Easy plants which make an impact in September
Four easy plant pairings to try, and some free plants
If you’re new to gardening, you might be thinking very carefully about what to spend your money on and trying to avoid expensive mistakes
Four good planting pairs
It feels like forever that we haven’t talked about plants, so we’re going to take a midweek dive into four really easy and effective plant pairings - get out that garden notebook and jot these down as ideas for planting either in the autumn, or early next Spring.
I can’t tell you how easy they are - I promise. And for one of the pairings, you really only need two actual plants to start with, and they’ll then give you hundreds of free ones over the years. I call that a bargain.
Firstly though, tulips. I know some of you are itching to order your them. If you don’t know where to start, or simply don’t have the time: here are three easy combinations, each creating a different atmosphere:
There are more combinations coming next week for subscribers, but I’m hoping that this gives you something to dream about and think on in the meantime. Remember - do try to put off the tulip bulb delivery for as long as possible, the reasons for which I explain here.
Whilst I’m on bulbs, don’t forget to pop hyacinths on your order. If you’re thinking they’re a bit old-fashioned and wondering how on earth to make these work in the border, you can find out more here. An old-fashioned reputation has never stopped me - in fact it makes me determined to make the plant work.
Before we get on to the plant pairs, I can confirm that this next plant which I ordered as an experiment back in the winter here, is absolute heaven. Alcathaea suffrutescens 'Parkallee' is a cross between an althaea and a hollyhock, and it is a beauty of a plant. Almost indescribable colours of peachy-apricot and beige fluffsters of flowers rise up tall spires of stems.
Plant pair #1 Romance, grace and elegance
However, it’s actually another plant, a relative of A. ’Parkallee’, that I’m raving about today. Along with ‘Parkallee’, this plant survived absolutely everything the UK wet spring could throw at it, but it’s even more of a show stopping beauty, and its colours are even more magical. This plant looks stunning wherever it’s planted - in both informal ad formal settings, town and country, courtyard and cottage. It’s a superb planting partner for roses, shrubs and annuals, bringing grace and romance to every spot it’s in:
Do you see what I mean? Its romantic blush tones are exquisite, and as it’s tall, it looks incredible popping up gracefully through hydrangeas and roses:
Here it is, to the right of Hydrangea ‘Great Star’ which is just going over, and Rosa