Hilary Thomas Design ::

GREAT VALUE PLANTS

hilaryt — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:31:03 +0000

Many herbaceous plants & grasses provide colour & seasonal excitement throughout the year. Some such as delphiniums and paeonies only flower for a few weeks whilst others provide colour for months, and their seed heads may provide winter interest long into the New Year. The perennial geraniums are wonderful plants, tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions and many of the new cultivars flower for many months. Amongst the new generation of blue geraniums that look similar to the old ‘Johnson’s Blue are ‘Brookside’, ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Orion’.and all make excellent ground cover at the front of the border.

Geranium 'Brookside'

There are several new sedums that are sturdy upright plants that keep their flowerheads well into winter. Sedum ‘Matrona’ is a soft pink whilst ‘Red Cauli’ has deep red, eye catching flowers. Planted with grasses they provide good late summer and autumn interest.

Sedum 'Matrona'

Sedum 'Red Cauli'

Most of these long flowering plants require sun and good drainage and Anthemis tinctoria ‘E.C. Buxton’ responds to favourable growing conditions by flowering from late May until the first frost.

Anthemis tinctoria 'E.C. Buxton' with Geranium 'Orion'

There have been a number of new achilleas introduced over the last few years. These tend to be shorter than the old cultivars so they do not require staking and many of them such as ‘Terracotta’ and ‘Walther Funcke’ are warmer in colour. They too if dead- headed regularly will produce a constant array of flowers

Achillea 'Walther Funcke'

Achillea 'Terracotta'

One of the lovliest grasses, beaytifully soft and colourful is Panicum virgatum ‘Squaw’ . The leaves and flowers take on a rich mahogony colour that blens with the other rich shades of autumn.

Panicum virgatum 'Squaw'

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

Grasses are particularly valuable at providing a change of form and texture amongst shrubs and herbaceous plants. They move gently in the breeze and their fine foliage and flowers look particularly lovely when the low autumn sun shines through from behind.

Structural Planting

hilaryt — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:18:51 +0000

November is the ideal month to take a critical look at your garden and check whether you have enough structural planting to hide bare fences in winter and provide a backdrop for more ornamental planting in summer. Structural plants are evergreen shrubs that are reliable and relatively fast growing, quickly establishing a green framework around the garden. There is a wide choice of shrubs, but choose ones that have plain green foliage and to create interest, select plants with different sized leaves. If they have flowers or berries then this is a bonus. Any of the following shrubs will add interest and structure to your garden.

Choisya ternata must be one of the most reliable shrubs. It has glossy aromatic foliage and scented white flowers in spring and autumn. It can also be used to make an attractive informal hedge.

: Choisya ternata

The leaves of Elaeagnus x ebbingei are glossy green above and silvery underneath. It is very hardy and produces small fragrant flowers in autumn.

Pittosporum tenuifolium is a real gem with small wavy-edged leaves and there are several equally reliable cultivars with foliage in various shades of green.

Pittosporum tenuifolium

The thick apple green leaves of Griselinia littoralis provide a real contrast in colour when planted next to a dark green shrub.

Griselinia littoralis

Osmanthus heterophyllus has small holly like leaves and is great for Christmas wreaths as it is less prickly than holly. It produces small fragrant flowers in autumn. Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ has a good open habit and the new foliage is bright red maturing to dark green. Regular pruning ensures a constant array of new foliage.

Photinia x fraseri

Bulbs for Spring Colour!

admin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:05:12 +0000

September is the time to buy a selection of bulbs to give colour in the garden next spring. Bulbs can be used in a mixed border with shrubs and herbaceous plants, naturalised in grass or planted in containers. If naturalising in grass select early flowering bulbs that will have finished their display well before the grass needs cutting. Buy the smaller narcissus such as Narcissus pseudonarcissus (the wild daffodil) N. ‘February Gold’ and N. poeticus as they look more natural than the larger daffodils.

Narcissus pseudonarcissus (the wild daffodil)

Many bulbs originate from regions with a Mediterranean climate so it is necessary to provide the right growing conditions. Drainage is very important and the addition of organic matter and sharp sand or grit will improve soil structure and prevent the bulbs rotting off. Tulips and alliums can be grown in sunny gardens with good drainage but on heavy soils these are best grown in pots.

Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'

Avoid the use of plastic pots as the compost stays cold and wet. Crock the bottom of the pot and select a loam-based compost, John Innes No 2, and mix it two parts JI compost to one part grit to provide good drainage. Try some of the wonderful dark coloured tulips such as ‘Queen of Night’, ‘Black Parrot’, and ‘Black Hero’ contrasted with the lily flowered ‘White Triumphator’, or magenta ‘Negrita’. In the border the white multi-headed Narcissus ‘Thalia’ is a delight, and the purple spheres of Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ or the blue spikes of Camassia all provide colour well into May.

Tulip 'Queen of Night'

Welcome to Hilary Thomas Design

admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:44:01 +0000

I’d like to personally welcome you to my new blog-style web site. Please use the navigation to find more about me and my passion for designing, lecturing and writing about garden design.