The longer mild sunny days this week have brought on the urge for a spot of spring cleaning in the main borders. I like to work through all my borders in March, cutting back any remaining perennials, finishing the rose pruning, taking last years heads off the hydrangeas and pruning back the fuchsias. This is followed by a good weeding session and a feed for roses, peonies, shrubs and topiary.
This week I have started with the main borders that wrap around two sides of the house. The house is set above the level of the land at the back, with a large terrace that is edged by a deep border. When we moved in these borders were much narrower and consisted of a few shrubs and much bind weed. The first gardening job here was to dig wider borders, remove the aged shrubs and dig out the bind weed. It makes a reappearance every spring, but as long as I am vigilant early in the season it seems to be under control.
The borders have been replanted in a country house style with roses and perennials such as phlox and delphiniums. I keep quite a few spaces for tulips, annuals and dahlias as I like to keep it colourful for as long as possible. Above you can see a small section of the overall border.
I have spent a whole day this week clearing this border and still have to work my way around the other side. When it is all done I can see the tulips clearly and look forward to the show which should start in early April!
Looking back across the empty border I know that it will not be long before this is full of roses, peonies, delphiniums, phlox, echinacea, echinops, asters, astrantia and fuchsia to name some of the plants that give a succession of flowers in these borders. Having tidied these borders so well I now need to make sure I stake the peonies and delphiniums in April and do the “Chelsea Chop’ on my later flowering perennials in May. If I then fill any gaps with annuals and dahlias and keep on top of the weeding, the borders should look fantastic throughout the summer and autumn – thats not much to do then!
Above you can see my only tree peony, planted 3 springs ago. I am quite excited this year as she looks to have lots of shoots so hopefully lots of flowers. I had three flowers last year, one the spring before. She normally flowers the week before the Chelsea Flower Show and is a beautiful shade of pink. Please do not ask her name though – Nelson will be two later this month and Golden Retriever puppies and plant labels do not mix. In his first few months he managed to remove and destroy every label in my borders, so I am very hazy with plant identification!
With a face like that though it is hard to get angry.
Other jobs this week have included repotting my blueberry bushes. They have been living in much smaller pots for the last two years, so should appreciate the extra root room in fresh ericaceous compost.
I have also been moving pots of bulbs out of the greenhouse to make room for trays of seedlings. Last year it was nearly April before I was able to do this so hopefully I will not feel as short of space this year. March is my biggest month for trays of seeds – after that I start to plant out so there is not such a demand for greenhouse space. In April I will bring my dahlia tubers in from the potting shed and start them into growth.
The bulbs I planted in my outdoor pots are just coming into flower. It is lovely to have fresh iris reticulata flowering as the iris bulbs in the borders are going over. Once this lot finish flowering they will be moved out into the garden for more flowers next year. In borders which already have a lot of bulbs I find it easier to plant bulbs at this time of year when I can see the gaps rather than risk disturbing older bulbs in the autumn.
I think that Hardy looks his best in the sun – it really highlights the beautiful colours in his coat.
Finally regular readers will remember that this was the base of an arrangement of narcissi Paperwhites that I made for ‘In A Vase On Monday’ way back in January. This base has been sitting outside since then and the Euonymous Emerald Gaiety has thrived sitting in the floral foam for all these weeks. In fact there are even a few new leaves, so it might be taking root!
Whlist this lovely weather lasts any more time I find for gardening this week will be spent on border clearing – next week I will be back to seed sowing.
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Your iris reticulate with their strong color are so at home in the urn–really nice planting idea.
Thank you Susie – I really enjoy having tiny bulbs in my planters – it makes it so much easier to enjoy them when they are higher up and close to the house.
Iris reticulata in pots is a lovely idea and I agree with you about being able to plant them into the borders in spring, in autumn it can be a nightmare. I’ve been pruning the roses (very late) and doing the spring clean up too this week, I feel very satisfied with progress – such a good feeling. I love your dogs.
Thank you Christina from me & the dogs – I expect you have got a lot done in the fantastic weather we have had this week – fingers crossed it continues a bit longer!
The wind has made it less pleasant than it should have been here in Italy.
Your garden looks lovely in the spring sunshine. Its hard to be cross with dogs, Nelson and Hardy are great names. We have a labradoodle that did not get any doodle and is a lovely companion whilst I am working in the garden.
I have chuckled about your doodle less labradoodle! I love having my dogs with me when I am gardening – it would not be the same without them – even if I do need eyes in the back of head to stop them digging.
Do you buy fresh tulip bulbs every year -mine never seem to make it from one year to the next
I always put fresh bulbs in my pots Elaine and then I try to add new bulbs to refresh the borders every three years or so. I have a rotation so that a few borders are done each autumn – that way I know that some borders will look fantastic even if others have not performed to well. It would be too expensive and time consuming to replace all the bulbs each year. I find that Spring Green and Queen of the Night have a long border life.
I too have got to the stage where bulbs in the autumn have to go into pots as I can’t remember where snowdrops etc are when planting time comes! Your little iris are delightful in pots, must try them this autumn, so far I have just planted them outside, but it would be nice to enjoy them inside first!
Thank you Pauline – I can’t believe I already have pots of bulbs that have gone over and need moving to the garden. I seem to wait so long for them to flower and then before I know it they are over for another year!
All these promising signs of treasures to come! It’s such a pleasure to go around at this time of year, constantly discovering new flowers, buds…I love the pics of your dogs – very handsome fellows 🙂
Thank you Annette – the dogs are very flattered! I am finding new treats every day at the moment – I love the garden when it is lit up by bulbs and spring flowers.
Gorgeous photos. It’s wonderful to have flowers blooming at last, isn’t it? My Iris reticulata have gone over already, but we’re stunning whilst they lasted. I need to repot my blueberry bush too and hope for a good crop. Your dogs are beautiful! Wishing you a productive gardening week.
Thank you so much Josie – I hope that you have been able to make the most of the lovely weather this week – I even had to retreat to the shade for a break today as I was getting to hot in the Cutting Garden.
Julie,firstly I want to complement your fury pets. They are adorable.i love dogs. I lost mine this January and still in deep sorrow .and your garden looks very exciting.I was just wondering when there is going to be party of colours to soothe all our minds .And reading your jobs my hands are getting very itchy to play with dirt .But My winter carpet is still fully on.however I have started indoor seed planting, which I will need your advice before planting into the soil. Happy weekend!
Oh Sajina – I am so sorry to hear about your dog. We lost our old dog 2 years ago and he is still very special to me – getting Nelson as a puppy did help to ease the sorrow though. I hope that your winter carpet will melt away soon – we have been basking in sunshine this weekend – so lovely after the wet and windy winter days.
Oh !sorry for your elder pet ,Julie
I am looking forward to seeing your borders – they sound delightful! What a productive week you have had too.
I am looking forward to my borders filling out too Cathy – as I am sure you are in your garden. Hasn’t the weather been fantastic! I have had a great day finishing planting out new roses, peonies and Lily of the Valley that have been clogging up the greenhouse.