The notion of designing and planting a new perennial border may fill veteran gardeners with anticipatory glee, but new gardeners often experience sensations more akin to a panic attack. Not to worry: there’s a first time for everything, and by following a few basic guidelines, you have every reason to expect success. Perennial (often called herbaceous) borders are a British … [Read more...] about 6 steps to a beautiful perennial border
lamb's ears
Groundcover plants: the resilient and the fussy
I decided to take a look at how the groundcover plants have fared during the heat and drought. I’ve been watering them once a week, but that hasn’t been adequate for some of them. The new wine-purple periwinkle (Vinca minor ‘Atropurpurea’, Zone 5) looks good, as does the older blue variety. My big patch of periwinkle gets good attention, sharing quarters with variegated … [Read more...] about Groundcover plants: the resilient and the fussy
Bare-root roses
It’s nearly February, and time to consider (more like fret over) my order for bare-root roses. Growers with their own propagation fields offer a long list of interesting roses you might not find started in pots at a garden centre later in spring. When you order from a grower, you’ll receive bare-root roses in April, at just the right time for planting. Garden centres order … [Read more...] about Bare-root roses
