Edging a border with snowdrops (and polyanthus firecracker)

Tingly

Hello again- my second post of the day!

i have a big garden and my health is not robust

Over the last couple of years i have edged most of garden with geranium macrorhizzum and have lollipop standard trees popping out of this (in containers cos i cant manage otherwise)

its a bit boring at this time of year though , and bearing in mind putting bedding in every year is a no no because of my health, i have thought of this

what about edging the whole of the borsder with snowdrops at the front, then polyanthus firecracker just behind- and then ive git my geraniums behind that

i have read that these plants will pop up year after year so if i can get my brother to put them in for me that should be it.

is this a sound idea?

many thanks

 

Fairygirl

You could have a succession of different bulbs in that situation - the geraniums will cover dying bulb foliage. 

When you say standard trees - what kind are they? Pots are usually more work than anything directly in the ground.

As philippa says - a few pix and a bit more info will help. 

Bookertoo

Do add scilla biflora - the best shade of blue there is.  Any of the spring smaller bulbs will just pop up year on year.  Maybe some cyclamen as well?  They will gently spread around - though none of them will last for ever - there is no such thing as a garden that is completely done - but if you can get your brother to add a few small shrubs like hebes and things of that ilk, you will be able to have a garden that needs less work than some of them.

Tingly

Thanks I will take aphoto tomorrow and try and put it on here

the standards are lilacs, holly and cypress in pots- luckily ive got an irrigation system so reasonably easy to maintain

soil type- clay , partial shade

i never understand which way my garden is facing . If i stand at my back door and put a compass in my hands it says south west. But i suppose if i am the fence at the bottom of the garden i would be north east? So i dont really knoww!!

thanks bookertoo- you are my guardian/gardening angel today!

 

 

Fairygirl

Tingly - it's a case of determining which way the plants face. If you're border is facing you and that's north east then that's the aspect of the border. Any plants in that border will be getting some morning sun but a good bit of shade, but it also depends on what else is there - for instance a hedge or fence or neighbouring trees.

Plants against your house wall will be south west and will therefore get a fair bit of sun 

Tingly

Aaah Fairygirl- i get it now!- i've always wondered why people said i was lucky cos ive got a south facing garden , (and yet the border at the end was in shadow!)

i need a border up this end near the house- i see.

thanks again