Yet I am very disgruntled, yes, disgruntled. After so many years of gardening, I still haven't acquired a good sense of -- I don't know -- layering my beds. I am always afraid of crowding the roses and lately have developed an absolute phobia of plants that grow humongous. I suppose I need to read more about division. Knowledge is light, after all, while ignorance is scary darkness. But some of my beds are looking ridiculous right now.
One problem, for sure, is that I did not plant all the same rose variety in most of the beds. I didn't have that many beds at first and I wanted one of everything! This year, we moved a few roses around so that the sizes might turn out more even, but the plants are still a little in shock and will take time growing in their hopefully permanent new homes. So let's pretend we don't notice that part, unless there is a help for the awkward look it gives? Is there one? But please, I need suggestions for companion plants for my roses -- what kind of plants and how to arrange them and, if that's too much trouble, suggestions for books or links.
Fellow gardeners, have mercy!
You want to get Succession Planting for Adventorous Gardeners by Christopher LLoyd.
ReplyDeleteAs for plants you could try lavender, geraniums, heucheras, some low grasses such as penistum, irises (but more in front of so the flowers dont get tangled in the flowers), astibles
Hope that helps
It does help and I ordered the book. Thanks so much!
DeleteYour garden looks very pretty. I, too, planted one of everything in one bed, and I'm patiently waiting for one side to get as big as the other, after adding some different plants to that side. Salvias, gauras, daylilies, catmint, dianthus, giant liriope, creeping phlox, to name a few. Depends on the height you want, or you could plant several things with varying heights. Good luck! It'll be fun planting new things in this bed. :)
ReplyDeleteYou did? Your garden is so lovely that I feel encouraged! I will plant a variety. Thank you for the input!
DeleteI had some knockout roses that had grown humongous after three years. I cut them way back in January so we'll see what happens!
ReplyDeleteFelicia, in my experience, knockouts just keep growing! My husband planted some on each side of an arbor where there were already old garden roses in place. We ended up having to move the antiques! I don't think there's anything hardier than antique roses, but the knockouts were growing like teenagers! I must admit that they look pretty and a white antique climber, Sombreuil, persevered, complementing the ever-bloomng red of the knockouts. Good luck with yours! I hope they behave for you!
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