Ready Made Border

[Shortie]

Hiya all

Okay bear with me for this question, I'me not sure I'll make sense...

Quite a while ago I read an article in a gardening mag (really helps that I can't remember which one) that compared various companies who would sell you a 'border's worth' of flowers for a set price (i.e. 10 of these plugs, 20 of these etc... all in a scheme)

Anyone had any experience of such companies, can recomend one, or even have a foggiest what I'm waffling on about?

Cheers grapes

[nick the grief]

Parkers do this sort of thing, they usually have a freebie catalogue inside other mags. I have to ask, why would you want to do this shortie? your getting someone elses idea of what your border should look like. I would prefer to buy the seeds or take cuttings and grow them myself then I can have what I want. It may take a bit longer but I bet there wouldn't be much in it timewise but there will be £'s difference.

Some plants you may have to buy but you could always spend a bit extra on 1 or 2 good specimen plants than a little on a lot of them in these collections.

Just my opinion of course & I like propagating plants.

[poultrychat]

I was going to say parkers as well, they're the only one I've seen do it

[sewer rat]

Beat me to it Nick, both with the Parkers catalogue, and with the thoughts on this idea.
Shortie, I remember reading the article you're on about - will have a look through my old mags and see if I have it or if it's gone to the recycling centre in the sky.

[Shortie]

Cheers Rat

I know what you both mean about why, but I'm hoping to bulk buy some perenials for my garden as we're nearly finished 'buidling' the flowers areas and I wanted some ready plants I could put in. I'm awful at propgating cuttings (they always go mouldy - nice) and I wanted to compare online companies to local garden centres just to see if there was much difference...?

[Nicos]

I can understand you just wanting to get on and get it all finished, stand back, and watch it develop. Of course it will cost you more , but if you're not into 'fiddling around' and watering/potting on etc or just haven't got the time,space or patience, then your reward will be in the enjoying the finished project. Some of us have less green fingers than others So long as you like the selection they offer, then you'll be fine. It's also worth having a peep into your neighbour's gardens and asking for swaps of rooted plants which look like they could do with thinning out. Our very first garden was bare when we started, but by the time we moved it was a cross between my parent's, in-law's and neighbours gardens with hardly anysoil in site!! All for free. My mother-in law could grow a stick whereas I can kill off any potted plant! (am ok with veg for some reason! ). Oh...and no ..I don't know of any particular suppliers, but if you fancy a night out at an auction, you can buy trays of plants for a fraction of the cost. You could find out where they are held by calling into a local farm shop and ask where they buy their plants from. It's quite an experience and your garden would look fantastic as you'll tend to overbuy!

[SueA]

We live quite near the Parkers garden centres & they sometimes have the mail order plants on sale there. All I would say is that a lot of the plants are tiny, you might think they are a bargain price but they won't give you an instant border, they will probably take a couple of years to establish. The quality is usually OK. though & everything I've bought from them has thrived-even the stuff from the 'casualty corner'.

[Shortie]

Hmm... good point SueA about them being small...

Nicos, might cll aorund about an auction... My mum got rid of a massive lavendar last yera, but it was just wrong timing for me to take it and she hated it so it had to go

I have a few neighbours to try who are green fingered so I'll give it a go, you're right. See what I can 'aquire'

Maybe they will be sweetened by the prospect of some strawbs, blueberries, raspberries and rhubharb in summer as an exchange?? Well if nothing takes off them at least rhubarb. Might see if I can post a pic later today of the monster and we can have a rhubarb comparing competion?? Who has the biggest?

.... Oops, have I just walked into comments from Rat and ntg?

[JennieAtkinson]

Hi Shortie

I remember seeing the article, but can't remember where (nothing new there - I can't remember what happened yesterday!), but I seem to think that none of the companies came out well.

A friend of mine bought a ready made border from Parkers and the plants were so small they needed growing on before being planted and really did make much growth the first year. In fact I am not even sure they survived the following winter.

Do you get SWRI (Womens Institute) teas or local horticultural sales in your area ? Sometimes these are the best places to get plants. The Shetland horticultural sale is in May each year and I normally come home with bags full of stuff at dirt cheap prices - perennials, vegetables and annuals.

Good luck!

Jennie

[andrewo]

The best bet for a ready made border is just to sow annuals as you get your perennials going in the greenhouse. Cosmos, verbena and such other flowers give you a great show for little money.

[eskymo]

I can recommend Parkers as I just got a delivery from them and have used them in the past - I'm in the same position that I want to get a bulk of perenials to put in. I didn't go for one of their pre-planned borders though, but chose specific things that I wanted to grow, like ground cover plants, lavendar etc.

I'm supposed to be revising for my driving theory test which is tomorrow afternoon, but think I should go out and plant some of these plugs out instead...or do they need hardening off? Not sure about that one.

[Shortie]

Good luck with your theory test tomorrow Eskymo. That's if you ever get out of the garden with your hardening off to do....!

You know, the more I think about it, the more you're right. I'm going to take a peek for some auctions, otherwise go to the local town market as they usually have a plant stall there. They may be a bit more expensive per unit, but at least I can chose good ones and they'll be bigger too

[eskymo]

Thanks - I need it! I hate tests/exams.

It's also a good idea to look in garden centres as often you can find a potted plants that can be divided and you get 5 plants for the price of one.

I went out and planted out most of the plants and covered them with plastic bottle cloches as it's suddenly got very windy. I hope they'll be alright out there, I'm planting the rest at the w/e when I've got more time.

[nick the grief]

We have a local shop that is really good for plants, nothing too exotic but good value & I've bought stuff off him before. A friend of mine did what andrew suggests. He bought small perenniels (all he could afford) & grew loads of bedding. just the run of the mill sorts to fill the gaps. now his shrubs have grown & the lawn has shrunk so much you could cut it with scissors cos he still grows loads of bedding - he enjoys it now He only has a small garden (about 20' square) and manages to fit in about 40 trays of bedding plants. There's no space for weeds!!