Understand The Choce Of Herbaceous Perennial Plants And ‘bulbs’ For Display And How To Grow Them

Question 1

Name 10 herbaceous perennial plants suitable for growing in a herbaceous border

Answer 1

Aster novi-belgii
Hemerocallis fulva
Papaver orientale
Verbena bonariensis
Rodgersia aesculifolia
Aconitum napellus
Echinops bannaticus
Echinacea purpurea
Eupatorium purpureum
Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Herbstonne’

Question 2

Name 5 herbaceous perennials suitable for growing in shade

Answer 2

Astrantia maxima
Brunnera macrophylla
Digitalis purpurea
Hosta sieboldiana
Geranium phaeum

Question 3

Name 5 herbaceous perennials suitable for ground cover

Answer 3

Alchemilla mollis
Geranium macrorrhizum
Ajuga reptans ‘Atropurpurea’
Epimedium x rubrum
Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’

Question 4

Name 10 bulbs or corms or tubers, of which 4 should be suitable for planting in the border, four for containers and four for naturalising

Answer 4

Anemone blanda - N
Crocus vernus - N, C
Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’ - N, B, C
Galanthus nivalis - N, B, C
Iris germanica- B
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ - B
Allium giganteum - B
Tulipa ‘Queen of the Night’ - C
Eremus bungei- B
Nerine bowdenii- C

Question 5

Describe the soil preparation required for growing herbaceous perennials, bulbs, corms or tubers

Answer 5

Cultivation
The addition of organic matter and/or fertiliser
Remove all perennial weeds
Autumn prep consists of single or double digging with the incorporation of well rotted farmyard manure or garden compost. Complete inversion of the soil is known as primary digging. Remove large stonesLeave rough over winter for frosts to further break down the soil into smaller peds (soil crumbs)
In springtime, rake bed level and firm by treading.

Question 6

Describe the planting of herbaceous perennials, bulbs, corms and tubers.

Answer 6

Create a planting plan to follow.
Mark out the plan on the bed with dry sand.
Planting to include specification - container grown, bare root.
Planting techniques -

Container grown -
Ensure plants are watered prior to planting.
Dig a hold as deep as the root ball and slightly wider than the container.
Remove plant from container and loosen the roots on the outside of the root ball.
Place plant in hole at the depth of the container.
Backfill the hole with soil and firm.
Water in the plant.

Bare rooted -
Ensure the root does not dry out prior to planting
Prepare a hole of the correct depth and wide enough for the roots.
Spread roots out evenly over the bottom of the hole.
Add soil and work it into the roots. Add more soil and firm. Water in the new root thoroughly

Bulbs -
Plant bulbs 2 - 3 times their depth and 1 - 3 bulb widths apart. Plant in groups. Remove soil to the right depth, add some bonemeal to the bottom of the hole, place the bulb in position and cover with soil.
For naturalising bulbs in grass, lay bulbs out on the grass, make a hole for each bulb with the bulb planter, place bonemeal at the bottom of each hole and place the bulb into the hole. Cover with the core and replace the turf on top.

Question 7

Describe the routine maintenance of herbaceous perennials, bulbs, corms and tubers

Answer 7

Plant supports
Watering
Deadheading
Feeding
Renovation by division

Question 8

Describe the control of weeds in a herbaceous border

Answer 8

Physical - hand weeding
Chemical - use of herbicides
Cultural - Mulches

Question 9

Describe the control of pests and diseases in a herbaceous border - Aphids, slugs and snails, vine weevil, grey mould, powdery mildew, stem or bulb eelworm

Answer 9

Slugs and snails - beer traps, encouraging hedgehogs and frogs
Aphids - strong blast of water then a fatty acid spray
Vine weevil -
Grey mould - sufficient spacing between plants for air flow. Removal of dead and dying plant tissue. Water in the morning. Don’t water foliage.
Powdery mildew - plant resistant cultivars and plant with sufficient space for airflow.
Stem or bulb eelworm -