Planting toolkit for every space

Whether you're greening up a garden, refreshing a shared space, or tackling a damp corner, this guide offers practical planting suggestions for a range of outdoor conditions. 

Based on SNG's own guidance to encourage biodiversity and plants that will thrive in the green spaces we maintain, you’ll find:

  • Ideas for sunny spots – drought-tolerant plants that love the heat
  • Solutions for shady areas – greenery that thrives without direct sunlight
  • Tips for damp corners – moisture-loving plants that prevent soggy soil problems
  • Low-maintenance picks – hardy, easy-care options for busy lifestyles
Close up of pretty yellow daffodil

Planting for small spaces and gardens

Ornamental plants add seasonal colour and texture; perfect for borders and small gardens

Plant picks for small spaces

  • Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
    Tall, vibrant flowers that attract pollinators and love full sun
  • Heuchera 'Chocolate Ruffles' (Coral Bells)
    Rich foliage; thrives in light shade and moist soil
  • Sedum 'Brilliant' (Stonecrop)
    Drought-tolerant; great for sunny spots
  • Tulipa 'China Pink' (Tulip - pictured)
    Spring-flowering bulb, best in well-drained soil
  • Narcissus 'Tête-à-Tête' (Daffodil - pictured)
    Compact daffodil; ideal for borders

Seasonal tips

  • Autumn: Plant spring bulbs and prepare beds with mulch
  • Spring: Add perennials and grasses
  • Summer: Deadhead and prune for longer blooms
  • Winter: Cut back spent growth and tidy borders 
Different sunlit spring flowers in a park. Yellow daffodils growing beneath purple and red tulips.
Close up of selection of shrubs

Shrubs for screening and structure

Shrubs add privacy and soften boundaries; hardy in varied conditions

Shrub suggestions up to 1.5m high - below eye-level

  • Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ (St. John’s Wort)
    Prefers full sun; adaptable to most soil types
  • Lonicera pileata (Box Honeysuckle)
    Hardy and tough; grows well in full or partial shade
  • Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)
    Evergreen; shade-tolerant; wildlife-friendly
  • Potentilla fruticosa ‘Abbotswood’ (Shrubby Cinquefoil)
    Flowers all summer; best in full sun
  • Spiraea japonica ‘Candlelight’ (Japanese Spirea)
    Compact, colourful foliage

Shrub suggestions up to 2–3m high - above eye level 

  • Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’ (Japanese Laurel)
    Adaptable to various soils; thrives in shade
  • Elaeagnus ebbingei (Silverberry)
    Thrives in full sun to partial shade; tolerant of pollution
  • Escallonia rubra ‘Crimson Spire’ (Escallonia)
    Thrives in full sun/partial shade; moist soil
  • Pyracantha ‘Teton’ (Firethorn)
    Berries for birds; tolerant of pollution
  • Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac)
    Provides food and habitat for wildlife

Seasonal tips 

Spring: Apply mulch and check for gaps
Summer: Trim to maintain shape
Winter: Prune and remove dead wood 

Bushes of a number of varieties fill the frame, with a small patch of green grass at the base
Close up of Blue Bugle plant

Groundcovers, grasses, and plants for damp areas

Grasses, groundcovers, and damp-area plants reduce upkeep, manage water, and support wildlife

Groundcover plants great for verges and borders

  • Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant' (Bugleweed - pictured)
    Evergreen; thrives in moist soil and shade
  • Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau' (Tufted Hairgrass)
    Flowing grass for sun or shade

Ideal choices for moist ground

  • Juncus effusus (Soft Rush)
    Tall, structural grass for wet ground
  • Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)
    Colourful and pollinator-friendly
  • Carex elata 'Aurea' (Golden Sedge)
    Golden sedge for pond edges
  • Molinia caerulea 'Variegata' (Moor Grass)
    Compact grass with seasonal interest

Swales (shallow channels which collect and slowly drain water after heavy rain but can also be an attractive garden feature) and rain gardens, help manage water runoff and support wildlife. 

Ajuga reptans commonly known as purple or blue bugle, whole plant in flower with a blurred background, textured wood to left side.
Close up of Ivy growing on a fence

Climbing plants for vertical interest

Climbers add greenery and texture to fences and walls without taking up ground space

Plants to add height and texture

  • Hedera helix (Ivy - pictured)
    Evergreen; grows in sun or shade.
  • Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle)
    Scented flowers; wildlife-friendly.
  • Clematis vitalba (Old Man’s Beard)
    Vigorous native climber.

Seasonal tips 

  • Spring: Plant and train new climbers 
  • Summer: Prune after flowering 
  • Autumn: Mulch and tidy growth 
  • Winter: Cut back deciduous varieties 

Maintenance advice 

  • Mulch annually to retain moisture and suppress weeds 
  • Prune after flowering or in early spring to maintain shape
  • Water during dry spells, especially in the first two years
  • Monitor for gaps and replant as needed to maintain coverage 
Close-up of ivy growing on weathered wood fence