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This is my long narrow border,what planting will work after the tulips?

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  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043


    Will you be digging up the tulips or leaving them? 
    I would plant a mixture of perennials because I love them and because as they grow back they will hide the tulip leaves. I would also plant something to hang over the wall like aubretia or phlox subulata.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • sneejanesneejane Posts: 10
    thanks, Ive left the tulips in, Im thinking perennials  but how  to plant, in colour blocks all the way down  or a repetative planting scheme? Or just random!
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I would look at softening the walls too. Assuming you left the tulips in the ground, next spring will be year two so flowering may not be so good. In such a long border I would repeat the plants at intervals along the border. Are you considering the winter months too?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • sneejanesneejane Posts: 10
    Im thinking summer/autumn. How many different   groups of plants would  you suggest to repeat  all the way down?
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @sneejane You could buy some larger pots of perennials and split them into smaller pieces. Plant in groups of three or five along the border repeating. I am finding it difficult to help with how many plants you will need from a photo.
     
    I can see you have a border on the otherside perhaps you could lift and split from that side to bring it all together? The wooden boards I guess are to stop soil run off. Low growing plants with fiberous roots will help anchor the soil and that I think should be your priority when choosing more plants.
     
    Some of the smaller grasses repeated in small groups would give some height. Alchemilla mollis, Helianthemums and hardy geraniums would also be good for spring.   I would be careful of anything deep rooted which might in time affect the wall.

    These thoughts are based on the fact that your soil is dry the border is sunny. If you are able to say where you live in the north or south that would be helpful. I am hopeful that you will get some ideas for summer planting from other forum members too.    
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @sneejane Another approach. Wait until spring let the tulps flower, decide if you need to lift or leave another year.
    If you have somewhere under glass grow Cosmos Rubenza. If not you could buy as plugs which will be more expensive. Use the cosmos along the whole border. This will give you flowers from summer through to now. High maintenance as  there will be lots of deadheading but you will have hundreds of flowers.Always best to grow a couple of extras incase one dies. Lots of information on Sarah Raven 's website.
    Cosmos is an annual so it will need to be taken up in October and if necessary a fresh batch of Tulips planted in November. If you wanted a change you might like T Ballerina.

    The one advantage of this idea is you won't have problems with plants encroaching the lawn.
    I have a photo will try to upload later.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

    Sorry it is sideways.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited October 2022
    For me, with your garden, I would go for something far more natural and informal.  Somethings cascading over the wall.  Somthings repeating, or more in line with the other side of the ditch.

    Where are you?  Dordogne or Norfolk?  Either way I wouldn't expect the tulips to put in a good diplay next year.  
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • sneejanesneejane Posts: 10
    As Gardeners  world is uk based its unlikely Im in the Dordoign! 
    Im in Yorkshire! Thanks for youre response, but Where the walk is this is a culvert which is an overflow for our stream when it floods. The other side of it is a large plant area eith a tree fern. I agree repeat flowering is probably the best planting scheme, thanks.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited October 2022
    On checking, the Dordogne and Yorkshire legend was below Busy-Lizzie's post where she had kindly rotated your photo.  But I have seen posters from France, Australia and USA.

    Where gardens are, and what is the soil and microclimate would be helpful in answering many questions.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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