HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 80, 11 August 1948, Page 6

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), F.R.H.S. Massey Agricultural College.) ,

THE HERBACEOUS BORDER The modern herbaceous border has a very definite place in the garden and provides a galaxy of colour throughout spring, summer and autumn. Tall, short, leggy or spreading plants, they may all be grown to advantage, whilst the varieties suitable for household decoration are legion. The majority of plants prefer sunshine, and a fairly sunny site is desirable, whilst by the careful use of a few shrubs and taller plants, sheltered or shady corners may be provided. Actually, many plants are equally happy in partly-shaded positions and some groups definitely prefer moist, half-shaded situations. We have it both ways, and should select the types of plants most suited to our own particular border. Today' we will discuss the typical herbaceous border, and later, perhaps, the shade lovers and semi-bog plants. Selection of Shrubs Shrubs should be carefully selected for early flowering or foliage effects. They should not be over-large or root-robbers. Some of the earlyflowering prunes are quite good; even the bare stems seem to furnish the background in winter time. The scarlet-stemmed maple is also attractive, and Viburnum fragrans and Hamamelis mollis give winter

flowers. Probably an alternate planting of evergreens and deciduous plants would be best. Raphiolepis delacourei, Ribes speciosum, Camellia Hiryu, Azara lanceolata, Leptospermum Keatlevii and others of this type would be suitable evergreens. They may be widely spaced and inter-planted with groups of taller perennials, or spaced about 8 feet apart to block in the back-: ground. Grouping of perennials is a fascinating task and it may take two or three seasons to develop _ the desired effect. Planting in rows according to height is rarely satisfactory, as it is seldom that all plants develop to full height at the same time. The best method is to plant up the taller subjects in the back half of the border. Bring several bold groups forward to the halfway line, leaving shallow bays in between Similarly, plants of intermediate height may be banked up around the base of the bold groups and extend back into the sheltered bays. Shorter plants should follow on, many of them coming right to the front of the border and leaving bays for the planting of dwarfs. Arrangement of colours' always seems to cause unnecessary headaches. Most of nature’s colours .will

blend or contrast with one another, but in a large, collection it is wise to keep the stronger colours away from more delicate shades flowering at the same time. -. The easiest and most effiective method is to commence at either end of the border, and work towards the centre with the stronger colours. The softer colours will blend very well together and the stronger colours contrast each with the other. Some gardeners prefer pink or blue borders, comprising all plants of a particular colour. Personally, these borders give me, the “blues”; they lack varety ,and again nature’s colours are seasonal, leaving the border rather bare,at times. Edges Are Important The edge- to a border is really important and a good one will disguise the bareness of any plants behind which may have passed their best. The -more recent trend is to plant an edging of dwarf bedding plants to give colour over a long period and retain a tidy foreground. Pansies or violas for winter and spring colour may be followed by pink, fibrous-rooted begonias spaced two feet apart, and interplanted with lobelia Cambridge Blue. There are many combinations of neat subjects which flower freely over a long period. ' j Perennials which retain their foliage over winter include the following: Calceolaria, particularly the yellow variety, except; under ,wet' conditions and hard frost. This freeflowering plant grows about 18 inches high and should be shortened back, as the stems tend to become long and woody. It will then bush nicely from the base. New plants should be propagated from cuttings should the older plants become thin and die back. Agatheacoelestis (the blue Marguerite) forms a neat bush and bears beautiful blue daisy flowers throughout the year. The height is 18in. if shortened back when it tends to become woody. Agapanthus js well known and very hardy. Arctotis are also well known and invaluable in light soils arid sunny positions. The mauve-flowered winter wallflower is very showy. It tends to become leggy with age and should be shortened back after flowering.