At least had some time to visit the magnificent Perryhill Nursery. So lucky to have such an amazing independent nursery so close. A truly amazing range of plants and super friendly people. Want to share the love around though so next purchases will be from the equally fantastic Rapkyns Nursery and Plantbase.
Today's treats were 2 x Sarcococca 'Purple Stem' and 3 x Tiarella Wherryi. Going to mix the Tiarella in with some more of the exuberant varieties (Pink Skyrocket?).
When the rains finally stopped it was time to try and improve this wretched clay soil. I can safely say that this is the most compost I have ever bought in one go. Not sure precisely how much was in there - I think it was about 900L. All for £60. If you live in Kent/East Sussex I can't recommend these guys enough. Very helpful and the quality isn't too bad either. A couple a rogue bits of plastic in there but otherwise a good crumbly, sweet smelling compost.
It's remarkable how quickly 900L of compost disappears. It only just stretched to providing a good quick covering on the 3 new borders. I thought that the whole garden was going to get a good mulch and feed Guess that will have to wait for another day.
As well as the compost I added a couple of bags of grit to each border as well. And then I got digging.
And now plants are in position, ready to drop in. Just a few more spaces to fill. Luckily it's Great Dixter spring show tomorrow so plenty to choose from
Thoughts on the main border - too many plants? Wrong combinations?
Pink - Astilbe Younique (Pink) White - Sarcococca Purple Stem Silver - Tiarella Wherryi Dark Blue - Hydrangea Veitchii Red - Astrantia Roma Yellow - Dwarf Goats Beard Brown - Geranium Blue Sunrise Maroon - Choisya Aztec Pearl Black - Erysimum Bowles Light Blue - Thalictrum rochebrunianum Purple - Angelica Gigas Cream - Chelone Obliqua "Turtlehead" Green - Brunnera Jack Frost
Sounds good, and I look forward to seeing how your planting progresses. You have clearly thought through your choices. I'm assuming this border is semi shaded. Don't try to rush and fill any gap you think needs filling now. A border is long-term. If you can hold-out in Great Dixter, make notes of things you like and put that on a list, but wait to see how it grows over the year. You can always buy on-line later. After seeing the soil a few weeks back, you can never under mulch. Just keep piling on the layers several times a year if you can.
@Borderline You're exactly right - semi shaded location. I've done some timelapse photos to figure out which areas get what amounts of sun. Might post those up in a while too.
I know it's impatient but I'm shooting for instant impact. The way I see it I can overload the border and then move anything that needs moving in autumn or spring
Here's the timelapse. Unfortunately the sun wasn't shining at 11am so I couldn't get a decent picture but I'm pretty sure that is when the main bed starts to get some light.
Main border seems to get about 3 solid hours of sun. Hopefully a bit more in the height of summer when the sun is higher in the sky.
I'm treating the top left border as full sun and loading it with Monarda and Asters
So strange, your photos don't show up here, but when I used my mobile, they loaded up straight away. I find Monardas quite adaptable and do well in semi shaded locations. Agree, that 6pm sunlight is perfect.
I like most of your plan but for the choyisa AP and the 2 sacococca , there in the wrong place in my opinion. The choyisa is to close to the edge for plant that size, I have a Choyisa AP in full sun in heavy soil for the past two years and all its done is sulk , I would bring on the sarcococca in the bottom to where the Choyisa AP is and push it back enough to plant infront and remove choyisa altogether, sarcococca nearer the path for scent and it will give the hydrangea more room cause it will take it / needs it, I would remove the other sarcococca they are nice but rather dull most of the year no need for 2 in one border for me. You would have to find different plants for where the saracococca were sited.
I think the tiarella behind the astible would look good with the brunnera. tiarella look just as good on there own in my opinion. I have skyrocket nice plant.
I don't think you need 3 wallflower for that space, they can get quite large. I am not sure how well they will work with the chelone, they may blend a bit. I don't not much about chelone so I might be wrong. Must be your favourite colour there is a lot of pinks running through the border
I would be tempted to swap the astrantia roma in the large black pot in the middle with a veronicastrum diana or album or similar to give a bit of height and structure and a different flower shape.
You do know angelica are biennial once they flowered they are finished, look good with the veronicastrum though .
Sorry if it sounds I am being to critical just my opinion
Posts
Today's treats were 2 x Sarcococca 'Purple Stem' and 3 x Tiarella Wherryi. Going to mix the Tiarella in with some more of the exuberant varieties (Pink Skyrocket?).
When the rains finally stopped it was time to try and improve this wretched clay soil. I can safely say that this is the most compost I have ever bought in one go. Not sure precisely how much was in there - I think it was about 900L. All for £60. If you live in Kent/East Sussex I can't recommend these guys enough. Very helpful and the quality isn't too bad either. A couple a rogue bits of plastic in there but otherwise a good crumbly, sweet smelling compost.
As well as the compost I added a couple of bags of grit to each border as well. And then I got digging.
Thoughts on the main border - too many plants? Wrong combinations?
Pink - Astilbe Younique (Pink)
White - Sarcococca Purple Stem
Silver - Tiarella Wherryi
Dark Blue - Hydrangea Veitchii
Red - Astrantia Roma
Yellow - Dwarf Goats Beard
Brown - Geranium Blue Sunrise
Maroon - Choisya Aztec Pearl
Black - Erysimum Bowles
Light Blue - Thalictrum rochebrunianum
Purple - Angelica Gigas
Cream - Chelone Obliqua "Turtlehead"
Green - Brunnera Jack Frost
I know it's impatient but I'm shooting for instant impact. The way I see it I can overload the border and then move anything that needs moving in autumn or spring
Main border seems to get about 3 solid hours of sun. Hopefully a bit more in the height of summer when the sun is higher in the sky.
I'm treating the top left border as full sun and loading it with Monarda and Asters
Midday
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
6pm
Love that 6 o'clock sunlight!
I think the tiarella behind the astible would look good with the brunnera. tiarella look just as good on there own in my opinion. I have skyrocket nice plant.
I don't think you need 3 wallflower for that space, they can get quite large. I am not sure how well they will work with the chelone, they may blend a bit. I don't not much about chelone so I might be wrong. Must be your favourite colour there is a lot of pinks running through the border
I would be tempted to swap the astrantia roma in the large black pot in the middle with a veronicastrum diana or album or similar to give a bit of height and structure and a different flower shape.
You do know angelica are biennial once they flowered they are finished, look good with the veronicastrum though
Sorry if it sounds I am being to critical just my opinion