Strictly Come Planting

OK, so I get that this Amaryllis (strictly speaking) is not a garden variety but having waited almost 4 months for it to flower, just had to let it make a cheeky appearance here – seemed rude not to!

 

 

It’s important to understand the limitations of what you have in terms of your garden area, size and type and how this will restrict or enhance your plans and how to work around any difficulties to maximise on the positives, so ending up with the best solution for what you want and how you’d like it to look.  

 

 If you have limited space then best avoid huge clump forming shrubs which require space for their unexpected and ambitious spread.  Sounds obvious, I know, but when you see something gorgeously enticing displaying some irresistibly magnificent flower in the garden centre residing in a 6” pot it’s sometimes hard not to get carried away in the moment, little realising that within two or three years it could transform from an appealing and seemingly innocuous border specimen into a giant light engulfing, moisture guzzling thug with spreading tentacles that will obliterate all other life forms.

 

Your problem may be a very shady plot or one that is not free draining and therefore retains too much moisture.  Or, if you have a large area but are short on time then it may be best to retain a lot of lawn rather than being over ambitious in terms of planting up borders which are time intensive in terms of upkeep.

 

Our new USG-Plot here is north facing which always presents a challenge but luckily it’s not heavily shaded by established trees/shrubs overhanging from neighbours.  It will therefore be possible to use what natural light is available and in this instance it’s important to note in advance of planting which are the areas that are predominantly shaded and which attract the most prolonged sunshine throughout the day.

 

When selecting your plants it may be helpful to know that they are graded within certain classifications: 

 

 GENUS

 

SPECIES

 

VARIETY

 

FORM

 

CULTIVAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the purposes of planting up your garden with attractive and healthy flowers and foliage you don’t necessarily need to understand what these classifications represent, however, as some plants can have a refusal to co-operate it could be argued that for the more laissez faire gardener it may be as well to introduce a re-classification which helps to indicate the general attitude and overall demeanour of our new garden member.............. Example:

 

COQUETTISH – Mesembryanthemum (flower opens in full sun)

 

OBLIGING – Petunia, Geranium (happy to help)

 

COURAGEOUS - Clematis (giving years of selfless devotion)

DEDICATED - Peony (immortal and indestructible)

INDOLENT – Delphinium (will they wont they?? - if the slugs don't get there first)

 

ENIGMATIC - Lupin (maybe the star of the show - maybe a 'no-show')

 

OBDURATE – Iris (you just never know with these bad boys)

 

 

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