann Mussel' is large deciduous grass with the most wonderful feathery flower heads that gently arch over. They are oat blonde now and will fade to silver over winter but still be decorative. I'll cut them back in spring to allow for fresh growth.

You can plant this in full sun or partial shade in moist well-drained soil. Miscanthus are big grasses and this variety can grow to up to two metres in height. For smaller plots, 'Little Kitten' is a dwarf cultivar but will still have those lovely feathery plumes.

Pennisetum has very different flower heads. They are more bottle brush in appearance. Also known as Chinese fountain grass due to its growth habit, the variety I planted, 'Hameln' has purple tinged fluffy flowers. Growing to around 60cm, it is suitable for smaller plots or containers and prefers full sun and welldrained soil.

Planning ahead, I've planted Phlomis, aka Jerusalem Sage. This herbaceous perennial has very distinctive whorls of flowers in summer that encircle the stems, a bit like candelabra primulas.

'Amazone' is a RHS award-winning variety with dark purple stems up to 1.2m in height with large pointed dark green leaves. The flowers are mauve pink and form decorative seed heads for over wintering. Most of my planting schemes will include room for at least one hardy geranium. Here I've used Geranium phaeum 'Springtime' which has deep rich purple flowers in early summer, and a maroon blotch on the lobed leaves which is typical of the dusky cranesbill.

You might need your front space for cars, bicycles or bins but if possible squeeze some greenery in as well to add some texture, colour and freshness.

CAPTION(S):

INTEREST: Quartz gravel looks good and helps to drain water

SCALLOP LEAVES: Pachyphragma macrophyllum

PRETTY: Herbaceous perennial pink Phlomis