Short term plantings

Question 1

What does bedding refer to?

Answer 1

refers to the temporary planting of fast-growing plants, into flower beds borders, containers and hanging baskets to create colourful, temporary, seasonal displays. Plants used for bedding may be annuals, biennials, or perennials. Can be seeds to plants.

Question 2

When is bedding usually planted?

Answer 2

usually changed twice a year, planting out in late spring,
for summer colour, and early autumn, for winter/spring colour.

Question 3

What plants can be used?

Answer 3

Hardy annual

half-hardy annual

Tropical

Question 4

In FORMAL bedding displays (public parks ex). what are the terms used?

Answer 4

Edging Plants

Groundwork

Dot plants

Question 5

What are edging plants?

Answer 5

positioned around the edge of the planting scheme. They are short plants 150 – 200 mm (6-8in) in height. The purpose is to bring
definition and sometimes a sense of structure to the design,

often be in a contrasting colour or texture.

Examples: Bellis perennis, and Erica carnea for winter/ spring displays and

Ageratum houstonianum and Begonia semperflorens for summer displays

Question 6

What is groundwork?

Answer 6

the infill plants that make up a large part of the planting scheme. They are usually between 300 – 400mm (12- 16in) in height.

Examples for a winter/spring bedding display wallflowers, Erysimum cheiri ‘Primrose Bedder’, and Primrose ‘World’s Most Scented Mix’.

For summer, Impatiens walleriana ‘Super Elfin Series’ and Pelargonium ‘Horizon Scarlet’

Question 7

What are dot plants?

Answer 7

used in a scheme to give height and scale and to break up the
groundwork by having different foliage textures or different colour flowers.

They are taller than the groundwork 60-80cm (2-2ft,6in) and provide focal interest. For winter and spring bedding a dot plant needs to have a strong architectural form and if not evergreen, have winter interest such as coloured stems.

Examples for a winter/spring scheme would be Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ with red stems or a standard clipped Buxus sempervirens (box ball), whilst for summer it could be a standard Fuchsia ‘Mrs Popple’ or Canna indica.

Question 8

What plants are suitable for seasonal display?

Answer 8

• annuals (Centaurea cyanus, Calendula officinalis, Limnanthes douglasii
• half-hardy annuals (traditional bedding plants); Cosmos bipinnata, Calibrachoa Million Bells Series, Nicotiana ‘Lime Green’
• bulbs Iris reticulata, Crocus speciosa, Tulipa ‘Ballerina’
• shrubs Cordyline australis, Brugmansia arborea ‘Knightii’, Fuchsia magellanica
• short-lived perennials. (often discarded at end of season) Echinaea purpurea, Gaillardia x grandiflora, Salvia x sylvestris ‘Rose Queen’.

Question 9

Examples of F1 Hybrid

Answer 9

Helianthus ‘Harlequin’ F1 hybrid
Viola hybrida ‘F1 Sorbet’
Impatiens New Guinea Divine Mixed F1
Carrot Flyaway F1 Hybrid

Question 10

What is hybrid vigour

Answer 10

the first filial generation, is uniform in characteristic and shows hybrid vigour,
such as large flowers or fruit. Hybrid vigour is not fully understood but crosses
between certain lines will produce especially vigorous offspring.

Question 11

What are the benefits of F1 hybrids?

Answer 11

F1 hybrids show hybrid vigour. They have greater size and vigour of flowers or
fruit, and they are more robust and better able to overcome adverse growing
conditions. They also have greater uniformity.

Cost more, better for breeders!

Question 12

What are the issues with F1 Hybrids?

Answer 12

Seeds saved from F 1 hybrid plants will not produce plants that are true to the
parent type

expensive as it can only be created by crossing the parent inbred lines

High cost of maintaining the inbred lines, so a lot of seed must be sold for a hybrid to be commercially viable. For this reason, hybrids are often only offered for a few years before coming off the market leaving gardeners to seek a replacement for favourite cultivars.

Question 13

What plants are recommended for an annual border?

