Planting flower bulbs and plant perennials in your garden
These plants die back into their rootstocks or bulbs in winter. Last for years once planted in your garden. Some species flowers very early whilst others begin to produce shoots very cautiously but go on flowering until the first frost. Watching one type of plant after another flowering in succession in the same bed, is the charm of perennials. This means that you can have different flowers and colors in the same spot throughout the year, even in a small garden. Plant bedding plants in groups and combine with trees, shrubs and bush roses. Plant in autumn , spring or during rest phase of different species. Plant tall perennials in groups of two or three and smaller ones in groups of five to fifteen. Space the plants according their speed of growth. This information can be obtained from plant labels or in a good book on herbaceous perennials. There are two groups of perennials :
Cultivated hybrids and varieties:
It includes large-flowered cultivars like peony or delphiniums and delphinium hybrids. These plants require occasional fertilizing and also good soil.
Wild Flowers:
They mostly retain their original characters and have delicate small colors in inconspicuous colors. In a suitable position they require hardly any care.
The Age Of Perennials:
For best results allow long-lived plants like Helleborus niger, peony , day lilies and bleeding heart ( Dicentra spectabilis) to grow undisturbed. Most perennials like Phlox grow less after four to severe
n years. You can now take out the rootstocks and divide them during their rest phase. Improve your soil with compost and replant the most healthy, vigorous parts. Short -lived perennials like asters ( Aster alpinus), Coreopsis and Shasta daisies ( Chrysanthemum maximum) should be planted again about every two years.
Sowing a lawn
The last days of spring or early autumn is the best time to sow. Improve and loosen up the soil beforehand in order to make it easier to care for later on. Make sure that you find the right seed mixture: example for an ornamental lawn or play area and for a sunny or shady position. Ensure a more even distribution of seed by sowing half by hand and then repeating the exercise. Lastly rake the seed in shallowly and press down. Don't allow the seed to dry out before the lawn has become properly established. By neglecting this aspect you will end up with a patchy lawn.
A "Gravel" Lawn:
This area will remain green even if you drive over it. Spread a thin layer of topsoil on a gravel layer. For sowing you will need a special seed mixture. Distribute the seed evenly and then rake it in. Let all the soil disappear into the gravel layer. For a better weight-bearer use grid stones with grass growing through them, instead of a gravel lawn. Lay the grid stones on top of a reinforced foundation, spread topsoil on top and sow the seed as for a "gravel" lawn.
Gardening on a slope
Its better to get the advise of an expert when designing a garden or slope. Concrete walls are often built in a hurry and is difficult to disguise later on. A natural stone wall, built up to a height of 1.5m, looks very attractive. Instead of planting trees or shrubs, perennials, annuals or vegetables on a slope you can now easily do this on a terrace and a small slope that have been built with the support of severe
ral low walls. Stones on a slope that has been constructed to look natural together with a planting of shrubs and trees will look particularly pretty. Always lay random rocks or stones on their broadest side when using them for integration in a verge or sloping bed. Remember that stones standing on edge can easily fall over and may damage your plants or roll down the slope.