Secrets of a Head Gardener
If you have a permanently wet or boggy area in your garden, don’t battle against it – turn it into a colourful, wildlifefriendly bog garden instead. Alternatively, you can create one by using a piece of pond liner. Just make sure it’s in a sunny, or partially sunny, spot.
You want to start with a weedfree zone so dig them out and dig in lots of leaf mould and/ or well-rotted compost. Mix it well with the soil to improve its moisture-holding capabilities. In future years, you’ll just need to spread a layer of leaf mould annually to maintain the condition. Add stepping stones or log slices to avoid walking on the area and compacting the soil.
Choose suitable bog and moisture-loving plants. They’re beautiful and structural and can n be added in spring ing and summer. At Fairhaven, thehe candelabra primulas imulas are a spectacular ectacular sight plantedanted with irises, hostas,ostas, purple loosestrifeosestrife and gunnerasunneras – even astilbes and hydrangeas love a moist soil. Add Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter
Fire’ or small willows Salix alba vitellina for colourful winter stems. Cut established plants back annually to maintain the young stem colours.
Make sure you plant in clumps for the best effect. Primulas look much more impressive planted in a group and will self-seed, with the P. japonica varieties cross pollinating to give different colours next year. If you want
to keep the colours pure, cut off the stems as soon as they finish flowering and lift and divide if necessary. Primula pulverulenta stays more or less true.
Don’t let the area dry out or become waterlogged for long periods. Primulas and some other bog plants will tolerate sitting in water for very short periods, but they’ll suffer eventually. It’s important to maintain a happy medium!