Answer 13

usually hardy annuals that are sown
either in early autumn, September is best, as the soil is still warm or in spring,
late March or April, once the soil has warmed up to at least 7C. The seeds
sown in autumn will over-winter as small plants and will flower earlier than
those sown in spring

Question 14

Define glaucous

Answer 14

the pale grey or bluish-green appearance of the surfaces of some plants.

Question 15

What are some characteristics of suitable plants to include in a border

Answer 15

o floriferous
o have little or reduced transplant shock
o are cost effective to propagate, often by seed

Question 16

What are some positive environmental impacts of seasonal plant displays?

Answer 16

Connection of people to environment

Provision of nectar/pollen for pollinators

Provision of habitat

Create cover for wildlife

Question 17

What are the negative environmental impacts of seasonal plant displays?

Answer 17

Use of fossil fuels in production/transportation

Carbon release from soil disturbance

Often grown in peat-based or imported (coir based) growing media

Use of plastics (for plugs)

Water

Question 18

What are some environmental impacts of the production of bedding plants?

Answer 18

Heating of glass houses with fossil fuels.

Extraction/manufacture/transportation/bagging of growing media

Industrial inputs, conveyors/pricking out machinery

Impact of lighting on wildlife/energy use

Water usage

Land use

Wastage/landfill

Question 19

What are some biodiversity impacts of the production of bedding plants?

Answer 19

Land usage (land covered by glasshouses offers few ecosystem services)

Run-off (rainfall) from greenhouses impacts biod.

Low ecosystem services provided by bedding plants, which are often doubles.

Impacts on soil ecology from fertilizer usage

Plant health risks association with importation and movement of plants.

Question 20

What is the carbon footprint of annual bedding plants?

Answer 20

Fossil fuel emissions
Usage of peat
Soil disturbance

Question 21

What is the water footprint?

Answer 21

Irrigation of crops with fossil water (borehole?) mains, river extraction or captured water from protective structures .

Question 22

Traditionally, what does short-term plantings mean?

Answer 22

Seasonal impact - changed 2x per year.

Popular with Victorians

Borrowed practices from Renaissance based gardens.

Within parterres geometric shaped beds often edged with low clipped hedging.

Infill made up of a host of plants.

Question 23

What are some good SPRING edging plants?

Answer 23

 Viola ‘Baby Lucia’ (Viola)
 Bellis perennis Tasso series (Daisy)
 Myosotis ‘Blue Ball’ (Forget-menot)

Question 24

What are some good SUMMER edging plants?

Answer 24

Lobularia maritima ‘Snow Crystals’ (Alyssum)
 Ageratum houstonianum ‘Blue
Mink’ (Floss flower)
 Tanacetum parthenium ‘Golden Moss’ (Golden feverfew)
 Lobelia erinus ‘Cambridge Blue’

Question 25

What are some good SPRING GROUND work plants?

Answer 25

Erysimum cheiri ‘Fire King’ (Wallflower)
 Matthiola incana Cinderella Series (Stock)
 Primula Polyanthus Group Crescendo Series
 Viola x wittrockiana Joker Series (Pansy)
 Myosotis ‘Blue Basket’ (Forget-me-not)
 Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’
 Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’ (Daffodil)
 Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Delft Blue’ (Hyacinth) (Height – 30cm
Spread –20cm)

Question 26

What are some good SUMMER GROUNDWORK plants?

Answer 26

Jacobaea maritima ‘Silver Dust’
* Petunia Mirage Series ‘Mirage Lavender’
* Impatiens walleriana Accent Series ‘Accent White’
* Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria’

Question 27

What are some good SPRING DOT plants?

Answer 27

Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’
 Brunnera macrophylla

Question 28

What are some good SUMMER DOT Plants?

Answer 28

Grevillea robusta (Silky oak)
 Canna indica (Canna lily)
 Abutilon pictum ‘Thompsonii’
 Argyranthemum frutescens (Marguerite)
 Fuchsia ‘Mrs. Popple

Question 29

Summer seasonal bed example.

