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Using spring bulbs in a perennial bed
I've planted up a formal perennial border, with swathes of mostly Rudbeckia (Goldsturm), Salvia (farinacea Victoria and Mystic Spires), Verbena bonariensis and some annual Ammi majus.
The border will I hope hit its peak in late summer and into autumn and in the meantime there's not much interest. So, thinking about how I plan for next year, I have a couple of questions. I'm a relative novice at this so any advice would be welcome.
(1) To give some interest in the 1st half of next year, I thought of planting spring bulbs in amongst - maybe early daffodils or maybe some very early perennial tulips. But I noticed in other parts of the garden even now in June my early daffodils still have green leaves that haven't started dying back. How do people manage this type of succession planting? Will the daffodil leaves not smother the bed and inhibit these perennials from pushing through in spring? Or would people cut back the daff leaves before they yellow? Or, alternatively, any ideas on what I could grow for spring impact that would fade away and make way for the summer display?
(2) The salvias I have (Farinacea Victoria and Mystic Spires Blue) are described as "tender" (perennials usually grown as annuals) on some websites and hardy down to -5 by the RHS. I live in a relatively mild part of southeast Kent, in the low weald about 10 miles from the sea. Am I safe to assume that in a normal winter these should survive with a thick late-autumn mulch? Or would I be better advised to lift them all and overwinter them in a greenhouse (about 50 plants!)? It's a southeast-facing bed, relatively sheltered and quite well drained.
(3) Should I expect the Ammi majus to self seed and appear again next year?
Thanks for any advice or suggestions!
The border will I hope hit its peak in late summer and into autumn and in the meantime there's not much interest. So, thinking about how I plan for next year, I have a couple of questions. I'm a relative novice at this so any advice would be welcome.
(1) To give some interest in the 1st half of next year, I thought of planting spring bulbs in amongst - maybe early daffodils or maybe some very early perennial tulips. But I noticed in other parts of the garden even now in June my early daffodils still have green leaves that haven't started dying back. How do people manage this type of succession planting? Will the daffodil leaves not smother the bed and inhibit these perennials from pushing through in spring? Or would people cut back the daff leaves before they yellow? Or, alternatively, any ideas on what I could grow for spring impact that would fade away and make way for the summer display?
(2) The salvias I have (Farinacea Victoria and Mystic Spires Blue) are described as "tender" (perennials usually grown as annuals) on some websites and hardy down to -5 by the RHS. I live in a relatively mild part of southeast Kent, in the low weald about 10 miles from the sea. Am I safe to assume that in a normal winter these should survive with a thick late-autumn mulch? Or would I be better advised to lift them all and overwinter them in a greenhouse (about 50 plants!)? It's a southeast-facing bed, relatively sheltered and quite well drained.
(3) Should I expect the Ammi majus to self seed and appear again next year?
Thanks for any advice or suggestions!
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