thanks borderline, we are getting rid of quite a large amount of the lawn - imagine a two metre border all the way around the current boundary area (except the section adjacent to the patio by the patio doors), with a smaller turfed area inside, so that I can put planting in.
Are you making the lawn oval-shaped? I always think that works better than a rectangle. Gives more planting room in the corners too.
Hi Montyfangirl, I've got a boggy bed as well and am thinking of trying a rodgersia - apparently they love damp soils, have lovely large leaves and tall flower spikes. The only drawback is I think they are deciduous, so a bit bare in the winter. It would look really good in that corner though. Other shrubs to try would be cornus, especially the ones with red or yellow stems.
I've got a boggy bed as well and am thinking of trying a rodgersia - apparently they love damp soils
Hah! We tried that, with a newly bought Rodgersia from a specialist nursery. Damn thing had keeled over within a week. I whipped it out and stuck it in a pot and we are now waiting to see if anything survived. I can only assume it "drowned".
I'd love for it to work in that particular spot as a big-leaved something is just what we want there. Several of 'em in fact, but we thought we'd try with just one to begin with. Am now thinking of Zantedeschia ...
oh no - I have just spent the last couple of hours researching rodgersia's -I was even prepared for the bare corner for a few months if it filled the boggy gap for the rest of the year! Zantedeschia aren't tall enough for the corner - I need some height there. Cornus a slightly too high on the pollen scale so not sure I am happy to go for them. I feel like I am going round and round.
The other thought we had was finding some big hostas that can stand water. A Sum-and-Substance would look good, but I think most hostas need that mythical "moist free-draining soil". Need to research this a bit, unless anybody has any suggestions?
oh for that mythical soil eh! for every dry day we have here, we have 3 wet ones - I am getting so fed up of this weather - I'm spending more time online than in the garden!
Dampgardenman, I'm surprised your new Rodgersia died within the week, did you check for vine weevil when you dug it up? The nursery might have replaced it for you perhaps. Montyfangirl - Cornus isn't known for a pollen problem. The flowers on mine aren't very conspicuous. I have Cornus sanguinea "Midwinter Fire".
Dampgardenman, I'm surprised your new Rodgersia died within the week, did you check for vine weevil when you dug it up?
Not sure it's dead yet (I'll look at the pot if I remember) but it was very close. Healthy growth flopped over and then withered away. It was not a happy bunny. The ground was very wet.
Didn't check for vine weevil because this is the first I've heard of it! But there was nothing obvious in the rootball as far as I can remember (this happened last August).
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I'd love for it to work in that particular spot as a big-leaved something is just what we want there. Several of 'em in fact, but we thought we'd try with just one to begin with. Am now thinking of Zantedeschia ...
Montyfangirl - Cornus isn't known for a pollen problem. The flowers on mine aren't very conspicuous. I have Cornus sanguinea "Midwinter Fire".
Didn't check for vine weevil because this is the first I've heard of it! But there was nothing obvious in the rootball as far as I can remember (this happened last August).