Answer 29

For an example of a summer bedding scheme, you might see Ageratum houstonianum (a very compact downy-leaf plant with blue flowers) planted at set spacings as an edge or
frame around the entire border.
In the middle, using groundwork or infill plants, you would use a taller plant, for example,one with a contrasting colour, such as Tagetes patula (the French marigold).
To break up that mass, you might introduce a more dominant plant, maybe two or three
evenly spaced across the middle of the bed. It could be a standard Fuchsia (e.g., fuchsia
“Mrs Popple”), which has pendulous flowers that hang down. Every stem would produce a cluster of flowers through the summer period.
Alternatively, it could be something like Taxus baccata or Buxus sempervirens that has
been shaped into a particular form. Again, repeated.
Seasonal bedding in the traditional sty

Question 30

What is carpet bedding?

Answer 30

This is a slightly raised bed that you may see on coastal areas.
The raised area is composed of a whole range of plants suitable for those conditions.
Plants are often succulent, low-growing, very compact.

It adds display and a focal point in a beach area.

City emblem etc.

Question 31

What is tropical bedding?

Answer 31

composed of large, architectural plants. Plants which are used for a very short period of time to give instant impact, often used mainly in the growing season,
particularly the summer months.

Question 32

Examples of good dominant architectural tropical bedding

Answer 32

Musa (the banana), or Canna indica,

Canna ‘Orange Beauty’

upright brightly-coloured floriferous plants, broad leaves covering all colours.
However, they come with sustainability issues in terms of their production and the waste at the end of each season.

Question 33

What are some short term (temporary) planting scenarios?

Answer 33

Traditional
Carpet
Tropical

CORN MAZE – done to draw people to public spaces etc.

HARDY ANNUAL (Temporary) MEADOW (Cheap way to create colour - save seeds for subsequent years)

Question 34

What does sowing in drills mean?

Answer 34

a channel or groove made into the soil, to sow the seeds along.

Question 35

What are the benefits of direct sowing?

Answer 35

Seedlings grow in straight rows and will soon blend together.

Thinning seedlings, prevents overcrowding.

Protection and support with twigs and wires preset so as not to damage roots.

Question 36

What qualities are we looking for in temporary plantings?

Answer 36

Quick to mature

Hardy if part of spring bedding (hardy annuals but mainly biennial, perennial or woody)

Highly floriferous (sometimes negates need for deadheading as plant keeps flowering): Tagetes and some petunia varieties.

Plants that don’t need support system; Want sturdy, upright, self supporting.

Plant that can transplant well and not impacted by transplant shock.

Cost effective to propagate

Pest and disease resistant

Right plant, right place

Question 37

What is PLUNGE bedding?

Answer 37

Placing potted plants in beds to look like planted.

Provides instant spot interest

Remove when flower fades - should look after it between seasons for sustainability.

Question 38

What scenarios are “wasteful”

Answer 38

Removing spring bedding for summer bedding (Mid-May thru to frost). Plants end up in compost.

sustainability issues with half-hardy annuals, which make up most of a temporary seasonal
display for summer. That is usually linked to increased costs for heating or lighting systems,
various composts and plastic containers

Use more perennials to make it more sustainable.

Question 39

Steps to prepare beds

Answer 39

Clear the site of all debris, stones & rubble
* Clear site of weeds
* Primary cultivation by single/double
digging or by use of a rotavator
* Secondary cultivation – rake to a fine tilth and leave soil to settle for a few days.
* Consolidate by treading or by use of a roller to improve moisture retention
* Create a fine tilth by raking
* Apply general fertiliser at 70gm / m2 a few days before sowing seed
* Leave area for up to 2 weeks to allow germinating weeds to surface. Remove any weeds that germinate

CUTS DOWN ON FUTURE WEED PROBLEMS, which allows plants to grow unimpeded by competition.

Question 40

Example for good SPRING display

Answer 40

clearing the ground in October, preparing it, planting it and you may get some colour from that display, but most of the colour is going to arise February-May.

Typical examples Myosotis sylvatica (Forget-Me-Not) Height – 15cm Spread 15cm as an edge. Erysimum cheiri Height – 45cm
Spread – 30cm for the
bulk of colour in the middle.

