New Gardener out of my depth!

Lupins can be tricky to move as they hay a tap root so you need to loosen the soil deep around them. If the tap root breaks lifting them bin 'em. Needs doing in the spring too.

 

Hello KTSJ, you don't ask Verdun these things ….your head will be spinning with names in no time ….have you seen his collection they're stunning

Same goes for longk also

 

Ha ha, no I'm not too keen on asters generally KTSJ.....however, aster Frikartii Monch is different and exceptional. I will post a picture and maybe you will be convinced . Not too tall.....here they grow 60 to 90 cm tall.

Lupins for me are short term plants only....3 or 4 years...but such glorious looking. I do move them and divide them but they are difficult to move. Best to buy a couple of plants in spring.

The big differences between rudbeckias and echinaceas is that the former manage damper soils better and spread more widely.

Just spotted Gail's post....yes I do grow plenty of plants and prob do go on a bit about them but, hopefully, it will give folks ideas

 

Verdun this never came out my mouth...I was actually complementing you on such lovely plants you have and I wish I had the knowledge you have regarding the names ...sorry if I've spoke out of order

 

Ha ha Gail....all good banter and I take your words as you mean them, in a nice kind way so thanks

 

ok so phase 1 has started. i'm just cataloguing what I have got and trying to think about where I want to move them too.

While I was doing it I noticed this.




it's one of the scabious that was in the garden last year, I've noticed it seems to have split in the middle, I've been deadheading it and there are still plenty of buds ready to open. but it's quite bare around the centre. is this normal? is there anything I should be doing?

Thanks

 

You can leave it, cut it hard back, lift it and divide it or take cuttings. Looks like Pink Mist.
I divided a plant last autumn and both parts are flowering now

 

wow a lot of options there it's one of the plants on my move list because it's hidden behind some taller stuff right now.

So I might move it as is for now and see how it does in it's new position.

 

Ha ha....or you could pot it, or the divisions, up

 

ok soooo crocasmia update!

Before!



After
I still intend to move the ones I've left, i'm going to move them backwards and as there are still a few growing though the patio but they are flowering so they get a temporary reprieve.

Also you know that agapantha I said I lost over winter!!! can you spot it??? or at least a new baby one

Im sure there are still corms in there but i'll pull any up I don't want as they emerge next year.



The question is now what to plant in the new gap? (I pulled up crocasmia on both sides and some geraniums) I have some 'red geum' (mrs bradshaw I belive) do you think that would 'go'? I also have the 'random is it rudibeckia or echinea' plants in pots haha.

 

geraniums!!



Also any idea what the cabbage things are on the right? they sometimes get a little pink flower but are mostly uninspiring.

I have more by the greenhouse.... no idea if they are just boring or just not happy in their current positions mostly they are just leafy!!




Sooooooo Back to geraniums …… is this cut back to far or about right? I googled and it said to cut more or less to the ground but that's terrifying. (I did pull a few out because I want to try and put something else in with them.

 

Bergenia. Spring bloomer for full sun/light shade and they like to be kept slightly moist (but not wet).

 

No, thats exactly right KTSJ (re the geraniums) ..and you could dig out around them making smaller, neater clumps; more space for other things

Problem with crocosmia is its "energy", its ability to spread and dominate an area; ?
That gap? You could pop in a dahlia for the rest of the summer.....see how you like it there. However, I think something equally as vigorous there, maybe taller. Check out persicarias.....the red ones like Dikke Floskes, Blackfield, etc. .....they flower literally for months, easy to maintain, will complement the crocosmia when it is in flower and then look good as a solo plant in its own right. Gets bigger and better every year...??

 

gosh the geranium it looks so scruffy cut down that far! good to know I did it right though I did have a moment of panic !

Ok so the bergenia, it doesn't seem to flower much i'm guessing it's unhappy as both spots it's planted in are quite shaded. should I try moving it? is it worth trying to save?

 

one border done, another to go …. grass looks terrible though !!!