A blank canvas

Finally after 3 years of putting it off, I took the plunge and cleared the final overgrown border in my garden. I'm now wondering what to do with it. So what is this border like?

Soil is clayey and stony - generally hard work to dig.
It is north-facing, and because of the houses around and my sticking-out porch, it doesn't get direct sunlight at any time of the day.
It is only about 3 metres long including a right-angle bend between the front wall of the house and the porch.

I've had a look round the garden centre to try and get some ideas. Unfortunately nearly all the plants' labels said full sun or partial shade, which wasn't much help. I love colour and was thinking maybe some spring bulbs. I also picked up some lupin, polyanthus and (obviously! ) pansy seeds, but I haven't done anything with them yet. If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations I'd be very pleased to hear them.

vm

 

Hi Viola

The first thing I did with my empty clay border, was to improve the soil by digging in as much organic matter as I could get my hands on. I also dug in sharp sand and grit. It is easy when the border is empty and has made the world of difference.


Its obviously a lot easier with sun. But I have a small border, shown in the picture above, on the north side of a garage that only gets about 10 minutes of sun a day.

The plants you can see are Hemerocallis (at the front). Lythrum salicaria 'Blush' (the pink spikes), Crocosmia 'Lucifer' (bright red), and Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail' (dark red spikes at the back). Other plants that you can't see are Lobelia syphilitica, Astrantia 'Buckland', Astilbe 'Purple Lance' and Aquilegia and Dicentra. They all seem to be happy in that bed. You could also try a perennial Geranium. I had one that grew quite happily there but I threw it out because it didn't flower for long enough, but there are plenty of long flowering ones such as Geranium 'Patricia' and G. 'Rozanne' - though I have never tried them there.

 

Thank you PeterS. Not only have you given me ideas, but this also gives me hope! Your garden looks fab by the way.

 

I agree PeterS, that is a beautiful looking Border. well done!!

Pete

 

Thanks Viola and Pete.

I think that a lot of plants are more adaptable than you think. Its a matter of trial and error. I have some Hemerocallis (Day Lilly) in the wettest part of my garden, where it is very happy. But I also put some in a pot covering a manhole. However I almost never water this pot, so it must get extremely dry. The pot is out of the way and frankly I have simply got out of the habit of watering it. The leaves are a bit smaller, but it still survives and flowers with almost no water.

 

I have just got a Hemerocallis, some Astilbe and a Lobelia, and have secured the promise of some montbretia from a friend who is splitting hers. I've not actually planted them yet because it was chucking it down, but I've put the pots on the ground where I plan on planting them. It looks fab already, I'm so excited! Thanks again for the ideas, I wouldn't have known where to start otherwise.

 

Best of luck Viola - I hope it goes well.

At the end of the day, there is only one system that works - trial and error.

It might be worth trying the Persicaria - it flowers for a very long period of time.