To break up the monotony, an evergreen woody perennial such as a highly-clipped Box,
Ilex crenata, or Portuguese laurel. This would be repeated two or three times to maintain
and ensure you have that strong formal style.

Question 41

Temp Meadow Bulb examples

Answer 41

A good accompaniment with the wallflower (Erysimum) is tulips. It is a classic combination.
Erysimum has the groundwork. As they come into flower, the tulips emerge just above the
flower line.
A good example would be something like Tulipa ‘Queen of the Night’. It has a darkish
flower, tall, cup shaped and sits 2-3 centimetres above a medium sized wallflower.

Question 42

What kind of woody perennials can you use in seasonal bedding? DOT plants

Answer 42

Cordyline australis (palm like leaf)

Portuguese laurel (Prunus
lusitanica),

Choisya ternata (either the golden form or the green form) used as a clipped ball.

Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ (the male Skimmia) is in bud over Christmas (a tight red bud) and opens into a white flower.

Question 43

Good sustainable ideas?

Answer 43

keeping a permanent framework of plants, a permanent framework of dot plants, all
based on woody perennials.
Then in some of the infill, they are now using shorter-lived perennials. These are perennials
kept in for 2-3 seasons, before they are moved on. They are not composted; they go back
into the beds and borders within the park.

Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’ (short term or long lasting plant in Herbaceous border).

Use
echinacea
rudbeckia
Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’
Gaillardia × grandiflora ‘Kobold’

Question 44

What are som environmental issues of using temp bedding?

Answer 44

The heating of glasshouses with fossil fuels
* Extraction/manufacture/transportation/bagging of growing media

• Industrial inputs, conveyors/pricking out
  machinery
• Impact of lighting on wildlife/energy use
• Water usage
• Land use
• Wastage/landfill

Question 45

Describe the term bedding

Answer 45

refers to the temporary planting of fast-growing plants, into flower beds
borders, containers and hanging baskets to create colourful, temporary, seasonal displays.
Plants used for bedding may be annuals, biennials, or perennials. Bedding can be grown
from seed, bought as young seedlings (plug plants) that can be potted up, in multi-packs
and cellular trays, ready for planting or purchased as pot-grown specimens. These bedding
displays are usually changed twice a year, planting out in late spring, for summer colour,
and early autumn, for winter/spring colour.

Question 46

What size are edging plants?

Answer 46

They are short plants 150 – 200 mm (6-8in) in height.
The purpose is to bring definition and sometimes a sense of structure to the design, so they will often be in a contrasting colour or texture.

Question 47

What size are groundwork plants?

Answer 47

infill plants that make up a large part of the planting
scheme. They are usually between 300 – 400mm (12- 16in) in height.

Question 48

What size are DOT plants?

Answer 48

used in a scheme to give height and scale and to break up the groundwork by having different foliage textures or different colour flowers. They are taller than the groundwork 60-80cm (2-2ft,6in) and provide focal interest. For winter and spring bedding a dot plant needs to have a strong architectural form and if not evergreen, have winter
interest such as coloured stems.

Examples for a winter/spring scheme would be Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ with red stems or a
standard clipped Buxus sempervirens (box ball), whilst for summer it could be a standard
Fuchsia ‘Mrs Popple’ or Canna indica.

Question 49

How to sow an annual border

Answer 49

First of all, select the plants you are going to grow, thinking about height, and colour of flowers or foliage

Draw a plan of the border showing the position of each cultivar. Informal, inter-locking
shapes, like fish-scales, work best.

Choose and prepare a seedbed in a sunny place Fork over the border, removing all annual and perennial weeds.

Rake to a rough level, then tread the border to consolidate and finally rake to a fine tilth.

Using your plan, mark the area for each cultivar, using a cane, and sand.

It is important not to sow into a soil that is too rich, since this may encourage leafy growth
at the expense of flowers, so avoid using fertiliser unless the soil is very poor If the soil is dry, water with a fine rose before sowing

Question 50

What methods for sowing seeds?

