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Patience is a virtue…. Just not something I have much of

Wrigs21Wrigs21 Posts: 194
edited July 2021 in Plants
Afternoon all 

Hoping for some advice please. I’ve recently planted out some large beds going for a large drift look using perennials. It’s early days but can already see a few issues with my planting both in terms of style and some of the plants used. So my questions would be:

- Would you move plants at this stage or wait until autumn/spring 
- The plants were all very young when planted so would you suggest that they may take a few years to fully establish? (All perennials bar grasses)
- The artemisia has grown long and stringy as opposed to forming a mound, not sure if this is due to soil type or too much sun.  

Some of the plants used I think may struggle with the heat such as the Astibes and Veronicastrum but will see how they fair over the summer.

Appreciate any top tips from those who have success with this type/style of planting. 


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  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,743
    looks fine for a new bed / planting. 
    Devon.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,356
    edited July 2021
    The only thing I'd say is that Astilbes like very different conditions from things like Artemisia and Veronicastrum, so they may well not thrive at all. Shade and damp soil for Astilbes. 
    Easy enough to move them next year if they struggle though   :)
    Keeping them all well watered will be necessary anyway, until they all establish through the next few months  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,989
    I think it takes at least two years, maybe three, for a bed to establish … then very soon you need to start dividing and moving things. 😂 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Wrigs21Wrigs21 Posts: 194
    Fairygirl said:
    The only thing I'd say is that Astilbes like very different conditions from things like Artemisia and Veronicastrum, so they may well not thrive at all. Shade and damp soil for Astilbes. 
    Easy enough to move them next year if they struggle though   :)
    Keeping them all well watered will be necessary anyway, until they all establish through the next few months  :)
    Thank you :) Yes I should have picked that up as have a few in pots in the shade that seem to have gone mad! It’s on a South West facing bank so does get extremely hot plus coupled with dry soil. Will be replacing most with drought tolerant perennials next time! 

    P.s. Trekked to Suilven last week, lovely part of the world
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,157
    It looks fine to me too, but @Fairygirl is right about the Astilbes. Veronicastrum should be OK, they managed the heat in my old garden in SW France.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,356
    Did you get to the summit @Wrigs21 ? I haven't been up that way for a few years and the weather didn't suit, so I'm hoping I'll manage it at some point. Met a chap on Ben Macdui the other day and he'd been there recently  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Wrigs21Wrigs21 Posts: 194
    edited July 2021
    Fairygirl said:
    Did you get to the summit @Wrigs21 ? I haven't been up that way for a few years and the weather didn't suit, so I'm hoping I'll manage it at some point. Met a chap on Ben Macdui the other day and he'd been there recently  :)
    We were supposed to do Ben McDui the day before but weather was abysmal sadly so had to duck it. Half way sadly, trekked for ages and ironically given the day previous the heat was taking its toll so my friend didn’t fancy it. 


    It’s worth the drive! 
  • Wrigs21Wrigs21 Posts: 194
    Dovefromabove said:
    I think it takes at least two years, maybe three, for a bed to establish … then very soon you need to start dividing and moving things. 😂 
    Ah I’m not sure ill get that far before adding things :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,356
    It's a beautiful area, but the weather is always a big factor. The clag was right down on the day I was hoping to do it, so I decided it wasn't worth it. Annoyingly, during the day it gradually lifted so I would probably have been fine. Sod's Law  ;)

    I did a  low level walk up to Stoer lighthouse instead and got some decent photos from there on the way back.


    Managed to nip up Stac Pol on the way home so that was enjoyable. Some good pix of Suilven from up there too.  
    I haven't updated the camera thread which we use for all non garden or wildlife type pix, mainly because I've hardly been anywhere in the past 18 months. More than half way through the year so it would probably be a good idea to take a look   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Wrigs21Wrigs21 Posts: 194
    Fairygirl said:
    It's a beautiful area, but the weather is always a big factor. The clag was right down on the day I was hoping to do it, so I decided it wasn't worth it. Annoyingly, during the day it gradually lifted so I would probably have been fine. Sod's Law  ;)

    I did a  low level walk up to Stoer lighthouse instead and got some decent photos from there on the way back.


    Managed to nip up Stac Pol on the way home so that was enjoyable. Some good pix of Suilven from up there too.  
    I haven't updated the camera thread which we use for all non garden or wildlife type pix, mainly because I've hardly been anywhere in the past 18 months. More than half way through the year so it would probably be a good idea to take a look   :)
    That looks great. Yes as I’ve found you take your chances with the weather in Scotland! We got lucky last week. Been up a few times as haven’t been able to travel but love it up there even with the moody weather! 
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