[Jaye]

Look, i'll come clean. Although I am really excited about it now the past few years I have done very little on my garden. We moved in 3 years ago and pregnancy and illheqalth meant I haven't done much. We have a bloke you keeps things under control and mows but i really need to set about planting nice things in my flowerbeds. There are lots of nice shrubs in many of the flowerbeds and lots of daffies and bluebells that come up each year, and a fair amount of honeysuckle - but I want to start planting more annuals and filling in the gaps.

So questions are do i just weed and get dead leaves off the flowerbeds? Also, can i just plant other things around where the daffy and bluebell bulbs are atm?

Sorry if it seems really thick - they just scare me cos stuff is already there - I'd be less intimidated by bare soil.

Jaye

[Trillium]

Sounds like a plan, Jaye. I too hate disturbing spring bulbs, and spring cleanups are necessary against hibernating pests. While the bulbs are in flower you know where to put plants, but I'd opt for some perennials as well which, though they flower only once a season, are less maintenance for your busy life. Hostas give drama and a nice flower mid summer, daylilies can stretch out for a while and are no maintnenace, same with tall liliums (orientals, trumpets, etc) which are also bulbs. Clematis are also very easy.
For the time being until you're more confident, I'd avoid the fussy plants like roses and dahlias.

[Annie]

I`m a sucker for cosmos,nice ferny folliage,no care needed,easy to grow from seeds and last until the frost gets them and sometimes behond.for planting anything amongst the bulbs just do it afrer the folliage has died back then lift and divide the bulbs and plant them mixed with anything else .I grow some amongst lamium so then the leaves of the daffs die down the lamium starts growing and covers them,there are lots of other plants that will give the same effect.