[Faz]

Hello,

SWMBO has issued instructions for a herbaceous border to be constructed in the back garden. It will be south facing but located at the base of a fairly large (in both height and thickness) privet hedge.

Being in the east of Kent we don't have much rain so plants which are relatively drought resistant would be best.

Other instructions include :

Colours - vibrant and varied
Bee friendly
Ideally grown from seed to minimise cost
Must be suitable for a heavy clay soil

Before I tell her that she knows where the spade is (and get it walloped on the back of my head!  ) I thought I would ask you good people if you could suggest any particular plants that might be suitable, including any bulbs that might be good for early spring colour.

Many thanks,

Faz
 

[mumofstig]

Nothing much will succeed close to the roots, so you will have to make the border quite wide, so that the choicer plants can be further away from the hedge.
This site linkwill give you some idea of plants for your border, you just fill in the boxes and it gives you lists of plants.

[Faz]

Thanks Mum!

Looks like we can find some useful info on that site. Then all I have to do is figure out which way round and where to put them!!

 

[sunshineband]

This is a brilliant site, Mumofstig -- thanks for posting it. Hours of fun 

[mumofstig]

You're very welcome! Must admit i find it helpful

[BlackRocks]

I have always found that when it comes to herbaceous plants you are best working with established plants. In the autumn when it's time to split things that spread I would ask around friends and family etc if they have any herbaceous plants they are splitting and whether you can have a bit (even if they are not splitting them you may find they don't mind you taking a little bit from the edge). That way you can just plant it and as my poor old mum used to say "it's got 2 chances - live or die". It's free and more often than not they do thrive although the hedge could be a problem. Things I have always had success with include, canterbury bells, phlox, aster and Japanese anenome. I think you just need to try a few things and see what is happy to grow in the spot you have. If you are purchasing plants you could try Hebes and also any silver leaved plants which tend to be drought resistant.

[tinlizzy]

Do you intend to have the border close by the hedge?   I would suggest you have a path at least a couple of feet wide to allow you to cut the hedge, believe me it's not easy to cut a hedge when you border is touching it, I found that out the hard way!

[Faz]

I have pointed out the practicalities of cutting the hedge to the wife already! We'll have to leave a bit of room but not too much, otherwise because the garden is long and reasonably narrow we'll not have room for anything else!!

Thanks for all the other advice too.

[blackisgreen]

try lavenders ,verbena bonariensis,yarrow,solidago,sunflower,asters,echinacea,erigeron,erygium,evening primrose,fennel,ox eyed daisy ,sage,rosemary all these grow in my border near to the hedge