As with the need to select the correct position for your perennial border, the shape of this area is also worth giving quite some thought to. For example, go gentle on the curves; we all like a curving border, but avoid a very fussy serpentine shape. Also, try to make the border lengthy; in this way, you will be able to accommodate many different-sized plants with a variety of blooms.

When you come close to deciding how your border should look, you can use a long length of hosepipe or heavy rope to mark out this shape on the ground. This method allows you to make adjustments until you achieve a comfortable shape. Then you can mark the ground by scratching it with a stick or by using line marker spray. Follow this by spraying off or digging out and disposing of any existing grass and weeds.

Most new garden beds and borders benefit from additional organic material being added to it and dug in. This is especially true of the perennial border. So to begin, dig over the ground thoroughly and remove all traces of perennial weeds and large stones. Leave the small stones, as they aid drainage and help to regulate the soil's temperature.

Dig or till in lots of organic matter to improve the soil for your perennials at this stage as well. If you have a good back, and you feel up to it, this organic matter is most effective if dug in to a depth of 12 inches. Choose from the following source of organic matter: garden compost, leaf mould, well-rotted farmyard manure, spent mushroom compost, garden centre soil enricher. An ideal situation would be to have half your soil made up of organic matter, a great reserve of plant food.

If your soil is very heavy, sticky or poorly drained, I would advise adding grit at this stage as well. Digging in a good quantity of sand grit or gravel will open up your soil and allow channels for drainage.

The final part of the soil preparation is to fork into the soil around 10 to 20 grammes of 7-6-17 fertiliser per metre squared. If 7-6-17 is not available, any general-purpose fertiliser applied at the rates stated on its pack will do. After all this is done, you must allow the soil and its amendments to settle for around a week or two before planting. This gives you ample opportunity to select and source the plants you would like to inhabit your newly created border.

And that is what we will look at next week: perennial selection for colour, form and purpose.

Answer to last week's gardening brainteaser:

A perennial plant is a plant that lives for more than two years.

This week's question:

Farmers use 7-6-17 fertiliser as a feed for potatoes, true or false?

There are no prizes; this is just for fun and education. I will have the answer next week.

As well as his horticultural writing, James Kilkelly provides a garden and landscape design service based in County Galway. Contact him through his website www.gardenplansireland.com or alternatively by phone on 087-2067846. For free access to an incredible wealth of gardening information visit his gardening forum www.irishgardeners.com.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment