THE PERENNIAL BORDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23500, 14 May 1938, Page 22

THE PERENNIAL BORDER

SOME SEASONAL SUGGESTIONS OVERHAULING AND RENOVATION No matter how carefully a border ,c: perennials has been planned and planted, there comes a lime when it needs to be thoroughly overhauled and rejuvenated. -It is a mistake to suppose that, because a plant is of perennial duration, it needs no furlhe attention after it has once been planted. It may have been given an ideal situation in a generous soil, but even the best of conditions do not guarantee that it will remain content for an unlimited number of years. Several good reasons exist for the periodical overhauling of the border, say, in every three or four years, although it may contain a certain number of plants which resent root disturbance. Perhaps one ol the most pressing needs of the established border is that plants of limited growth be freed from the intrusion of their rampant-grow-ing neighbours. To give a concrete example, the herbaceous pasony may be growing in association with a' Michaelmas daisy. There will come a time when the latter will have spread to such an extent as to threaten the very existence of the pssony, and it is common knowledge that pseonies canhot continue to thrive if their legitimate root space is being intruded upon. TRIENNIAL DIVISION This leads to a reminder that certain plants, like Tichaelmas daisies, phloxes, perennial sunflowers, and others of similar habit and growth need to be lifted and divided every three years for their own well-being apart from the mischief they may do to their neighbours. In every old clump of these perennials will be found a certain amount of dead or useless growth, which is obstructing healthy development. Equally important is the matter of renovating the soil, an operation which cannot be nearly so conveniently performed while the plants are in occupation. Most perennials are gross feeders, and, after they have been in the same position for some years, they inevitably exhaust the food necessary to the production of good and abundant flowers. Furthermore, the soil in an old border needs a periodic cleaning up. In spite of the utmost vigilance, certain rampant weeds will elude every effort made to suppress them. These find their way among the roots of the plants, and nothing short of transplanting the border will effectually put an end to their depredations.

Yet, again, the time comes when the owner of a border may decide to substitute good modern varieties for those which he has been growing. There are .so many choicer ones at his disposal that it is a pity to retain inferior sorts. Progress to-day in horticulture is rapid, ana glorified types of old garden varieties are as thick as leaves in Vallombrosa. It behoves the good gardener to keep his border up to date, not merely for the sake of following a vogue, but because he should try to maintain that standard of excellence which the creators of. modern types have aimed to produce. Their work should be recognised and encouraged by all who love their gardens. Yet anothei reason for overhauling the border is that errors in the original planting may be corrected. Some plants may have grown higher than was anticipated, some may need more space than has been allotted to them, while others may clash with their immediate neighbours when in flower. Assuming that notes have been made from time to time of these discrepancies, it will not be difficult to remedy them. , , Now is the best time of the whole year for lifting and replanting herbaceous plants. Later on, when they have completely died dovn. it is not easy to recognise them. A spare piece of ground should be forked over ready to afford a temporary home while the oorder is being prepared to receive them again. This preparation consists in deep digging and the working in of a generous supply of old manure. Where this is not procurable, a good substitute may be found in hop manure, especially on heavy soils. All dead and superfluous growth should be cut away '"from the plants, which should be reduced to a convenient size, taking care to remove any traces of weeds from among the roots. SOME EXCEPTIONS OF NOTE In the event of there being herbaceous paeonies in the border, these plants may be left undisturbed, as they do not like to be disturbed when once established, but this need not interfere with the general purpose, as the soil may be dug and manured in their immediate neighbourhood, and they will consequently, be benefited b; the process of overhauling The same remarks apply to the alpine, Japanese, and other herbaceou- anemones, which are equallv impatient of disturbance. In regard to these plants, the only thing to do is to remove some of the surplus roots that have spread beyond their allotted space, or have crowded the centre of the group. Other plants which should be left alone so long as they thrive are eremuruses. platycodons. eryngiums. gypsophilas, Campanula lactiflora, liliums, Thalictrum dipterocarpum, Morin' - longifolia and the veratrums.

When the operation ot transplanting has been accomplished, it may be found that, owing to the reduction of some of the clumps, there are more empty spaces than formerly, and, in order that there may be no uninteresing gags in the bordex, these spaces may be nlleJ with clumps of narcissi and other spring-flowering bulbs. Crocuses and snowdrops, winter aconites, and winter irises may be planted along the border’s edge to give a cheerful appearance during the early months. The perfect border is no;, created in a season. It is evolved in years of patient labour, and one of the greatest aids to its accomplishment lies in (he intelligent and periodical overhauling.—H. G.