flowerbed

Posts

• Athelas Posts: 946

  April 2021

  You can get some inspiration from the ready-made border plans at Crocus (and buy the plants somewhere else). You’ll need some idea of what soil type and sun exposure your border has.
  
  https://www.crocus.co.uk/ready-made-borders/
  
  For example, under ‘Special features’ you can take a look at the border called ‘Flowers for pollinators’: https://www.crocus.co.uk/bomcard/_/ready-made-border/red-summer/classid.2000010691. Click on ‘Open border plan’ to see a diagram of what to plant where.
  
  With a long border it’s worth repeating plants and patterns, makes the garden look a bit more cohesive.

  Cambridgeshire, UK

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• BenCotto Posts: 4,718

  April 2021

  I would counsel against wild flowers. For a brief spell they can look quite spectacular but as flowers fade they become very ragged and untidy and people will be thinking - if not actually saying - why are you growing weeds? 
  
  Cultivated plants have been cultivated for a reason - the flowers are brighter, larger, longer lasting and the growth habit more organised. Also, some, but not all, garden plants are as beneficial to wildlife as their wild cousins.
  
  At the moment your request is akin to me saying ‘I have a large walk in wardrobe. What clothes should I put in it?’ How would you answer that? My advice would be to do a Google image search for ‘Flower borders’, ‘herbaceous flower beds’, ‘herbaceous borders planting plans’ and return to the forum with a couple of pictures of the style you would like to emulate. After all, if you hanker after twin sets, you don’t want to end up with tie dye tee shirts and shell suits.

  Rutland, England

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• WildFlower_UK Posts: 236

  April 2021

  BenCotto said:

  I would counsel against wild flowers. For a brief spell they can look quite spectacular but as flowers fade they become very ragged and untidy and people will be thinking - if not actually saying - why are you growing weeds? 
  

  I do disagree somewhat with this! I have a meadow border (ground level rather than raised bed) and it looks great from May to October (although at its peak June-Sept). Right now theres lots of green growth and soon the first flowers will appear. Plus we should never garden based on what others like but instead focus on what we enjoy. I have had comments about wild flowers being basically weeds by family and friends (who have more ornamental planting) and just think it's rude to pass judgement. Of course everyone has preferences - how boring would it be if we all did the same! My focus is definitely wildlife and in the summer it's literally buzzing with life. I cut back and prune so it never looks ragged although of course it's not as 'orderly' as it could be!
  
  I do agree though - this is a bit of a 'how long is a piece if string?' question. All the more reason for focusing on what brings you joy, not others 😊.
  

  "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"

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• S99jordan Posts: 2

  April 2021

  Thank you to everyone who has given me advice it’s very welcome and helpful. 

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