Right perennial, Right place

Now is prime planting time for perennials, so what are you waiting for? Pick those that best suit your garden conditions and you will ensure that they thrive.

THE secret to successful gardening is actually quite simple: give a plant the same conditions that it enjoys in the wild and it will reward you by thriving – this is particularly true of perennials, which will come back year after year if happy. Recognising the importance of replicating these natural growing conditions, the late, great gardener Beth Chatto and her ecologist husband Andrew developed the ‘right plant in the right place’ philosophy when creating their gardens in Essex in the 1960s. Working with what they had, rather than against it, they chose plants according to the soil type, light levels and other characteristics of each garden area.

The titles of Beth Chatto’s books reflect the sites she had to work with: The Damp Garden, The Dry Garden, The Shade Garden and The Gravel Garden. It’s a good idea to follow her example by determining the conditions within your own plot. Size up the soil and situation first, then look up the plants that love them. Of course, an alpine that grows on stony hillsides in the wild can be planted in damp soil – just don’t expect it to last very long.

Acid, alkaline or neutral?

Have a sneek peek in your neighbours’ gardens – the plants growing there will give a good indication of whether the soil in your area is acid or alkaline. However, a simple pH-testing kit can be purchased from garden centres. Once you’ve established the pH, dig the soil to discover its consistency and moisture levels. If it clumps together when wet, it’s clay; if it’s as white as the moon a few feet down, it’s chalk.