Underplanting and colours

Underplanting roses with geraniums is a perfect combination. This is the way I do it as I don't like to see bare legged rose bushes with their thorny knees showing :D


The leaves are present all summer and some are evergreen. The thing to watch is that if the geraniums flower at the same time as the roses, you don't get a colour clash. Here the strong magenta of G.psilostemon goes well with the pale gold of Fruhlingsgold. The other geraniums in the photo will them come on with paler lilacs, pinks and blues to harmonise with the stronger colours of Gertrude Jeckyl and Elizabeth of Glamis (both in the garden when we moved in and now very old ladies).

In the border of David Austin's English roses (out of camera), the colours are softer with the exception of Dark Lady. No problem here though and it seems that old fashioned roses and hardy geraniums were meant for each other :D

 

That looks great 'Hornbeam'- have not tried although I do grow G,psilostemon in a similar way under one of the Viburnums. This type of garden is what I am trying to achieve in one area so it's given me a helping hand..The other plants seem to help the geranium to stop flopping over.

 

Yes. I pack everything in leaving no bare soil so no weeds get a chance. Some geraniums are mound forming and need no support. Others are tall but don't flop and others support themselves by scrambling up the roses

 

This golden geranium with blue flowers - seem to remember its called new dawn - is definitly a scrambler. Starts off as a golden yellow clump and then takes off. This was in August - scrambling through fuchsia magenallica, marghuerite and echinacea

 

Excellent! A living tapestry of colour