Part of the famous mixed border in Christopher Lloyd's garden at Great Dixter
IF anyone asks me how I plan for perennials, I would probably answer that I do not. That would shut them up for a bit and give me time to think. Then I should begin to realise that the planning, such as it is, and being largely unconscious, falls into three parts.
First, there are certain plants I like very much indeed, and I must have them and grow them somewhere. Second, I want to grow them where they are likely to do best, in sun or in shade, sheltered or exposed, on light soil or on heavy. Third, I want them to look well where I put them. This last point requires the most skill, because you have to consider neighbouring plantings in relation to one another.
Christopher Lloyd at Great Dixter
Let us look a little closer at the implications here. You probably have ideas on colour and would like to juxtapose, for instance, a deep-pink or carmine-flowered helianthemum, or sun rose, with blue lithospermums. Your next worry is, will they flower together? Otherwise, of course, your object is lost.
You consult books and catalogues, which help a bit but are usually maddeningly vague. It is best to make your plan in the previous growing season, when you can see for yourself in gardens and nurseries what is flowering when and make appropriate notes. But if you forget to do this there is nothing for it but to take the plunge. You are sure to make mistakes; there is nothing disgraceful about that, and in most instances you can easily swap things around in the next dormant season when you have seen what went wrong and how to put it right. This altering of plans goes on all through one's gardening life.
Low-growing perennials such as Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ingwersen's Variety' grow well in shade
Good neighbours
この記事は Amateur Gardening の April 16, 2022 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Amateur Gardening の April 16, 2022 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters