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THE PLACING OF PLANTS |
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In purchasing plants for a mixed garden, remember that variety and continuity of bloom, berries, or attractive foliages maintain interest. Vary the greens and intermingle the deciduous types with evergreen; a proportion of one to three or four gives good effect. Advanced plants are available in kerosene tins; they are more expensive than younger plants, but are especially useful for quickly blocking an undesirable view, for replacing casualties, or for producing a quick garden effect. Roses are best not bought in this way.
Avoid placing plants with thorns, such as roses, berberis, and pyracanthas, near enough to paths to be a menace to passers-by. What looks a long way from the path at planting time may not prove sufficient after a few years of growth. All plants should get an adequate amount of sunlight. Fuchsias, rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, primulas, cinerarias, and the like need very little sunlight, so plant them on south walls. Sun-loving plants, such as hibiscus, poinsettia, frangipanni (plumieria), and perennial phlox should never face south. Roses require at least three or four hours of sunlight daily. Do not mix plants that require very different soil conditions. Carnations, chrysanthemums, stock, sweet-peas, irises, violets, and antirrhinums like lime, but it will very quickly kill ericas, azaleas, rhododendrons, and orchids. Some plants need heavy watering; others like drier conditions. Roses will tolerate any reasonable treatment. Avoid very large beds unless the centre or back portion is to be regarded as simply a wild, uncared-for mass, leaving the parts nearer the edges for roses, annuals, and the like. Roses will never thrive if planted near large established shrubs or trees, but if planted at the same time as the young shrubs or trees they will usually do quite well. In country gardens, big beds are often desirable, for watering is easier; and lawns are hard to maintain. Stepping-stones making curved paths through the beds will be useful. Small annuals, when grown among roses, indicate, by wilting, when water is deficient in the surface soil. Dwarf roses should never have to share a bed with annuals that grow taller than pansies. Standards can be surrounded by bigger things, such as Iceland poppies, nemesia, petunias, phlox, carnations, and dianthus. The rose is just as much at home in a mixed garden as is any other plant of moderate growing habits, but it should be remembered that it resents greedy companions such as dahlias, zinnias, and heuchera. It is in a mixed garden that the rose can fully demonstrate its pre-eminence. It can be seen in its multitude of uses as a garden plant, and can be gathered as a cut flower. No garden is complete without a goodly number of roses, and they need not have separate beds, let alone whole areas. |