Answer 50

Broadcast
Drills

Question 51

How to broadcast seed

Answer 51

Divide each packet of seed into two batches and broadcast it evenly over each marked out
area in two directions. This ensures an even application. The application rate will depend on
the size of the seeds. Rake the seed in lightly and label each area.

Water the area with a watering can fitted with a fine rose.

DISADVANTAGE:
cannot easily tell weed seedlings from the seedlings that have been sown

Question 52

How to sow in drills

Answer 52

produce seedlings growing in straight rows at regular intervals, so they are readily distinguished from weed seedlings, which are randomly distributed. The
seedlings initially look regimented but once thinned, will form a dense and informal
planting.

MAKE SURE DRILLS ARE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND PLANTING IN CIRCULAR SHAPES.

Question 53

What is station sown?

Answer 53

for larger seeds like broad beans and peas. Prepare the ground in the same way but instead of making a drill, make holes at the appropriate distances along the line.

Question 54

Aftercare of an annual border once sown

Answer 54

Germination
THINNING (remove and then press soil around seedling to be retained with fingers) If seedlings very dense, dig up in clumps.
Control weeds
Do not let dry out during early germination and estab. Water lightly with fine “rose”

Once plants well estab. water 10-14 day intervals.

Stake taller plants if needed.

Deadhead to prolong flowering

Thin out self-sown seedlings and transplant to fill gaps elsewhere.

Check regularly for pests/diseases

SLUGS: Handpick or Biological control: watering with nematodes eg. Phasmarhabditis sp, and
chemical control by using pelleted bait such as ferric phosphate

APHIDS:
biological control methods by simply encouraging natural
predators such as ladybirds and hoverfly larvae into the garden.
They can be physically controlled by spraying with jets of water which causes the aphids to
fall off. Chemical control using fatty acids, or pyrethrin.

VINE WEEVIL:
Physical control - inspect plants by torchlight and pick off the adult weevils. Gently shake
the plants over an upturned umbrella, newspaper or similar, to dislodge and collect more.
Biological control: Encourage natural enemies. Vine weevils and their grubs are eaten by a
variety of predators such as birds, frogs, toads, shrews, hedgehogs and predatory ground
and rove beetles.

Question 55

What is GAPPING UP

Answer 55

carried out if areas have failed. Small groups of seedlings can be re-planted approximately 20cm (8in) apart

Question 56

What is a biological control for vine weevil larvae.

Answer 56

microscopic pathogenic nematode
(Steinernema kraussei) available from suppliers of biological controls. This is suitable for
use in containers and in the open ground. For best results apply in August or early
September when the soil temperature or potting media is warm enough for the nematode
to be effective (5-20ºC/41-68ºF) and before the vine weevil grubs have grown large
enough to cause serious damage.
A trap containing nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae), is available for controlling adult
vine weevil. The traps should be placed on the ground below plants damaged by the
weevils during the summer. The adults enter the trap during the day and are infected by
the nematodes

Question 57

How to control powdery mildew?

Answer 57

physical method of watering the soil around the
plants and not the plants themselves or by chemical methods using the fungicides
tebuconazole or triticonazole

Question 58

How to select plants for bedding displays?

Answer 58

height, foliage and flower colour. Using plants of a single colour rather than a mixed
selection is usually more effective, and the addition of foliage plants such as Senecio
cineraria can offer contrasts in leaf colour and texture that highlight and complement the
main colour scheme.

Question 59

10 plants for summer bedding displays

Answer 59

Ageratum houstonianum
Antirrhinum majus
Begonia semperflorens
Canna indica
Fuchsia ‘Mrs Popple’
Heliotropium arborescens ‘Marine’
Impatiens walleriana Super Elfin Series
Lobelia erinus ‘Crystal Palace’
Pelargonium ‘Horizon Scarlet’
Senecio cineraria ‘Diamond Bedder’

Question 60

Plants for summer display in containers

Answer 60

Depending on the size of the container, you need to select one or more tall plants to provide height, plants to trail over the edge of the container and smaller plants to fill the rest of the space in the container.

