SIMPLE GERANIUMS
My geraniums came from plants pulled up from a friend's garden. I knew I was getting pink and blue but I didn't know which plant was which when she put them together in a bag. So, I planted them all together and I think they make a lovely contrast. They grow at the lowest part of a north-facing border, where it is shady and damp in the not-too-glorious position next to the dustbin. They really do look pretty. I think they look so much better grown together.
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However, the geraniums were swamping a clematis, Arctic Queen, which seemed to dislike the spot I had given it, facing north, and so a few days ago I dug it up and put it in a big plastic container. I am babying it along. When I dug it up the new shoots that were struggling to come out of the ground were only a couple of inches long when the plant should have reached to the top of the 6ft fence and been in full bud. Here you can see what a difference a move makes.
I'm never afraid to move plants when they are not doing well. I hate to do it when plants are in flower but even then I will, if I have to. The trick is to water the plant first. Dig it up in as big a lump as you can, disturbing the roots as little as possible, and plant it gently and kindly, firming it into its new bed or pot. Clematis, I understand, like to have their roots in the shade and their heads in the sun.
Arctic Queen is now tucked behind my garden swing, up against the side of the shed facing north. However, the clematis now receives full sun for a few hours when the sun swings round to the south around mid-day. Here you can see it is much happier. I shall put some trellis or something up on the shed for it to cling onto very shortly. I've tucked the new shoots under the back bar of the swing so that if I need to move the pot and the plant (perhaps I will find a new home for it in the ground at some point) then I can do so quite easily. The main shoot you can see has grown about 8 inches in less than a week. Howzat!
.JPG)
However, the geraniums were swamping a clematis, Arctic Queen, which seemed to dislike the spot I had given it, facing north, and so a few days ago I dug it up and put it in a big plastic container. I am babying it along. When I dug it up the new shoots that were struggling to come out of the ground were only a couple of inches long when the plant should have reached to the top of the 6ft fence and been in full bud. Here you can see what a difference a move makes.
I'm never afraid to move plants when they are not doing well. I hate to do it when plants are in flower but even then I will, if I have to. The trick is to water the plant first. Dig it up in as big a lump as you can, disturbing the roots as little as possible, and plant it gently and kindly, firming it into its new bed or pot. Clematis, I understand, like to have their roots in the shade and their heads in the sun.
Arctic Queen is now tucked behind my garden swing, up against the side of the shed facing north. However, the clematis now receives full sun for a few hours when the sun swings round to the south around mid-day. Here you can see it is much happier. I shall put some trellis or something up on the shed for it to cling onto very shortly. I've tucked the new shoots under the back bar of the swing so that if I need to move the pot and the plant (perhaps I will find a new home for it in the ground at some point) then I can do so quite easily. The main shoot you can see has grown about 8 inches in less than a week. Howzat!
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| A struggling Arctic Queen, 30 June 2011 |
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| Arctic Queen July 2011 |