Top five plants for difficult gardens.

When you need to buy plants, the costs quickly add up. So you will want every single one to grow well. It’s important to get good advice when you are selecting your plant to make sure they will thrive in the place you want them to grow.

 Before planting, ensure the ground work is done first. Dig out all weeds ensuring as many roots are removed as possible. Add compost. Moisten the area the day before planting. Have some organic plant fertilizer ready, this is available in liquid or pellet form. Always mix pellet fertilisers through the soil so it does not burn the roots of your new plants. Make sure the top of the root ball is near the top of your soil, and give your new plants a good soaking. Ideally, mulch around new plants to reduce weeds and this also keeps the soil damp and at even temperatures. To steady any taller plants in the wind, use a small stake carefully tied to the main stem.

 Here are my top five favourite smaller shrubs and perennials for some of the more difficult microclimates we find around Dunedin:

 Plants for clay soil and sun: Brighteyes (Braccyglottis greyii ‘Sunshine’),  Federation Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens) , Rosa rugosa, Echium, African Daisy (Gazania), Mountain Flax (Phormium cookianum).

 Plants for dry, sandy soil and sun: Pelargonium, Purple or Red House Leek (Aeonium), Perennial Wallflowers (Erysimum x linifolium), Lavender, Dwarf Toetoe (Chionochloa flavicans)

 Plants for shade: Rengarenga Lily (Arthropodium cirratum), Chatham Island Forgetmenot (Mysotidium hortensa), Bishop’s Hat (Epimedium x versicolor), Hosta, Sweet Box (Sarcococca ruscifolia),

 Plants for wet, almost boggy areas:  Hydrangea, Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’  (Siberian Dogwood), Tractor Seat Plant (Ligularia reniformis), Siberian Iris (Iris siberica), Cardinal Flower (lobelia cardinalis)

 If you would like any planting or garden preparation advice, get in touch with me at Leaf Landscape Design so we can have a chat about the best preparation and plantings for your own unique microclimate.