Preplanned Border from Bluestone Perennials

14 years ago

Hi everyone,

Garden design is not my thing (yet). For my birthday this fall my husband is getting a couple of truckloads of compost and mulch so I can put in a new border across the front of the house. I have a boxwood shrub next to the house and this border would go in front. What do you think of the plants in this package? I have ordered individual plants from Bluestone, but I am not familiar with all of these varieties. If any of you have any other recommendations, I would love to hear them.

Thanks!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Bluestone Perennial Border

Comments (6)

KH 888
Original Author
14 years ago
BTW - I am in Athens, GA
The area in question gets full sun until 6pm.
I have clay soil - hence the truckloads of compost and mulch.
Thanks!
girlgroupgirl
14 years ago
The plants themselves are very fine for you...my only tip would be to make sure you dig VERY VERY deep. The clay will be part clay/part soil for like a foot...then you often reach the nastiest, hard red clay ever! You need to also amend that hard-pan or else it holds too much water without draining and just kills plant roots.
So for your first experiment, dig a hole like 2.5' deep and you can tell then how far down you need to go to get it all well amended!

Good luck! It will be beautiful!
Related Professionals
Allen Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Saint Louis Park Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Edwardsville Landscape Contractors · Holland Landscape Contractors · Inglewood Landscape Contractors · Soddy Daisy Landscape Contractors · White Bear Lake Landscape Contractors · Dana Point Fence Contractors · East Haven Fence Contractors · Ridgefield Park Fence Contractors · Salida Fence Contractors · Winnetka Fence Contractors · Central Islip Window Contractors · DeLand Window Contractors · Waupun Window Contractors
Iris GW
14 years ago
Since you are doing a large area, renting or borrowing a tiller to prepare the area would be a good thing.
KH 888
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the comments and tips. I was thinking about preparing the bed and in my back yard, I have had great luck with raised beds and the lasagna garden method. I plan on putting 5-6 inches of compost and partially composted mulch on top of the grass and not incorporate at all. I have found that where I did this in other places over the past 3 years that the organic matter really does incorporate itself over time. That and I am scared to dig too deep as I am planting right in front of a row of established bushes.
rosiew
14 years ago
Katy,

One problem I see if that adding 5 - 6 inches of compost directly in front of your established shrubs MAY harm the root system of the shrubbery, if the root system extends into that new area. Sorry I can't be more specific, but hope someone else will supply the info.

Rosie in Sugar Hill
KH 888
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Rosie - I would love to see that information. All the Cooperative Extension publications I have read say that shrubs, bushes and trees benefit greatly from being mulched with compost.

In addition to being lazy, I have taken too many conservation tillage and no-till courses over the years that I can never bring myself to till up garden. It just works so well to top dress and not disturb the ecosystem of the soil below. I think the key is plenty of organic matter on top and lots of patience!