In my big sunny border I have one type of tree, three of shrubs and six of perennials. Think that 1-3-6 ratio sounds reasonably restrained and harmonious?
Well, of the perennials I have six different named varieties of salvia, three of both helenium and dahlia and one variety each of agastache, echinacea and achillea. Likewise with shrubs I have six different shrub roses, three of berberis and one variety of nandina.
So is that 6 perennial plants or 15, three shrubs or 10? Then there are all the different heights, shapes, colours and textures. So what seems like a rigid 1-3-6 rule is, in reality, a totally unrestrained riot!
It'll be a border full of flowering perennials. Mostly salvias, herbaceous or shrubby, in a medium sized garden about 15m long. Pic to follow...
How big is your border? It sounds very dull if there is loads of space. If I were you, I'd make my own rules, not stick to someone else's idea of what looks good.
About 15m by 7m. It's not so much a case of conforming to someone else's ideals, more about learning time-tested guiding principles which have informed some of best gardens. Not for everyone but I find value in that sort of thing.
It doesn't look anywhere near 7 metres. If you have undulating curves, that makes it more difficult to get a balance, so you'll need to bear that in mind when choosing your plants. The aspect is also important. If it's not sunny enough, many perennials don't do so well, so you'd have to check that. I'm guessing it's fairly sunny though - as you have those pelargoniums
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It doesn't look anywhere near 7 metres. If you have undulating curves, that makes it more difficult to get a balance, so you'll need to bear that in mind when choosing your plants. The aspect is also important. If it's not sunny enough, many perennials don't do so well, so you'd have to check that. I'm guessing it's fairly sunny though - as you have those pelargoniums
Oh right, the border. Yes it's about 2.5m. The garden is 7m.
The salvias I plan to use will all be fairly shade tolerant, though they'll all get plenty enough sun.
If that was my garden I'd be bringing that bit of the border in the from the bottom to the middle right of the pic right out into the lawn and put something big so you can't see beyond it to the rest of the border. I'd have climbers up the fence and make something of those lovely trees you've got at the bottom - with ferns, hostas and woodland plants. To me it's about what's pleasing to the eye, with invitations to explore rather than hard and fast rules. To me that's putting out bedding plants with a ruler between them to make sure they are all evenly spaced, as my Dad, and lots of other gardeners in the 50s and 60s did!
To me it's about what's pleasing to the eye, with invitations to explore rather than hard and fast rules. To me that's putting out bedding plants with a ruler between them to make sure they are all evenly spaced, as my Dad, and lots of other gardeners in the 50s and 60s did!
Nooooo! Think William Robinson on a smaller scale. To me nothing looks more pleasing than a cottage style border with an underlying repeated theme; all the different characters dancing off each other. Not that spectacular borders can't be produced with hundreds of different plants, but I like continuity, like that you see in the RHS gardens of many stately homes.
A far cry from those regimented 50s and 60s gardens, wouldn't you say?
Are those pictures Sissinghurst? I think have what you want,if it suits your soil and location. Is it me,or do Monty and Adam always find it soooh easy to dig a hole to plant. We're on clay soil, although improved over 10 years, because of that,plus tree roots from our garden and next door,it's really difficult to dig a hole through
Are those pictures Sissinghurst? I think have what you want,if it suits your soil and location. Is it me,or do Monty and Adam always find it soooh easy to dig a hole to plant. We're on clay soil, although improved over 10 years, because of that,plus tree roots from our garden and next door,it's really difficult to dig a hole through
I comment on this to Spouse every week. The production staff must pre-dig every hole. Also, I think they must wash the carrots and spuds they dig up! I can hardly dig anywhere because of tree roots, from trees both current and former. I was beginning to think it was just me.
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In a transitional stage at the moment. All the red geraniums are coming out when they die off.
The aspect is also important. If it's not sunny enough, many perennials don't do so well, so you'd have to check that. I'm guessing it's fairly sunny though - as you have those pelargoniums
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The salvias I plan to use will all be fairly shade tolerant, though they'll all get plenty enough sun.
A far cry from those regimented 50s and 60s gardens, wouldn't you say?
They can also be very dull for a large part of the year, which is why your location and climate is important when planning and choosing
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...