Designing a Border from Scratch part 2 – Lucy Hartley (21 Sep. 2021)

Lucy Hartley

We were very pleased to welcome again Lucy Hartley, who gave us an excellent presentation on this extensive topic and I suspect we can all take on board some of her recommendations, whether now in the Autumn or at other times of the year. Lucy is an award winning Garden Designer based in Stratford upon Avon. 

The main theme of her talk was the establishment of sustainable low maintenance borders, including reducing weeding and watering, as well as ensuring that you have the right plant for the right place. For example a mixture of annuals and perennials make for a high maintenance border. She showed a photograph of bedding in a supermarket, which had low and slowing growing shrubs interspersed with cornus for variety, though these shrubs do need pruning at the right time in order to maintain their colour …
She advised that most climbers are best avoided for a low maintenance regime. Climbers such as clematis need frequent tying in and pruning. The self-clinging varieties are best in terms of minimal maintenance, such as hydrangea petiolaris and parthenocissus (virginia creeper) as these are more likely to hold a wall up rather than invade the mortar and do not put down extensive roots in the soil. Lucy informed us that if against a house, they could be considered a good buffer against extremes of heat or cold.  Also consider leaning plants such as the cotoneaster horizontalis, with its brilliant autumn colour and bees love the flowers. Trees they tend to be fairly low maintenance, requiring pruning every 10 years or so.

Lucy advised to avoid ‘floppiness’ eg planting chrysanthemums in an east facing bed, where they will follow the sun and look untidy by the end of the day.  We were told that Piet Oudolf picks rugged plants that do not drop, but of course not all of us have the space. Dead heading plants is not low maintenance so bedding plants are best avoided. Sterile plants such as modern hybrid Rosa Ballerina will continue flowering for a prolonged period. 

In designing a border, Lucy mentioned the current thinking is to dig out some of the weeds, leaving roots in and then covering the area with two layers of cardboard, wet this and then cover with top soil say in the Autumn to leave until the Spring for planting.  She said you get what you pay for in terms of top soil. If you pay around £40 per bag of loose soil, this is likely to be light and sandy, for around £80 you will get a dark blend with more loam and top quality dark soil with lots of organic matter will cost upwards of £100. 

Weed proof membranes were generally discounted – they look somewhat artificial and otherwise not attractive, as well as prevent plants from seeding, plants can outgrown their space, but they can reduce maintenance.  Weed suppressant fabrics come in two varieties – woven for gravel areas and non-woven for borders, but in either case they are eventually not weed free and can fray at the edges. Bark is suitable around deep rooted shrubs and looks good on a woodland floor.  It decays slowly. ‘Mind your own business’ can be an effective ground cover but invasive if near paving. Beware of the prevailing wind. 

In terms of design, whatever planting you choose needs to be ‘congruent’ as Lucy explained – it needs to fit with its surroundings. So in a rock garden, you would expect gravel scree, not bark chippings. One project she worked on was the front garden of a modern white painted house with grey window frames and a red door. This reminded her of a Japanese tea house and planting to complement this theme included shaped green shrubs echoing strong design and control features. 

When planting do ensure that the hole is watered first before putting in the plant. Feeding is important and bone meal was recommended for the Autumn with fish blood and bones for the Spring.

I have only skimmed over a thorough and immensely interesting talk and if you wish to know more, Lucy will be visiting again (on zoom) early next year.  I forgot to mention that my own wisteria is becoming a bit of a thug and I am wondering what to do about it, but I will leave that for Lucy’s return visit. 

I have only skimmed over a thorough and immensely interesting talk and if you wish to know more, Lucy will be visiting again (on zoom) early next year.  I forgot to mention that my own wisteria is becoming a bit of a thug and I am wondering what to do about it, but I will leave that for Lucy’s return visit. 

I have only skimmed over a thorough and immensely interesting talk and if you wish to know more, Lucy will be visiting again (on zoom) early next year.  I forgot to mention that my own wisteria is becoming a bit of a thug and I am wondering what to do about it, but I will leave that for Lucy’s return visit. 

Josie Duchenne

A small selection of photos relating to part II:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[click here for part 1]

Our next speaker on 19th October is Dr Twigs Way when she will talking about ‘Artists and their Gardens’. Please do join us then on zoom.

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