Repeat Business

Garden designers usually advise planting combinations which use multiples of the same plant to add impact and prevent borders and beds from becoming fragmented.  For us, this approach could become restrictive because we like collecting plants, lots of different ones and if we bought 6 of each new plant, we would soon run out of space - and money.

However, there are many plants which are repeated throughout our garden and they link the different areas together.  Many of these plants have spread themselves around naturally without any effort from us.  These include the primroses, poppies and aquilegias, all of whom are very promiscuous and seed themselves everywhere.  If we don’t like where they pop up, we dig them out and leave the rest to grow on undisturbed.  My view is that if a plant chooses where it wants to grow, then it must be happy with the conditions.  

Buying 3 hardy geraniums of the same variety is unnecessary because within a season or two they form a large clump which can be divided with a sharp spade.  Many of the perennials need splitting from time to time anyway as it invigorates them and encourages strong, new growth and increased flowering.  Chives and garlic chives are very ornamental, as well as edible and I have multiplied one clump into several clumps over the years.  If we haven’t got room for the new plants, we give them away.  

Another group of plants that feature throughout the garden are the ferns, most of which were here when we arrived.  Unfortunately we don’t know their names and since there are more than 10,000 species of ferns, I don’t think we are likely to find out their exact identity!

Ferns reproduce themselves by spreading fine spores which are found on the underside of the leaves and our garden suits them because they like neutral to acid soil and good drainage.  There are lots of semi-shaded areas and there are lots of trees, providing good quality leaf mould to add humus to the soil.  

Ferns are unfussy perennials, they are not attacked by slugs or other pests and they don’t ever need watering.  At the moment, ours are just beginning to emerge from their winter hibernation and there is something almost alien about how the new leaves peep out from mounds of dead-looking straw and unfurl like Catherine wheels.  In a few weeks, these young, acid green leaves will become dark, rich green fronds which add coolness, texture and bold structure to the garden and like grasses, they sway beautifully in the breeze.  I always think of ferns as the wild plants of the garden.