Border rescue
Refresh a tired border by pruning shrubs and adding perennials for spring, says Ian Hodgson
Give a tired border a new lease of life by pruning shrubs and adding perennials
Q How can I boost colour and interest in this early spring border?
THERE ARE few sights more uplifting than a spring border getting under way. Here the buds of Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ are just breaking, while new growth on neighbouring hebe ‘Purple Shamrock’ is flushed hot magenta-pink. The best way to bring order to this tired planting scheme is to remedial-prune the hebe, shaping the shrub into a neat ball to define its silhouette and separate it from the purple-leaved berberis behind. Also, thin out some crossing stems on the cornus to make a more open vase shape. In less than 15 minutes with the secateurs, you’ll have improved the border’s architecture no end. In contrast to these reds and purples, I’d focus on boosting the golds, helping to pick up on the golden leaves of Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ to the left. At present there’s a bit of a mish-mash of silver and gold going on – the silver eucalyptus isn’t really tied into the scheme at all. How about moving it to another part of the garden and replacing it with a deciduous gold-stemmed shrub, such as Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ or Salix alba ‘Golden Ness’? Try ornamental grasses such as Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ or Hakonechloa macra ‘SunFlare’ with its red-tipped gold blades, around the ankles of the Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’. I’d also pop in a few golden crocus under those red stems – ‘Gipsy Girl’ has purple tiger stripes, which look very effective. Both these options would mingle attractively with the herbaceous hemerocallis as it bursts back into life in spring. In the far corner of the bed, balance the purple hebe with a plum-coloured hylotelephium such as ‘José Aubergine’ or ‘Purple Emperor’ for a seasonal flourish. Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ would pick up the purples nicely, while spiraea ‘Goldflame’ would bring another flash of red. To prevent lawn grass encroaching on to the border, sharpen up the edges with a spade and hoe the soil well before planting narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’ and ‘February Gold’ for a succession of yellow flowers December–March. Do your borders need Ian’s help? Email us at garden.answers@bauermedia.co.uk