New herbaceous border
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TMAK Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 08 Aug 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Co. Roscommon
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 8:20 pm Post subject: New herbaceous border |
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Hi Everyone,
This is the year I am finally going to get around to creating a large herbaceous border. I have an area that is currently lawn that I am going to turn into this border. The area in question is approx. 8m long and I am going to make the border about 2m deep. The border will face south and is in sun most of the day, there is a young hedge behind it, and the soil is drained peat. I will be removing the turf and digging in some organic matter.
I would love to see some pics from anyone who has a similar border. and would love suggestions of your favourite plants that you couldn't be without.
Also I have read that people put maintenance paths through a deep border like this, Has anyone done this and how did you go about it, How big is the path, how far bac, what surface etc.
I am hoping to keep a journal of sorts on this thread.
Thank you,
Tommy
_________________ Tommy K |
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TMAK Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 08 Aug 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Co. Roscommon
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 8:48 am Post subject: |
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I was in homestore today and they had some summer bulbs and perrinials. Got them all potted up in the greenhouse. Tree Lily’s, asiatic Lily’s, red hot pokers, nerines, and dahlias. Should be a good start. Have 4 thujias too for a backbone and plenty of divisions from last year. Now hopefully the weather will improve so I can start digging.
_________________ Tommy K |
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TMAK Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 08 Aug 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Co. Roscommon
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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Just had some seeds delivered today.
Coleus
Sunflowers
nasturtiums
African Marigolds
French Marigolds
Nigella
scabious
Rudbeckia Goldilocks
castor oil red, and green
miss willmots ghost
Cosmos
Callendula
and some Cannas,
Just thinking that the annuals would be handy this year for filling in some gaps while the perennials are growing in
next few weeks will be busy sowing
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 10:54 am Post subject: |
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You're going for it TMAK hard and fast.
_________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Sue Deacon Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 31 Dec 2014 Posts: 2029 Location: West Fermanagh
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Tommy, I have a 'long' border. It is only 4-5 ft deep but 70ft long. I garden on drained peat too. Over the years I have added sand, grit and topsoil, normall when I am planting something. My border is west facing.
Over the years I have tried most of the plants you list, but have only had luck with cosmos and calendula. Scabious and rudbeckia failed dismally. You might have more luck with a south facing border, but it may have something to do with the soil too.
My best 'doers' are fennel, Japanese anemones, catmint, agapanthus, lillies, various marjorams, hellebore and heucheras. In spring I fill the gaps with snowdrops, mini daffs and wild primrose.
_________________ Be humble, for you are made of earth
Be noble, for you are made of stars |
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TMAK Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 08 Aug 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Co. Roscommon
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:18 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info Sue. Your border sounds great. Would love to see pics sometime.
Tagwex yes going at it hard and hopefully fast. Got all the digging done over the weekend and a couple of hours in the evenings this week. The weather has been great for this kind of work.
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TMAK Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 08 Aug 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Co. Roscommon
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:34 am Post subject: |
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A few pics of the progress so far
I had a little helper the first while but the wages were not good enough to keep him interested!!
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_________________ Tommy K |
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Sue Deacon Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 31 Dec 2014 Posts: 2029 Location: West Fermanagh
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:42 am Post subject: |
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Wow, that's a good site, nice and open and flat! I'll send some photos when I am next on my laptop.
_________________ Be humble, for you are made of earth
Be noble, for you are made of stars |
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TMAK Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 08 Aug 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Co. Roscommon
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Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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Just a quick update on the border so far. I have been planting a lot in it over the last few weeks. Most are divisions I took last autumn and the result of a greenhouse full of cuttings and seeds grown this year and last year. I’m afraid I am not the bed at keeping track of specific names so it’s going to be a surprise this year. If anything doesn’t look right it can be moved next year. There is always room for a new project!!!
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3131 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 6:45 am Post subject: |
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The conifers behind will suck up all nutrients and water from soil. So there out.
The conifer in the bed whose name escapes me at the moment will get too big so that out.
The tree which I cannot ID should be moved to one end, A malus or Mulberry would look good here.
Towards the front plant some low growing plants easy to mind like Nepeta, (Cat Mint)Stachys, 9Lambs ear) Perevoskia,(Russian Sage) geranium Rosanne or Johnsons blue, all can be cut back hard in late Autumn, Try to have something in flower all year round, Allium bulbs would look good too. you have a blank palette there. keep us posted.
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TMAK Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 08 Aug 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Co. Roscommon
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry I only realised the pics never uploaded in my last post
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_________________ Tommy K
Last edited by TMAK on Wed May 15, 2019 10:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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TMAK Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 08 Aug 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Co. Roscommon
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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Greengage wrote: | The conifers behind will suck up all nutrients and water from soil. So there out.
The conifer in the bed whose name escapes me at the moment will get too big so that out.
The tree which I cannot ID should be moved to one end, A malus or Mulberry would look good here.
Towards the front plant some low growing plants easy to mind like Nepeta, (Cat Mint)Stachys, 9Lambs ear) Perevoskia,(Russian Sage) geranium Rosanne or Johnsons blue, all can be cut back hard in late Autumn, Try to have something in flower all year round, Allium bulbs would look good too. you have a blank palette there. keep us posted. |
Hi Greengage thank you for your great advice. Would the conifers still cause a problem if they were kept small, I am only planning to let them get to the height of the fence which is about 4 foot, It was made from pallet wood and I don't see it lasting more than a couple of years. I am not overly concerned about the moisture as it is an old bogland which never dries out grass stayed lush and green all last summer without watering or rain for weeks on end.
I am deffinately going to put some allium bulbs in in the autumn, I have them in the rest of the garden but it was too late when I started this border. and I will ne incorporating some low plants at the fromt. I have some Heuchra put in, I was tempted by alchemilla mollis as I have plenty in the garden but it is such a thug it will probably make its way down there on its own in time.
The conifer in the bed is a Thujia (spelling is probably way off) I was hoping to keep it under control but I may well have to re think that one. Thanks again
Tommy
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TMAK Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 08 Aug 2014 Posts: 104 Location: Co. Roscommon
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Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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Just said I’d post an update
It’s filling in nicely.
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_________________ Tommy K |
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3131 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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Looks good your going to be busy.
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Looks great. Well done.
_________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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