Under Planting of the Rose Beds

It has become apparent to our gardening volunteers that to reduce the amount of weeds, as well as increasing colour and interest, the rose beds needed something extra. Roses are the quintessential English flower with their wonderful scent. However, they only begin to flower in June and then need regular dead heading to continue to bloom for longer.  With such a large amount of bare earth around the roses, it is a constant battle to keep weeds at bay.

After visits to other public gardens, we decided that under planting was the way forward.  We had received a generous donation to buy, specifically, lavender plants.  Since the success of those, we have been given further donations in order to add more lavender.  We have also used Erigeron Karvinskianus or mexican fleabane under some roses, after seeing it used beautifully at David Austin Roses.  Another circular rose bed has been planted with Ophiopogon and Calendula. 

 

 

During the extremely hot temperatures, reaching 34.5 degrees here during the July heatwave 2022, the lavender and mexican fleabane responded extremely well. With future summer weather forecast to get hotter and drier, under planting also has the benefit of reducing water evaporation from the soil.

 

 

 

 

Here are a few pictures to show how we feel the Rose Garden has been enhanced by the under planting.  Our plans are to add more lavender as well as other low growing perennials, which are low maintenance plants and should reduce the need for so much weeding. 

 

RHS Community gardening

As we have made links on social media with the Royal Horticultural Society, we joined part of their online "communities".

Earlier in the Spring we were offered the chance to receive some Calendula Nova seeds, which we could use in our green space.  The Friends group has started  to under plant many of the rose beds in order to  increase interest, colour and plants for pollinators. Calendula or commonly known as Pot Marigolds are an excellent hardy annual which will self seed and last for many years. It is often seen in companion planting in vegetable gardens to attract beneficial insects, which then feed on greenfly. Also, the petals are edible.  Calendula petals can be infused into oil, then used to create hand cream or lip balm as it is good for the skin. What is there not to like, so many benefits, not to mention being such a vibrant, cheerful flower!

 

 

Two of our gardening volunteers had chosen one of the circular rose beds. A plant donation of a large pot of Ophiopogon or Black turf lily was split up and planted around the bed.  Then the Calendula seeds were sown in between and watered in.  Finally the labels #Growwell  were placed in the bed.

Despite some very dry weather, the seeds germinated and were thinned and some transplanted to give the seedlings space to grow.

 

 

Finally, in July, the flowers appeared.  These are long flowering annuals, which we will continue to deadhead, sprinkling future seeds around as we go.  Our aim is for the Ophiopogon to slowly spread into larger clumps, with the contrasting vibrant orange flowers of the Calendula to set them off beautifully.  This circular bed should sustain itself , gradually covering the ground and suppressing weeds.