planning a herbaceous border

Question 1

what are the first things you need to decide before making a herbaceous border?

Answer 1

measure up the site
make the design
will it be traditional - with a wall or hedge at the rear?
will it be an island bed - viewed from all sides
Pay attention to plant heights and use of architectural plants that act as features to break up a low area

Question 2

name some perennial weeds that seep into a herbaceous border

Answer 2

ground elder
couch grass
bindweed - all very difficult to remove once in the border and can grow within clumps

Question 3

name some bulbs and corms for use within a herbaceous border and describe each

Answer 3

Agapanthus - grows from a rhizome and blooms throughout summer. Flowers are bell shaped on long stalks in white/blue/purple

Fritillaria imperialis ‘Crown Imperial’ - reaches 3.2m high, likes well-drained soil, in full sun, leave undisturbed and don’t lift after flowering BULB

Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ - flowering onions, large heads in a wide col, range. Get o 90cm height BULB

CORM: gladiolus, crocus and crocosmia
Rhizome; Iris sibirica, Agapanthus