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Neglected mainly herbaceous border - help needed please

Cultiv8Cultiv8 Posts: 9
in Plants

I have a very neglected mainly herbaceous border (with a few established shrubs) which is in desperate need of a makeover.

Some plants need dividing, some have self seeded (in the wrong place!) and ivy has taken over completely in some other areas.  It's a deep border, 6ft at its deepest and I am aching to get in there and tackle it but don't want to loose any of the lovely plants which are growing there (all very healthy and happy).

When is the best time to take everything out and do the work without causing stress to the plants.

All advice greatly appreciated . . . thank you.

Posts

  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    I would try to weed as much as possible now, to avoid them setting seed. Label everything so even things that have died down by the Autumn, you will recognise. Then tackle it Sept to mid Oct. But do try to control the weeds and the ivy.image

    Dig in loads of well rotted manure/compost before re-planting.

    You could start planning now how you are going to re-position everything. Palais Glide (Frank) mentioned that he has moved many of his plants lots of timesimage

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    You can tackle it now, but you would lose the flowering potential of whatever is there. As artjak says tackle the weeds if you leave it till autumn, but I too have and still do move plants at most times of the year, for myself and some people I garden for, but if you give them some tlc after moving they will come back.

  • ightenighten Posts: 184

    If your plants are still just green then split away and replant now (depends how far north you are and how established they are) as Dave says it wont do them much harm you'll just put them back a few weeks..

     

    But the advantage is you can get them all out - weed and mulch - and then lay it out so your ready for next year with the plan you want

  • Cultiv8Cultiv8 Posts: 9

    Thanks everyone for the advice.

    I think I'm going to chance moving them now, the weather has cooled considerably here of late and I am prepared to give extra TLC for a while whilst they re-establish themselves.

    I'll let you know how it goes, once again, thank you for the help

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