Suitable plants are:
Agapanthus Headbourne Hybrids
Argyranthemum ‘Jamaica Primrose’ & Argyranthemum ‘Cherry red’
Cosmos Sonata Series
Erigeron karvinskianus
Fuchsia ‘Mrs Popple’ & Fuchsia ‘Thalia’
Heliotropium arborescens ‘Marine’
Nicotinana ‘Lime Green’
Panicum elegans ‘Frosted Explosion’ (Grass)
Pelargonium Horizon Series, Pelargonium ‘Black Knight, Pelargonium ‘Lord Bute’ &
Pelargonium ‘Cascade Pink’ (trailing ivy-leaved)
Salvia ‘Amistad’ & Salvia ‘Hot Lips

Question 61

Plants for summer display in hanging baskets

Answer 61

Plants with a trailing habit are ideal for growing in window-boxes and hanging baskets. The
plants need to be closely planted so that they create a mass of foliage and flowers

Convolvulus tricolor ‘Royal Ensign’
Diascia ‘Divara Pink’ or ‘Diascia Divara Orange’ There is a whole range of colours available
Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’
Glechoma hederacea ‘Variegata’ (ground ivy)
Helichrysum petiolare
Impatiens walleriana Super Elfin series (busy lizzie)
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Sweetie Series’ (sweet peas)
Lobelia erinus Cascade Mix and Regatta Mix series
Petunia Surfinia Series
Pelargonium ‘Cascade Pink’ (trailing, ivy-leaved)

Question 62

What should you know about the plants you choose

Answer 62

Make a list of these plants and any others you know and include their decorative features,
flower and or foliage colour and their habit of growth, whether trailing or upright.

Question 63

Winter hanging basket displays

Answer 63

Small shrubs can be used along with ivies, winter flowering heathers, biennials
and early flowering bulbs.

Suitable plants include:
Buxus sempervirens
Gaultheria procumbens
Hedera helix ’Glacier’ or Hedera helix ’Ivalace’ (ivy)
Primula ‘Springtide Mix’
Viola wittrockiana F1 Super Hybrid Winter Flowering Mix
Erica carnea
Crocus chrysanthus ‘Blue Bird’ or ‘Cream Beauty’
Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’

Question 64

Winter containers

Answer 64

In a container, larger shrubs such as Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ and Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’
and Viburnum tinus can be used

Question 65

How to grow plants in a container for winter display

Answer 65

Select the plants and water them if dry. Trim off any dead leaves or flowers
* Select a container of a suitable size and material. Terracotta is best for bulbs
* Ensure the container is clean; wash out if necessary
* Decide on the growing medium (compost) to be used. John Innes No 2, a loam-based
compost, is best if shrubs are part of the display, as this retains moisture and nutrients
and provides a heavier more stable support for larger plants
* Mix some slow release fertiliser such as Osmocote into the compost
* Place a 3-5 cm layer of grit in the bottom of the container to improve drainage.
* Fill the container with compost to within 3-5cm of the top. This allows room for the root
balls of the smaller plants and a gap at the top for watering.
* Arrange the plants in the container whilst still in their pots
When you are happy with the arrangement remove the pots and plant
* Firm the compost around the plants
* Plant the small bulbs such as crocus or Iris reticulata in the spaces between the plants
* Top up with compost, leaving at least a 2.5cm (1in) space for watering
* Water well to settle the compost around the plants

Question 66

How to grow hanging basket plants for winter

Answer 66

Ensure the basket is clean
* Decide on the compost. This should be a loam-less one for a hanging basket as it is
lighter in weight.
* Add some water retaining gel and slow release fertiliser such as Osmocote to the
compost
* You can buy bags of hanging basket compost which have water retaining gel added
already
* A hanging basket made of wire needs to be lined to retain the compost and moisture.
The traditional material is sphagnum moss which can usually be bought from a garden
centre or florist.
* Moss is very porous though, so line the inside with a sheet of plastic with drainage holes
made in it. This won’t be seen once the basket is planted
A hanging basket is difficult to plant when it’s standing on a flat surface so place it on a
large flower pot.
* Select the plants and water them well. You will need a lot of plants for a 30cm basket
* Plant the sides of the basket first, using trailing plants. To do this add some compost up
to the level of where the first plants are going to be. Make some holes in the liner and
moss to enable plants to be inserted, either from the inside or outside of the basket.
* It may be necessary to remove some of the soil from the root balls. It can be helpful to
roll some paper around the plant so that it doesn’t get damaged whilst being inserted.
* Once the first row of plants are in, add some more compost and insert the next row of
plants in exactly the same way.
* Having inserted all the plants in the side of the basket the level of compost can be
topped up and plants planted in the top of the basket.
* Once all the plants are in, firm the compost around the plants.

