Project Spring 2014

[Tahir Khan]

Fahan bhai that top long stretch of border with hollyhocks, why don't you start mix annuals there to give it a wild garden effect, it will be a intriguing feature

[Tahir Khan]

How was your trip today ? did you find anything of interest in Islamabad shops / nurseries

[Farhan Ahmed]

Compost and coco coir.
Got a very good deal of compost. Will share the brand name/price latter.

Talked to Green Imprex Guys, They are retailers of sygneta and panamercian seeds. Saw the packets myself. We can do some purchasing from there also. Got their catalog will try to share.

[Tahir Khan]

Great news.. I will be glad to help in any way. NP

[Farhan Ahmed]

I guess the sowing media purchase is also over for me

I acquired following media:-(Mentioning rate & package size for each item to give an idea to other members)
Compost Local Brand approx 4 kg Rate Rs.300 (Awaan Seeds)
Coco Coir Approx 2 Kg Rs.150 (Awaan Garden)
Perlite (Volune 10 Litre -Weight approx 2kg) Rs.800 (Pride Seed Lahore) Arthur Bower's
Compost (German Plantaflor) Rs.1500 for 20 Kg Bag
Peat Moss Approx 2kg Rs.200 (Pride Seeds)

I will be adding refined sand in the final sowing mix. Proportion of each item will depend on final texture of the mix. Keeping in mind Porosity, Water drainage and moisture retention. Seeds will be covered with coco coir.

[rafique]

Please do share the approximate percentage of each component in sowing mixture.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Sure will......initially ofcourse peat, compost and sand have to be mixed in a proportion, something like 30-30-40 Maybe....
However its my feeling that final ratio will depend on the texture of mix. Lets say after adding the ingredients in above mentioned ratios, if i feel that its still heavy i must add a little more sand/coco coir or if light more peat/compost.

Ratios must be guide lines and essence must be the texture of the mix.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Fahan bhai that top long stretch of border with hollyhocks, why don't you start mix annuals there to give it a wild garden effect, it will be a intriguing feature

Hmmm lets say i have these tall varieties what do you suggest.

Hollyhocks ( 4 Varieties )
Malva (3)
Delphinium
Larkspur
Amberboa
Sunflowers (various)
Cockscomb

Or do you suggest mix of medium and taller heights????....Like poppies should go in?

Following is some suggestion from internet

"Hollyhocks are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and bumblebees, and get along cheerfully with other traditional cottage garden plants, such as lilies and bellflowers. Hollyhocks also pair well with yarrow plants, chrysanthemums, and dianthus, or "pinks;" like hollyhocks, these are drought-tolerant and thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Attract even more butterflies to your garden by planting hollyhocks with gaillardia daisies, which are also butterfly magnets and have similar soil and light requirements to hollyhocks. Set up a cheerful contrast by planting yellow hollyhocks with flame-colored Asiatic lilies. Use your hollyhocks as a dramatic backdrop for low-lying plants such as phlox and sedum, or mix in with other herbaceous perennials such as dill and thyme. One of the best companions for hollyhocks is a pretty plant with a homely name, crimson scabious or knautia, a bushy perennial with double-pincushion pink flowers. As it flops forward over garden edges, it contrasts well with hollyhocks' statuesque beauty."

I have Scabiosa, Bellflowers, Dainthus, Gaillardia from the above recommendation

However as it is the farthest border wouldn't it be inappropriate if low height plants are added as they will be visible only in closer look....and will be undermined by the height of hollies

[Tahir Khan]

Fahan bhai that top long stretch of border with hollyhocks, why don't you start mix annuals there to give it a wild garden effect, it will be a intriguing feature

Hmmm lets say i have these tall varieties what do you suggest.

Hollyhocks ( 4 Varieties )
Malva (3)
Delphinium
Larkspur
Amberboa
Sunflowers (various)
Cockscomb

Or do you suggest mix of medium and taller heights????....Like poppies should go in?

Following is some suggestion from internet

"Hollyhocks are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and bumblebees, and get along cheerfully with other traditional cottage garden plants, such as lilies and bellflowers. Hollyhocks also pair well with yarrow plants, chrysanthemums, and dianthus, or "pinks;" like hollyhocks, these are drought-tolerant and thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Attract even more butterflies to your garden by planting hollyhocks with gaillardia daisies, which are also butterfly magnets and have similar soil and light requirements to hollyhocks. Set up a cheerful contrast by planting yellow hollyhocks with flame-colored Asiatic lilies. Use your hollyhocks as a dramatic backdrop for low-lying plants such as phlox and sedum, or mix in with other herbaceous perennials such as dill and thyme. One of the best companions for hollyhocks is a pretty plant with a homely name, crimson scabious or knautia, a bushy perennial with double-pincushion pink flowers. As it flops forward over garden edges, it contrasts well with hollyhocks' statuesque beauty."

I have Scabiosa, Bellflowers, Dainthus, Gaillardia from the above recommendation

However as it is the farthest border wouldn't it be inappropriate if low height plants are added as they will be visible only in closer look....and will be undermined by the height of hollies

Hollies are humongous plants they will undermine any plant... but the essence of cottage style garden is mix n match..... i recommended the long stretch of the upper most border because it will give a natural panoramic view which will look superb once developed, you can even put a sign there named cottage border

about the choice of plants height will be an issue, Hollyhock will not look good with its cousin Malva.... a long stretch of hollies will be very difficult to manage once the violent weather sets in... Sunflowers, Hollies and Delphinium will most probably need staking, Try to add as less plants of these as possible, a larger mix of self supporting plants will be a + point.. Plants like Larkspur, Amberboa, Scabiosa, Bellflower, Poppies are good options that can planted in front of the hollies, sunflowers and delphiniums, low growing annuals like mesembranthemum, gaillardia, dianthus and and any other in your mind will come next.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Update

Every window of monsoon is being utilized for making nanthra borders as well as re-shaping of borders wherever deemed.
Nanthra is very easy to root. It has very delicate roots, just poke 3-4 inch cutting in ground, and keep the soil moist for 1-2 days. And it will root.

Monsoon is ideal for various cuttings reason being
1) Drop in temperature and UV index
2) Cloudy periods
3) Soggy/wet ground conditions
4) High Humidity which is very much essential for rooting.

Making planting scheme of various borders is proving a tedious job. Lot of thinking goes in what should go where, what would complement each other. Simplest is to have small separate borders of each specie(tried last time), however i would attempt to have all borders mix this time.

Following are some new varieties with which i would be experimenting this fall. Fingers crossed. This may serve the purpose that which specie can be grown locally(zone 9B) as perennial or atleast cool season annuals.

Ageratum
Pyrethrum
Salvia horminum
Canary Creeper
Russian Campion
Hosta
Larkspur ajacis
Salpiglossis Mix
Helenium
Gerbera jamesonii
Rudbeckia Various
Snow in summer
Silene
Lisianthus
HELIANTHUS MAXIMILIANI
HEUCHERA
MONARDA DIDYMA
MYOSOTIS SYLVATICA
HELIOPSIS SUNBURST
ERYNGIUM
DATURA ANGEL TRUMPETS
THUNBERGIA ALATA
Bellflower
Cinderella Asclepias
Shasta Daisy
Bergamo Monarda
Bunny Tails
Floristan
Lavatera
Malope tirfida
Salvia farinacea
Agastache aurantiaca
Heteropappus
Layia
Emilia
Gypsophilia Elegans
Armeria
Foxglove

I have worked out sowing dates depending on sow to bloom time. Next post will cover which plants to sow early to get blooms at required time and few border designs.