Soil Preparation & Maintenance

Question 1

Hardy Annual Border

Answer 1

Fertile, well drained soil. Open, sunny position, sheltered from cold winds.

Primary cultivation -
Digging in Autumn/Early winter, single, double. Removing large rocks, debris. Add Well Rotted OM if required.

Weed removal by hand, or glyphosate if necessary for larger perennial weeds.
Can cover weeds with weed suppressing membrane for 3 months prior to sowing.

Following Spring, hoe out any remaining weeds, pull out any perennial weeds. Sterile seedbed technique before sowing.

Firm, consolidate soil, rake to a fine tilth to create seedbed

Balanced fertiliser, BFB, or Growmore added at specified application rate.

Draw up plan on paper. Species can overlap to give a more natural look. Taller sp. at the back of the border.
Mark out plan using dry sand to mark boundaries between plant populations.

Broadcast seed
Sowing half lengthways then the remains widthways to ensure good coverage. Rake in and water gently.
Important to not over sow as can’t be thinned easily.

Drills
Drawing V shaped drills across site, sow at appropriate spacings and depths per species. (seed packet)
Cover, and water lightly. (fine rose)
Thin out as necessary and hoe weeds between the rows.

Question 2

Herbaceous Border (and bulbs)

Answer 2

Herbaceous Border - no shrubs, traditional
Mixed Border - Herbaceous and Woody

Beds - self contained
Border - flanked by walls or hedge

Fertile site for traditional Herbaceous Border.
Open, sunny position, no overhanging trees.
Sheltered but reasonable air movement.
Moist, free draining, well aerated soil. Sufficient organic matter.
Free of Pests, Disease & Weeds

Design Basics
Depth should be 2.4m and ideally several times as long.
Access path behind may be required to maintain plants at rear of border.
Planting in informal drifts and groups with odd numbers 3,5,7,9. Adhere to correct spacings between specific species.
Taller species at the rear, and shorter to the front. Ideally 3 tiers of planting.

Removal of existing vegetation by hoeing and digging out deeper rooted perennial weeds. Glyphosate may be used if necessary.

Primary cultivation, single/double digging, encorporating Well Rotted Organic Matter as required.

Leave to settle, stale seed bed technique, hoe of weeds.

Level and consolidate.
Apply balanced fertiliser at the specified application rate, grow more, FBB. Rake in lightly, to adequate tilth.

Containerised plants usually 9cm, or bare root.

Bulbs depth 2-3 times their length (Autumn/Early Winter planting)
(Summer bulbs/corms/tubers can be planted in spring after frosts)
Spring or Autumn planting.
Autumn allows for plants to establish roots before winter for faster growth in Spring, but plants are susceptible to winter wet and slugs and snails.

Mark out as garden plan using dry sand or marker spray.
Dig hole slightly larger than the plant to the same depth as the pot, or roots (barerooted).
Plant in pocket and backfill, gently firm around the plant eliminating large air pockets, ensuring plant crown is at soil level.
Water in well and apply mulch if required.

Maintenance

• Weeding
• Staking (bamboo canes, hazel, apple pruning. Natural materials blend in better. Twine. Stake below flowering height to disguise)
• Division in spring/autumn.
• P&D control
• Fertilising if necessary in early Spring
• Mulching in early Spring if necessary
• Cutting down, in Autumn, or Spring if leaving up for Winter interest and hibernating insects.

Question 3

Trees & Woody Shrubs

Answer 3

Tree - perennial woody plant. Single, well defined self supporting stem/trunk, unbranched for some distance from the ground.

Shrub - perennials woody plant, often smaller divided into many stems emerging from the common root at or near ground level.

Long Term Investment - Selection of site becomes more important than of smaller, shorter lived plants.

Uses Trees - Shade, Shelter, Privacy, Focus Point, Decorative, area division, wildlife, Co2/pollution uptake

Buying -
- Bare root. Available in winter when they are dormant. Plant in winter when conditions are suitable. Plant as soon as receiving. Trees, hedges, roses etc.

• Root balled. Available in mid-Autumn through to Late-winter early Spring. Slight extension on bare-roots season.

Container Grown - Available all year round, can be planted all year round when conditions are favourable. ie. Not too hot/drought, ground not frozen, waterlogged.

Suitable site - soil is good for tree with out significant amelioration. suitable light requirements, distance from buildings.

Question 4

Alpine/Rock plants

Answer 4

Armeria maritima
Echeveria elegans
Geum montanum
Lewisia cotyledon
Sempervivens aracnoideum

Question 5

Aquatic plants

Answer 5

b

Question 6

Pond Maintenance

Answer 6

b

Question 7

Bedding maintenence

Answer 7

Weeding, Deadheading, irrigation/watering, gaping up (replacing dead plants), edging surrounding lawn for crisp look, monitor for P&D.

Slugs and Snails - damaging, destroying seedlings in early spring. Rasping damage to foliage. Slime trails.
Remove by hand, beer trap, nematodes.

Black Bean Aphid - transmitting virus, large black colonies, ants presents, sooty mould.
Lack of vigour
Fatty Acids, SB plant invigorator, encourage natural predators like ladybird larvae into the garden.

Grey Mould - fuzzy grey mould, lack of vigour.
Improve ventilation, thinning out as necessary, not overcrowding plants.
Remove dead/infected plants.

Powdery Mildew - white final bloom on leaf surface in spring. affects many plants.
Less susceptible cultivars. Consistent watering. Improve ventilation. Avoid overhead watering to spread fungus.
Remove early signs of infection.

Tulip fire - grey mould. Plants look like they have been scorched fire. Dead, brown foliage. Brown spots. Not planting Tulips in that area for 3 years.
Buy bulbs from verified stock. Remove infected plants.