Seasonal Displays Flashcards
H1a
Over 15 degrees
Heated tropical greenhouse
Under glass all year
H1b
10-15 degrees
Subtropical heated greenhouse
Perform better under glass year round but can be grown outside in summer in hotter, sheltered locations.
H1c
5-10 degrees
Heated greenhouse - warm, temperate
Can be grown outside in summer
E.g. bedding plants, tomatoes
H2
1-5 degrees
Tender - cool or frost free greenhouse
Tolerant of low temps but not being frozen.
Can be grown outside once risk of frost is over
E.g. bedding plants
H3
1 to -5 degrees
Half hardy - unheated glasshouse, mild winter
Hardy except in severe winters and sudden early frosts.
H4
-5 to -10
Hardy - average winter
May suffer foliage damage and stem dieback in hash winters in cold gardens
Herbaceous and woody plants
H5
-10 to -15
Hardy - cold winter
Herbaceous perennials
H6
-15 to -20
Hardy - very cold winter
H7
Less than -20
Very hardy
Bedding plants
Plants that make a temporary show.
E.g. hardy bulbs, hardy and half hardy annuals, and tender shrubs
Usually taken to mean plants that make a splash of colour in summer
Annual plant
Completes its life cycle in 1 year
Hardy annual able to withstand frost
Annuals and half hardy annuals are often very colourful.
Useful to provide temporary infill between shrubs or provide instant effect in new garden.
Invaluable for tubs, planters and window boxes
Half hardy annual
Unable to withstand severe frost so need protection.
Tender perennials that are often discarded at the end of the season are included in this section.
Tropical plants
Originates from tropical or sub tropical climate.
Term is sometimes used for plants with a tropical appearance. E.g. canna and cordyline
Edging plants
Used round the edge of a display
Groundwork (infill) plants
Those that infill the bed, providing a background against which to set off dot plants.
Dot plants
Those dotted around to provide contrast to groundwork plants.
Taller and showier that groundwork plants.
F1 hybrids
Result of cross breeding to produce plants with a mixture of physical characteristics inherited from the 2 parents
1st generation of plants from pure bred parents.
All characteristics of the new plants are predictable and the same.
New plants often have increased vigour - hybrid vigour to cope with adverse environmental conditions.
Preparation of annual border
Prepare soil by cultivation , consolidation and raking to produce a seed bed.
Avoid the use of nitrogenous fertilisers and this will promote leaf growth.
For hardy annuals sown direct mark out areas with dry silver sand.
Seed can be broadcast, sown in drills or station sown.
Seeds will take 2-3 weeks to germinate and should be thinned according to variety.
Any gaps can be filled with surplus seedlings
Support taller growing annuals at this stage
Take care to not allow weed seedlings to become established.
Normally require little attention once established.
Deadheading prolongs flowering
Can collect seed for future years.
Summer bedding displays
Bedding should be planted into prepared, weed free soil after risk of frost has passed.
Generally purpose fertiliser cam be raked I to soil before planting, although avoid high nitrogen.
Newly planted plantsay need watering.
Taller plants may need support.
Deadheading can extend flowering
Weed as part of routine maintenance.
Spring bedding
Planted in autumn as summer bedding cleared
Often includes biennials, spring flowering bulbs
Summer containers and hanging baskets
Choose plants that flower over long period and respond well to deadheading.
Don’t plant up until risk of frost has passed.
Often plant tender perennials and annuals.
For summer containers a structural plant can enhance the display.
Combine plants that have similar requirements.
Benefit of being able to move them into prime spot when look their best
Hanging baskets provide colour at eye level.
Planting a container or hanging basket
A standard wire basket needs to be lined with cardboard, fibrous liner or moss with 1.5cm layer. Then half fill basket with compost.
Multipurpose compost is fine.
Consider using water retaining granules to reduce need for watering
Add controlled release fertiliser.
Arrange plants starting with those round the side first.
Fill with compost as the plants go in.
Water well
Maintenance of hanging basket and containers
Water every day unless compost is wet.
Apply liquid fertiliser
Deadhead regularly
Winter containers and baskets
Plant between sept and Oct
Ensure plants are frost hardy
Plants don’t grow much in winter so start with enough good size plants
Position where it will get as much light as possible.
Water if needed
No need to feed
Raise containers off the ground to aid drainage and prevent pots cracking and freezing.
Choose frost resistant containers
