Plant ideas (again)

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by CostasK, Sep 30, 2025.

  1. Plantminded

    Plantminded Total Gardener

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    The Calamagrostis will also allow enough light through to your Trachelospermum behind it @CostasK. Good choice :biggrin:.
     
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    • CostasK

      CostasK Super Gardener

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      @fairygirl my 2 calamagrostis Karl Foerster are doing quite well in my windy garden with clay soil, which is about a 10 min walk from the sea.
      20251001_183303.jpg

      20251001_183347~2.jpg
      I did incorporate a lot of potting grit and cheap compost with little nutrition in the panting area, in an attempt to make the soil deliberately poorer/lighter. I also made sure that there are shrubs around them, to break up the wind a bit. But it sounds like your conditions are a lot wetter as well. I do like the look of Spartina.

      @Plantminded, I agree and thanks again for the recommendation :) According to an email I received (from Norfolk Quality Plants) it will be with me tomorrow. Very speedy, considering I only ordered it last night!
       
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      • Plantminded

        Plantminded Total Gardener

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        Your C. Karl Foersters have better foliage than mine @CostasK, they must like your soil! I have a hedge of them on an extremely windy corner and they have held up without any problem. I fed some others in another border one year and the flower stalks tended to be less wind and rain resistant. Most grass flowers get weighed down by rain but soon bounce back when they dry out. It’s better to let them dry naturally than try to intervene. I hope your new plant delights :).
         
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        • fairygirl

          fairygirl Total Gardener

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          Yes - it's a pretty wet part of the UK here @CostasK, but I suppose we're used to it, and Spartina apparently doesn't mind drought or anything in between, so it's a good grass for most sites. The main problem I have is the wind trashing the flowering stems when in flower. The sparrows like bouncing on them though :biggrin:
          I didn't do anything to the ground when I planted it, and the site was less than delightful as the whole plot was just slabs and gravel on top of sticky clay when I moved in. I knew it wouldn't mind it though -I've had it in a few gardens.
          I also have a piece in a pot in the front garden, because I had the original plant in a raised bed, and moved it some years ago when I changed the pond location etc. That piece was in a much smaller pot until this year, and round the side of the house, so never watered or had any attention. A very easy grass!
          It's probably nearer four feet, rather than the '1 metre' that I mentioned.
           
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          • Plantminded

            Plantminded Total Gardener

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            I'm intrigued by your Spartina @fairygirl. Yours looks good near your pond. It doesn't seem to be widely available but I found this one at Macplants. Is this the one you have?

            Macplants
             
          • fairygirl

            fairygirl Total Gardener

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            Sorry @Plantminded - yes, it's the variegated one, not the common cord grass. I think that's considered invasive in some places, but I don't really know. I've only ever seen this one in any GC, but I get mine from the nursery I use.
            I remember Alan Titchmarsh had one on a corner of one of his beds, and it was the first time I'd seen it mentioned on a TV show- it might have been on G'sWorld. I got it for my first proper garden, so that's about 30 years ago, and for other gardens later on. It does well here. :smile:
            I took some pix yesterday, and it's in this one
            113_0188.JPG
             
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            • Plantminded

              Plantminded Total Gardener

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              Thank you @fairygirl, your pond and planting looks like a carefully planned painting :blue thumb:.
               
            • fairygirl

              fairygirl Total Gardener

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              Very kind of you @Plantminded . It just kind of happens...never any planning at all....;)
               
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