Garden design

Alfierawes

On listening to GQT a caller wanted to know how to create a garden on a Piet Oudolf design - the Dutch garden designer. The answer was to plant strong growing perennials and grasses in 9cm pots and place them close together at about 10 of them per sqare metre. They would then be cut back each spring and covered with garden compost but no fertiliser. My question is “could this be a permanent arrangement or how long would the planting survive being in such small pots?”

Borderline

I'm not convinced about the pots. I saw Piet Oudolf's recent borders this year in Hampton Court and everything was kept in their pots and sunk into the soil. I have to admit, it was one of the biggest disappointments. The planting was not natural and I thought this was done because they just didn't have the time to take the plants out of the pots. The base did not knit together and the overall look was dotty and gappy. Not at all something I have seen for any design.

Alfierawes

Thank you Borderline for that firsthand information. The new house we are moving to has Spanish bluebells in the garden do you know the best way to reduce or eliminate them please.

Hostafan1

Having worked on a garden build at Hampton Court , many ( most? )of the gardens are not "planted" but the plants are still in their pots . It makes it easier to dismantle after the show and the plants are more likely to survive .
I'd imagine that was the rationale behind the PO garden too.

Alfierawes

Thank you Hostafan 1. That was my thinking.

Obelixx

I you look at permanent prairie style/Piet Oudolph type planting schemes the plants are in the ground and allowed to spread.  Any refereeing is done at the annual cut back to remove dead foliage and allow the new shoots thru.   Show gardens are planted in their pots because it's quicker and easier both to build and dismantle when time is precious and it's also easier to shuffle things if needed.