Filling two rose beds
Hi everybody
I have to fill two rose borders with some adequate, well-performing herbaceous.
Conditions: Southern Japan, humid subtropical, acidic sandy soil.
I'm thinking to use Alchemilla mollis and Geranium 'Rozanne' : 50-50.
Now, the question is on the planting distance and therefore the total amount the plants I have to order.
The two borders have a total dimension of 65 m2
Depending what I will find at the Japanese nursery here, I'm thinking to do either:
1) 9cm pots : planting distance 15 cm : 49 plants x m2 : 1617 plants (for each type)
2) 2-3 litre pots : planting distance 20 cm : 36 plants x m2 : 1188 plants (for each type)
Do you think such a planting scheme can work? We aim for a good effect from the first year and... correct number of plants! In the attached picture, a sketch of my thoughts...
Any advice / opinion is more than welcome!
Thanks for reading.
Posts
If you have the patience you don't need to go mad straight away. Both the plants you've chosen spread freely if you let them especially the alchemilla which can be a pain in the wrong place, you need to keep on top of it and not let it seed. The geranium can double in size each year in rich soil which a rose bed has to be. It may be better to plant a bit more sparsely in the first year as you'll be feeding the bed for the roses and see how it all works together. With the number of plants you're considering you may overwhelm the bed and the roses are to be the main feature. You need to consider access as well, squeezing past roses can be a painful business when you need to tidy up or cut back. Depending on the size of roses you intend to grow the canopy they produce will exclude light so really you're better off planting the roses more closely and looking at the other plants as edging. Don't forget you'll need to spray against diseases as well especially blackspot and you don't want an environment in which the spores can hide, so bare ground around the roses is almost essential. Plus you've got mulching and neither alchemilla or geranium will thank you for burying their crowns below a mulch.
Thanks Dave for your answer,
The priority is to have flowers this summer. As much as possible (you know, they are not my borders...)
Access and mulching won't be big issues, as 1) the beds are quite long and narrow, 2) we don't have a compost production area on the estate (alas!) and carry on chemical fertilizer.
Geraniums-wise, they WILL grow mad (we are in a subtropical climate here), but I'm considering pre-chelsea crop in mid spring, in order to keep them controlled.
All in all, perhaps I can low the order 8-10% and see how I go (if not enough lady's mantles and geraniums, I can always plant some roses)...
I'm a bit confused - are you planting between rose bushes or replacing the roses with the alchemilla and geraniums?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Ulivio, the roses will take a year to establish whatever climate they are in. So will the perennials, so your client has to be aware of this. As you're in a sub tropical climate fungal disease could be a serious problem so bed hygiene will be essential. Under planting won't help as it gives more opportunity for the fungal spores to hide. I can appreciate your position however but you have to be realistic with the client. So try to pick roses with good disease resistance in the first place. It can work, but it will be maintenance heavy. It would be nice to see how you get on with it.