HINTS ABOUT HERBACEOUS BORDERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 732, 3 August 1929, Page 28

HINTS ABOUT HERBACEOUS BORDERS

On poor soils, a top-dressing of well- \ decayed manure will improve the growth of the plants and enhance the size and colour of the flowers next ! season. It is important to renew labels. On cold wet soils, delphiniums ; and aquilegias will come through the winter better if they are covered with | small mounds of old coal ashes. It must be remembered, however, that clumps of perennial flowers never give their best when overcrowded, and this is the best time for lifting, dividing, and replanting. Exception must be made in the cases of madonna lilies and flag irise3, for these transplant better immediately after they have finished flowering than at any other time. Regarding the division of other plants, it may be said that the popular Michaelmas daisy, the autumnflowering rudbeekia, and helenium, : and the lovely phlox, show to best : advantage with only 10 or 12 main stems. j When a border is to be rearranged, lift all the plants and lay them in roughly in some convenient corner of i the garden. Deeply dig and manure the site moderately before replanting. If young outside pieces are chosen, and the centres of old clumps are dis- ! carded, better results will be obtained. Leave spaces at the back of | the border for pillar roses, clumps of ! sweet peas, and a few dahlias. In the foreground, groups of wallflowers i and various bulbs will make things bright in spring, and these may be I followed with various annuals for summer display. Endeavour to secure colour harmonies rather than crude contrasts, and grade the heights of the plants, but keeping a few taller-growing ones with attractive foliage, such as thalic- ‘ trum, near the foreground. Avoid the too-plentiful inclusion of white flowers in the mixed border, j because they are apt to give a cold effect. On the other hand, if they | are used as a foil between warmer colours, such as crimson, scarlet, and orange, their full value is realised. In small beds or borders, do not use too many colours. The best results are obtained by grouping blue, white, salmon, and gold shades together. In the long border, charming results accrue from the free association of lilac, mauve, purple, and lavender. It is a good plan to start at one end of the border with dark blues, gradually merging into lighter shades of blue, followed with yellow and whiite. In the middle, crimson, scarlet and orange \ will show to great advantage, and the ; border may then be continued down, i through white and yellow, to lilac and i mauve at the other end. ,