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jennpa6b

Critique my border plan, please.

10 years ago

Since I have to wait for 811 to mark lines so I can start tilling and composting, I would greatly appreciate feedback from more experienced gardeners on the layout I am planning for my backyard perennial garden. (I know I shouldn't have bought the plants before the bed was ready, but I needed to see if my guesstimated size was right (excuse), and I couldn't resist (truth).

I am in Zone 6b, Pennsylvania. This is the sunniest spot in my yard, and it runs along the property line of my neighbor (you can see their house at the top of the photo. (I asked if I could plant perennials there, even though it's my property, because it faces the front of their house due to the weird designers of our cul-de-sac.)

One specific question I have relates to shade. The left hand side of the bed gets sun all day long. The shade from the trees gradually moves from about the center of the bed until the whole bed is in full sun (this is just after that happens at about 2pm). The right hand side will only get sun until the house blocks it at 7-ish, which I know is pushing it for full sun. Are some of these plants more shade tolerant and should be moved to that side?

Another question is spacing. The whole bed is 25' by about 5'. The spaces behind the shasta daisies and rudbeckia are for alliums and poppies to be planted later. Other than those gaps, does the spacing seem ok?

And then any and all advice you'd like to throw my way. All of my other beds are much smaller and were planted with little planning, so I really appreciate any suggestions!


Comments (6)

  • 10 years ago

    Pretty much what Ken said. You can move most of the plants you've got if you want to rearrange. Do keep in mind, it's already quite late in the season to be transplanting (hot, hot, hot), so they'll need proper watering and they may take longer to recover. Just do it.

  • 10 years ago

    I agree with most of Ken's suggestions but have to wonder, will the bed have curved edges or will it be rectangular? From your photo/design above I'm assuming curved edges which is good for a couple of reasons. There's no way for us to determine how far away the nearest source of water is located. Will providing supplemental water during dry spells become an issue for things that need it? I have most everything on your diagram growing in my various mixed beds and all have been thriving since 2007. I supply supplemental water only during severe drought and only to my hydrangeas & astilbe/false spirea.

    Of the plants you listed, the only one that generally does well in either sun or shade where I am (south central New England) is heuchera/coral bells. Mine are growing on the east side of my house in part shade & part sun and seem to thrive.

  • 10 years ago

    That looks exciting, good luck and don't forget to mulch.

    My only comments:

    there are all different kinds of shade, and it seems yours is a light shade from neighboring trees so not much of a problem. The dianthus, gaillardia, and maybe the salvia are the only ones I see that demand full sun to do their best.

    The monarda, rudbeckia, and Shasta daisy will spread out into good sized clumps so make sure they have some extra room to grow.

    check the hardiness on the orange sedge

    Leave some space for later additions and divisions. Some of your plants will be easy to divide and multiply and you might want to repeat them a little more through the border once things become established or fade away. I like to repeat a few things here and there to bring the whole border together.

    You have a nice selection of perennials, it will look even better next year when they take off!

  • 10 years ago

    Looks to be a fantastic garden and the butterflies will thank you for it!!!!!!

  • 10 years ago

    Thanks so much all! I am tilling, Ken, so I went out and doubled the marked space in white before any of the utilities got here to mark - why rent the machine again in the fall when I want to plant bulbs? I appreciate it - you saved me some money! I do want them all crowded together, but I'll give them a little more space to grow - I have an aquilegia being choked to death by virulent rudbeckia out front, so better to add more plants if there's space than not give them enough room to get a good start.

    Laceyvail, I know it's super late to be planting, but my garden centers are slow to get in late bloomers, and I will baby the new plantings since I'm home for the summer. I appreciate the reassurance I can always rearrange!

    Gardenweed, I've been thinking of moving the coral bells more to the shady side - I will do that before I plant. The bed is only about 100' from my house and I have a long hose, so I should be good for supplemental watering. I water my hostas and astilbes in front regularly, and everything else only when we've gone a week or so without rain. Since I'm planting these so late, I'll keep a close eye on their water needs for a bit. The bed will have curved edges in the front, and I may not edge the back just yet - I'm thinking of maybe adding some holly or varigated dogwood or shrubby St. John's Wort in the back later on.

    Katob, I'm happy to hear the monarda will spread - it's my first time growing that and it's so huge - I'm excited to see it bloom! I like the idea of dividing and repeating, thanks!

    Shillanorth, thank you - the butterflies and bees have already found the plants, even in their pots, and are fluttering around like crazy. That's why I picked most of them!

    I really appreciate the feedback, everyone! I'll post pictures when I get it all in the ground.