Ideas for 18 inch border !
Hi I have dug out the border along the field edge (explored previously in a thread) and actually due to the groundworks we had done in the garden which resulted in us having a 3 foot retaining wall, much of the 18 inch border is now pretty good top soil (dug out about 2 1/2 foot) on top of heavy clay! I've decided to grow a lonicera and clem along the fence but not sure what to do in front of them along the 18 inch border. I had thought of planting vinca major variegata to give us something evergreen along there in winter but not sure. I also kind of fancy giving up the evergreen and planting some perennials some sprawling like Geraniums (Cranebills) and some taller like Veronica . Long flowers. Any ideas for planting ? The border is about 12 foot x 1 1/2 foot . Open to any ideas, evergreen or perennial or anything else . Thanks.
Last edited: 03 June 2017 09:04:06
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Tried to edit but been too long since I posted so wont let me. The border is on top of a 3 foot wooden retaining wall backed by a wooden half round fence bordering a field (which will soon be a housing estate but hopefully our bit will back onto their public open space.The border is east facing.
I have to say, my best idea for an 18" border is to make it wider. I agree with Chrissie, it's "quite narrow"
I notice a few others are also just starting out and going with just around a foot and a half deep. It looks generous but it isn't. If I had a border of 18" I would try planting more in a miniature scale. More like an alpine type design that invites you to admire it at a lot closer than traditional borders.
You mentioned Vinca, maybe stick with the Minor varieties if you don't want them to choke all your soil. What about Erodiums. Compact with a lot of interesting leaves. Armeria Maritima the sea thrift, nice compact plant that gives out nice chive-like flowerheads. There are lots of smaller Hemerocallis Daylilies available, with nice strappy leaves.
Lavender ? Or Rosemary for the smell from the leaves. Heucheras come in lovely colours nowadays. My favourite is the " perennial wallflower" Erysimum Bowles Mauve, an evergreen that flowers all year round in my garden.
If I recall the original thread, it's not possible to widen the bed because it's sandwiched between the top of a retaining wall and the boundary fence.
Tall and narrow would be irises, alliums, agapanthus, grasses, possibly foxgloves if there's some shade, maybe hemerocallis if it's very sunny. Spilling and spreading would be erigeron, geraniums, ajugas, sedums. Evergreen and winter colour would be liriope, primulas, small hebes.
A mix of form and height along the length of the border will give the most interest, so plant your climbers spaced away from the fence, then underplant those with spreaders, put in a few winter plants and then fill in over the next few seasons where you see gaps and when you get a better idea of what sort of plants do well and which ones you like. 12 feet is a decent length border, you'll get quite a bit of variety in there if you want to - it doesn't have to be just one or two things, unless that's what you like.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Wow some great ideas. Doing my research now as I think the border will be tending towards wet as the Public Open Space (currently the field) will house the Attenuation Tank (when they build on the field) with the open space used for residual water. (Bit worrying given how close this is to our property!) So ruled out Lavender as I think it likes dry? Brilliant advice about Vinca Major and roots (never thought about that) also I have been a bit put off as although the RHS says that some of them flower through the summer when I have looked at the garden centre (today) mostly they say March - April. I LOVE the everlasting wallflower Bowles Mauve I think that would be good up there with maybe the suggested Penstemon and Heuchera and I will look up the other contenders tomorrow , that you all so much. :O)
If it's working properly, the attenuation tank should not normally have water in it. It is intended to hold water when it rains very heavily and then release it slowly into the drains, to reduce flooding of the sewers from too much rainwater all at once. But it should slowly empty over a few days so that next time it's needed it's empty again. It's a good thing to have - far less likely that you'll get lots of surface run off from that direction.
If you've now got a good deep layer of decent top soil, you shouldn't necessarily have to avoid plants that like dry conditions. Lavender may not work because it likes very poor soil and any clay based soil is likely to be too rich. But if you dig in some grit as you plant them, you shouldn't have a problem growing plants described as liking 'moist but well drained' soil (which is most of them).
Last edited: 04 June 2017 19:17:06
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”