Question 67

How to maintain containers and hanging baskets

Answer 67

s can dry out very quickly in hot weather and may need watering
twice a day.
* If a slow release fertiliser has not been added to the compost then the containers and
baskets will need feeding every two weeks during the growing season, starting about 4-
6 weeks after planting. A liquid feed is easy to apply.
* Pinch out the growing tips of young fuchsia plants to make them branch out and
become more bushy
* Regular dead-heading of the flowers will keep the containers looking tidy and prolong
flowering.
* Remove any weeds by hand.
* Deal with any pests and diseases such as aphids, slugs, snails, powdery mildew and
botrytis as described under an annual border

Question 68

When is spring bedding planted

Answer 68

OCTOBER to provide colour thru winter and spring. Removed in May and replaced with summer bedding plants.

Traditionally, biennials such as wallflowers, primulas, forget-me-nots, Bellis perennis,
winter-flowering pansies, and for-get-me-nots were used with spring flowering bulbs, but
these days herbaceous perennials and shrubs are also used to provide colour over the
colder winter months.

Question 69

List of plants for spring bedding

Answer 69

Biennials
Bellis perennis - daisies
Viola wittrockiana – winter flowering pansies
Myosotis sylvatica – forget-me-not
Erysimum cheiri – wall flowers
Herbaceous perennials
Bergenia ‘Bressingham Ruby’
Helleborus x hybridus
Shrubs
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’
Bulbs
Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Delft Blue’ & ‘Pink Pearl’
Narcissus ‘Jetfire’ & ‘Ice Follies’
Tulipa ‘China Pink’ & ‘Queen of Night’

Question 70

Describe the key characteristics of plants that work well for short-term plantings in traditional beds.

Answer 70

a. Key characteristics of plants that work well for short-term plantings include plants that are quick to mature, floriferous or have interesting foliage, suffer little or no transplant shock and are cost effective to propagate. Additionally, plants that do not need staking, suffer little pest and disease and can withstand the soil conditions are good choices. Usually plants used are hardy annuals, bulbs, biennials or short-term perennials. Plants used for the edging should remain about 150-200 mm. A good example would be Lobelia erinus ‘Crystal Palace’ as the low growing deep blue border will stand out against the bright flowers in the bedding. For floriferous plants in the summer bedding (groundwork) the plants should remain approximately 300-400 mm in height. Suggestions could be the herbaceous perennials such as Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii and Echinacea purpurea ‘Alba’. The short term perennials would be better choices are they are more sustainable than annuals. There should also be some dot plants to punch out the colour. Dot plants should be around 75cm, have an interesting colour foliage or flower. Examples Taxus baccata or the shrub Cordyline australis.

Question 71

How might you prepare a bed for short-term planting?

Answer 71

a. If this is a spring/summer bed, best to do in October to allow time for soil to settle and all weeds to come to the surface.
b. Remove all debris, trash and pebbles/stones.
c. Remove all weeds.
d. Cultivate the soil through traditional methods of single/double or no dig methods.
e. Rake the topsoil to a fine tilth and leave for a few days to settle.
f. Remove weeds once again.
g. Cover with compost/mulch for the soil health over winter
h. In the spring, remove all weeds again and rake to a fine tilth.
i. Apply fertilizer a few days prior to sowing seeds.
j. Remove all weeds that appear before sowing seeds.
k. Sow seeds, either as broadcast or drill methods after design has been marked.

