Last summer, despite all the rain, the biggest headache in the nursery was keeping plants properly watered. The problem was that the entire nursery was gravelled, meaning that water either slipped straight through or was trapped in the pot for lack of capillary contact to draw it out. So a top priority is to get the plants off the gravel and onto membrane. But the gravel does at least have the advantage that it doesn’t get slippery so it’s safer for customers to walk on.
So, here’s the solution – the will plants go on the membrane while the customers can stay on the the gravel. I’ll also put windbreak fabric across the wooden frame to cut down the wind. Hopefully the end result will be happier, healthier plants and a more interesting plant display as well.
There’s very little in flower in this garden in winter. I think this is probably because the original owners always went away in November so didn’t focus on winter colour especially. There are plenty of evergreens including a striking variegated x Fatshedera lizei, but few flowers.
But buried among the emerging Primula leaves is this little gem – Petasites paradoxus. This photo does the flowers too much credit really, but the plant is worth it for it’s fabulous silvery leaves which last all summer.
The hellebores are looking fantastic too, but they need a new home. Crammed inside a box hedged bed, I can’t get close enough and low down enough to really appreciate the colours. We’re going to move them to a curving border under a larch to give them the chance to show off properly.
8 Responses to “Planning for summer”
Hi Trilli,
I’ve been advised the best time to move the hellebores is September,9Not Feb anymore) just after their dormancy, they start to put new roots down from Sept onwards so its a good time to move them…I hope to visit Ashwood on 16th Feb for their openday, my favorite plant is a hellebore I think I’ve got over 100/150 !!!!
Hello Sue
Yes I heard a talk yesterday from Cliff Curtis and he said that late August was by far the best time. They look so good with snowdrops, primroses and aconites. Snowdrops are at the forefront of my thoughts at the moment having rampant galanthophilia! Off to Glen Chantry on Wednesday for a dose of the medicine!!
Yes, you are both right, of course. Last winter I marked two particular beauties and we dug these up and divided them in September.
The question now is whether I reclaim the veg plot that the hellebores are currently occupying in time to use it this summer or let them stay there until autumn. They are pretty overcrowded too, so I might just move them anyway, keep them moist and hope for the best….
Galanthophilia has yet to strike me, Brian. Sorry to be a complete philistine, but they are all just snowdrops to me!
Aaaargh, never mind Sue you are better (and richer) without it!!
I’d love to go to Glen Chantry it looks my sort of garden..snowdrops I nearly sucumb to a yellow flowering one but at £15 a pot of 1 or 3 I decided better of it, I knew it wouldn’t be the last !!!
I can highly recommend Glen Chantry, Wol and Sue Staines have made a remarkable garden and nursery there. Our first visit was the last stop on a coach trip to Kent gardens. We didn’t get out of the nursery the plants were in superb condition and such treats! We had to go back the following week to see the garden and spent another hour in the nursery then before seeing the inspired planting! It will be a joy to see the snowdrops as it is the first time it has been open to the hoi poloi like me!!
I love the little plant Petasites paradoxus – is it a type of alpine as it has the look of sempervum about it
Just to tell you I’ve nominated your GOTY blog as my favouriteseries of posts for the garden Bloggers’ Carnival which is running on my blog at the moment. I knew I wanted to nominate something from your blogs but couldn’t make my mind up for a single post – they’re all too interesting. So I went for the series!
Sue