What To Plant In The Middle Plan Of A Flower Garden

A “right” mixborder should look so that it does not resemble a randomly arranged flower bed. This should be a well-thought-out composition, where each plant is in its place, does not bother anyone and at the same time is remarkably visible from the outside.

It does not matter what kind of mixborder you have - one-sided (viewed from one side, for example, when it is at the fence or near the wall of a building) or viewed from all sides (if it is located, like a flower bed, in an open area) - you need to pick up plants that are tall, medium-sized and low to arrange a tiered composition. With high and low it is somehow simpler - the range is wide. But you will have to think about the choice of plants for the background.

Those flowers that are on the sidelines should smooth out the difference in heights, and blur the boundaries of color, and be a sub-background for the rest of the participants - that is, set off their beauty, but so that there is no unnecessary variegation. This means that their flowering should be, so to speak, intelligent, not lush.

Therefore, roses, lilies, paniculate phlox, dahlias (no matter tall or miniature) and other "crinoline ladies" are appropriate only if you need to create a bright spot in some small part of the mixborder. And for supporting roles on an ongoing basis, they are not suitable. Difficulties will arise with daylilies - growing, these plants will occupy a large area with their fountains of leaves, and at a time when they are in a non-flowering state, the composition will have a "failure of form". Daylilies are good on their own, without neighbors.

It is better not to attract annuals to the mixborder - and they are mostly colorful, and you will have to update the flower garden every season. But if you want - go ahead!

Of the annual representatives from myself, I can advise Buenos Aires verbena. A wonderful plant that adds air to a flower garden with tall plants in the background. It can grow in height a little more than 1 m. It blooms from July to late autumn.

By itself, alone, this verbena is not particularly remarkable - branched, but almost without leaves, the stems are crowned with more than modest lavender-lilac inflorescences. But when planting in a flower garden (especially in a natural style), it produces an amazing effect. Immediately you start thinking: "Wow - such a simpleton, but how wonderful it fits into the overall picture!" Without her, the flower garden would be unfinished, “without lace,” so to speak. By the way, she will even fit into the company of independent roses. In addition, this plant is extremely unpretentious. He only needs light and not too fertile soil.

Verbena of Buenos Aires

Among the decorative bows, there are quite a few species that are suitable for us in growth, but after flowering, which generally does not last long, we will get only voids in the flower garden. For the same reason, we will cross tulips, daffodils and other bulbs from the list, no matter how tall they are.

As for the height of the plants, here you need to look at the situation - if the mixborder is, in principle, low, and ground cover flaunts in the foreground, then flowers 30-45 cm high are needed for the background. If in the background there is a group of ornamental shrubs or conifers, tall delphiniums, aconites, eremurus, buzulniks, Volzhanka and other "heroes", then the next tier should be flowers 50-80 cm high.

Be sure to draw a color plan on paper and compare the timing of flowering plants. Here are some examples of plants that you can use to plant in the middle ground.

You can find undersized varieties of delphiniums on sale. For example, the height of the Blue Butterfly plant is only 30-60 cm. On an openwork bush with an abundance of peduncles, not "candles" are formed, but numerous single azure-blue flowers, unusually bright and large. Two others echo him - Pink Butterfly and White Butterfly. Variety Dwarf, 60-70 cm high, flowers are densely double, bluish-lilac, with a green stripe in the center of the petals, collected in an unusually dense ear. Delphiniums adore manure and ash, do not like watering over the leaves (better - at the root) and do not tolerate sodding "underfoot" - they need to be loosened from time to time. Geleniumsare no longer considered autumn plants. Varieties appeared that bloom in early July. Red Rubinzwerg and Ruby Tuesday, yellow Wyndley only 40-50 cm high, semi-double yellow Double Trouble - 80 cm. Geleniums grow well in the sun and can tolerate mild drought.

Gelenium hybrid Rubinzwerg Very good for the background and liatris spikelet. There are also tall varieties, but we will pay attention to Floristan Violet (with purple inflorescences) and Floristan White (with white ones) - they are 75 cm high; slightly lower, 50-60 cm Kobold variety (purple-pink inflorescences); the Kobold Original variety is like a reduced copy of the previous one, only 35 cm, the inflorescence is thicker. Liatris grows well in sunny, warm or hot places. The soil needs moderately dry, loose, fertile soil. On heavy damp, it will quickly rot. The plant has one "secret" - since the flowers open from the very top of the inflorescence, you can slowly cut off the faded tail to preserve the decorative effect. They do not like waterlogging and yarrow- Plants about 75 cm high. Lately, a lot of varieties of different colors have been bred. A very airy openwork plant 60 cm high - yarrow ptarmika Pearl mussel. I call her "gypsophila rival".

Yarrow

Yarrow ptarmica

A universal plant - large Astrantia, strewn with stars of inflorescences of pink, burgundy, purple, lilac, pearl color (depending on the variety). It blooms for a very long time. It is good to plant it next to catchy roses and lilies to soften their "ponderousness". Astrantia loves most of all places open, where there is a lot of sun. Prefers loose, fertile soil. Low-growing rudbeckia will unobtrusively decorate the middle plan… Pay attention to the brilliant Goldsturm varieties with a height of 60-70 cm. Among the two-colored rudbeckia I would like to highlight the following varieties: Herbstwald (height about 60 cm, variegated petals), Sonnenuntergang (height about 70 cm, golden yellow petals with a brownish-red border. look for rudbeckia hairy varieties Meine Freude (about 60 cm high, large bright baskets with a dark brown convex center), Goldflamme (35 cm high).

Astrantia large Roma

Rudbeckia hairy Tiger Eye Gold F1

A bearded carnation, or Turkish, although a biennial, is sown beautifully by itself. You just have to remove the extra sockets in the spring. Personally, as I sowed it once 12 years ago, I never sowed it again - it grows and blooms beautifully on its own. At the moment, varieties with a height of 40 to 60 cm are suitable for us. Turkish carnation grows best in a sunny place, but it can bloom in partial shade. It will truly surprise you when planted in fertile soil. In principle, any composition is suitable, if you add compost, some ash and complex mineral fertilizer during digging. All kinds of "daisies" are also suitable - the largest daisy, large-flowered coreopsis, purpurea echinacea. For echinacea, opt for the lilac Compacta (60-70 cm tall) and the creamy White Snow. Most "daisies" love sunny places,but they feel good in partial shade. They grow on a variety of soils, but preferably on loose and nutritious. On acidic it is useful to add a little lime. They do not tolerate drought well, so they should be watered on dry days.

Carnation bearded, or Turkish

Nivyanik largest

Bells are good in the background, especially the peach-leaved bell - a plant 75 cm high. There are varieties with simple and double flowers, purple, white, blue. The crowded bell is also low - 30-60 cm, depending on the variety. They should be planted in a sunny place in light, fertilized soil. Aquilegia will take root anywhere - in the shade and in the sun. Varieties - apparently invisible, from 15 cm to 1 m in height, but I will not talk about the colors - I will not fit until nightfall. And finally - about my favorite - Veronica long-leaved. Its bright blue touching "spikelets" rise up to 80 cm above the ground. Veronica spiky Baby Doll is bright pink, and Romily Purple is dark purple, both about 40 cm high. All Veronica are unpretentious, but love the sun.