Question 72

What are the advantages of using bulbs in short term planting displays?

Answer 72

Adding bulbs to spring bedding can bring a punch to the traditional bedding. The height of a Tulipa which can grow up to 70 cm will pop up above lower growing plants like the Erysimum cheiri which only grows to approximately 45cm. The tulips will act as dot plants amongst the bedding. Additionally, as bulbs will return year after year it is a more sustainable plant for the garden

Question 73

What named plants might you choose as edging plants

Answer 73

a. Lobelia erinus ‘Crystal Palace’
b. Buxus sempervirens
c. Ilex crenata

Question 74

What types of plants might you use in a meadow and why?

Answer 74

a. A spring/summer meadow should consist of hardy annuals. Plants such as Centaurea cyanus, Papaver rhoeas, Eschscholzia californica and Achillea millefolium would be good choices. These plants need to be hardy to prevent dying off should a frost occur. Additionally, they need to be somewhat drought tolerant as they will not be watered during the season. As this is an open meadow, there is no possibility of using stakes to prop them up, so self-supporting plants that need no attendance are best. Hardy annuals will also reseed the ground for the following season, keeping a beautiful, but slightly different meadow the following year. Another good point to consider is that to attract a wider variety of pollinators and wildlife you need a variety of colours, flower shapes and pollen/nectar plants. A meadow with monochrome colour and singular shaped flowers will only attract a few or possibly singular pollinator.

Question 75

Describe the environmental issues around short-term planting, and how you might reduce them and improve biodiversity.

Answer 75

a. Short-term planting is an environmentally unfriendly endeavour. Starting with the soil, the bi-annual disturbance of the soil when tilling releases carbon into the atmosphere, rather than sequestering it. Preparing the beds for the new season means removing plants and placing them in the city compost. The use of fossil fuels for the trucks to pick up the waste increases emissions as well. Paying attention to the water footprint of each plant throughout the season also becomes an issue. Annuals tend to need more water than deeply planted perennials. If one purchases plugs, the transport and production of the plant as well as the use of plastic containers adds to the issues. Often the nursery that produces the plugs uses peat-based or imported growing media. Peat is an unsustainable media and the transportation costs for importing coir, as well as producing the coir in areas where freshwater is unavailable, is environmentally bad. Issues surrounding the growing of the plants at the nursery itself are an issue. One needs to check the environmental activities of the nursery itself. Is it using sustainable practices, water butts and follows strict IPM practices? Was the growing of the plants done in a heated glasshouse that uses fossil fuels or grown under a more environmentally friendly method. Has the glasshouse disturbed wildlife by leaving lights on to increase growth of the plants? What kind of land space has been taken up, which could have possibly helped sequester carbon.
b. In order to help mitigate or reduce the issues it would be good to use perennial edging plants such as Buxus sempervirens or Ilex crenata. Both of these plants would remain year-round, reducing the amount of tilling of the soil and allow for carbon sequestration. It would also be useful to use perennials for the dot plants as they also do not need removing. Some evergreens such as Taxus baccata could be pruned into interesting shapes to catch the eye. In the bedding, perhaps using herbaceous perennials such as Echinacea purpurea would provide summer colour without disturbing the soil. For winter colour, adding bulbs, such as Tulipa spp. would provide stunning beauty. Additionally, adding colourful foliage that can be removed and placed back in the glasshouse for future use would be advisable. Plants such as the Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’ would provide a stunning purple backdrop but continues to grow from season to season. Another option would be to plant ‘plug plants’ where plants that were grown in containers could be dotted into the bed and removed when they begin to fade. These plants could then be placed back into the glasshouse until the next season. Also, using plants that are drought resistant is important as it reduces the amount of water required to keep them alive.
c. To increase biodiversity, it is important to provide a variety of plants for pollinators and wildlife. By using edging that remains throughout the year one is creating a small habitat for wildlife. A wide variety of perennials, annuals and bulbs will provide a wide range of flowers for pollen and nectar which is necessary. Reducing the need for water and using pest resistant plants reduces the amount of pesticides which in turn helps to maintain the biodiversity of the plant.