Hi Jack great to read this. The planting is stunning. I'm attempting something similar around the lawn in my garden in South Devon. I've had one big disaster where a cultivated perennial has spread like wildfire, a Leucanthemum x superbum cultivar, and swamped everything else and surprisingly was not popular with pollinators, so it's had to come out. I actually planted into the lawn grass rather than removing it with cardboard first as you did. I would be interested to know what your thoughts are on planting into grass rather than suppressing the grass as youv'e done in terms of maintenance. The whole lot gets cut down in September.
Hi Julie, I do the same as you now, just plant into stuff. While I started some areas with cardboard I soon found this was unnecessary. Sometimes you do need to sort of hoe or scrape a small area to plant into to get them started. It depends on the plant’s vigour when young and how you personally want to plant them. For instance, with meadow wildflowers I just stuff them into grass or wherever because I know they will grow vigorously regardless. While some other plants might just need a helping hand in their first year. This is usually when I only have one or two and need them to establish. If I had tens of them I’m more carefree and would risk some losses.
Thanks Jack. I'm still trying to get my head round how the vigour of a plant can vary so much depending on weather, position, soil etc. And so amazed that planting in grass doesn't phase some plants at all! It's a big learning curve.
Your garden looks beautiful through all the seasons Jack. Thank you for all the information you put in Wild Way. I have added many of the plants you suggest and my garden is thriving, getting wilder and more beautiful with each season. I also now design with plant vigour in mind, thanks to you!
Hi Jack great to read this. The planting is stunning. I'm attempting something similar around the lawn in my garden in South Devon. I've had one big disaster where a cultivated perennial has spread like wildfire, a Leucanthemum x superbum cultivar, and swamped everything else and surprisingly was not popular with pollinators, so it's had to come out. I actually planted into the lawn grass rather than removing it with cardboard first as you did. I would be interested to know what your thoughts are on planting into grass rather than suppressing the grass as youv'e done in terms of maintenance. The whole lot gets cut down in September.
Hi Julie, I do the same as you now, just plant into stuff. While I started some areas with cardboard I soon found this was unnecessary. Sometimes you do need to sort of hoe or scrape a small area to plant into to get them started. It depends on the plant’s vigour when young and how you personally want to plant them. For instance, with meadow wildflowers I just stuff them into grass or wherever because I know they will grow vigorously regardless. While some other plants might just need a helping hand in their first year. This is usually when I only have one or two and need them to establish. If I had tens of them I’m more carefree and would risk some losses.
Thanks Jack. I'm still trying to get my head round how the vigour of a plant can vary so much depending on weather, position, soil etc. And so amazed that planting in grass doesn't phase some plants at all! It's a big learning curve.
Beautiful.
Thanks Anne
Your garden looks beautiful through all the seasons Jack. Thank you for all the information you put in Wild Way. I have added many of the plants you suggest and my garden is thriving, getting wilder and more beautiful with each season. I also now design with plant vigour in mind, thanks to you!
Thank you Deborah! I can’t wait to hear more about how you find it in your garden.