This informal scheme mixes plants of different heights for a more naturalistic take on the traditional double herbaceous border. With the exception of the single atriplexes, all the plants are grown in groups of three, four or five, mingling soft mauves and blues with plums and dusky purples. Given fair weather, the borders could look good into November and beyond, when frost highlights the stems and seed heads.1. Any fairly neutral soil is suitable for this plan. Mark out borders at least 2 m deep and 6 m long. Remove any turf.
2. Dig the borders deeply (or clear existing ones of plants), taking care to remove any perennial weeds. Fork in plenty of compost or manure.
3. Ideally, plant the borders in autumn or spring. If you choose spring, be prepared to water as necessary.
4. Stand the plants in their pots on the soil and arrange them according to the plan. Plant the cotinus and the hydrangeas first, then work from the back to the front of the borders, watering each plant as you go.
5. The atriplex is an annual which can be planted out in late spring and in subsequent years allowed to seed throughout the border.
1. Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
2. Hydrangea villosa
3. Molinia caerulea
var. arundinacea 'Transparent'
4. Aster 'Oktoberlicht' (light blue)
5. Salvia farinacea
6. Perovskia 'Blue Spire'
7. Aster ericoides 'Blue Star'
8. Aster novae-angliae 'Violetta'
9. Aster laevis (violet blue)
10. Atriplex hortensis
No comments:
Post a Comment