The New Front Border Garden

16 years ago

The rain we had here in the east last week, plus mild temperatures, made working in the yard creating the new border garden a delight. It's my first rose garden since we moved here a month ago. My roses have been subsisting in pots, and they can now spread their roots in the ground. Here on old farm land, I am blessed to have real dirt instead of the rocks and clay that I am accustomed to dealing with in other places we've lived around here. (For those of you who were here for the plant exchange, this is the spot where all the roses were sitting in their pots.)

When we first bought this place 5 years ago, this area was a forsythia thicket, 12' high and 20' deep in places, tip rooted all over the place. You couldn't see the fence at all. The sunny south side of the 'hedge' was overrun with honeysuckle, poison ivy, and blackberry brambles. There had once been roses here, because I also found two Dr. Hueys in the mix. It took 3 guys all day one day to cut everything down and haul it to the brush pile at the back of the property. I sprayed whatever grew back with Round-up, and I've been letting the stumps and roots decay while I waited to be able to put in the roses.

The border is about 80' long, 8' deep. The fence posts are 6' high -- concrete, if you can believe it, built by our home's owner in the early 1950's. I put a rebar tripod in front of each post to help train the back row of roses upward. I hope this will also hide the fact that the fence posts are at all odd angles. (notice the one behind the tree.) Since the bed is so long, this is the best photo I could get of it this morning:

The roses are arranged in staggered double rows, 8' on center along the length of the bed, and about 5' apart across the depth (if that makes sense). I have put in my most favorite roses, blooming-est roses.

Back Row (on the fence post tripods): Prosperity, Cl. Clotilde Soupert, Brightside Cream, Maggie, Haywood Hall, Manchester Guardian Angel, Moonlight, Secret Garden Musk Climber on the tree, Lansdowne Road Climber (maybe Baltimore Belle?), Kathleen, and Bubble Bath.

Second Row (staggered between the rear roses): Maid Marion, Champney's Pink Cluster, Mme. Joseph Schwartz, Bryan Freidel's Pink Tea, J. E. Murphy's Pink Tea, Miriam's Pink Powerpuff, Indigo, Mrs. Paul, John Hopper, and Mary Washington.

Third Row (in line with the rear roses): Honorine de Brabant, Paul Neyron, Cl. Maman Cochet, Catherine Mermet, Paul Lede, Mrs. John Laing, Marchesa Bocchella, Grandmother's Hat, Felicia, and Applejack.

Front Row: Comte de Chambord, Rose de Rescht, Carnation, Spice, Souvenir de St. Anne's, Caldwell Pink, Quietness, SDLM, and Sydonie.

I spent yesterday afternoon getting a good start on installing the 1-gallon English boxwoods. (35 in so far, about 20 more to go.) I'll top it all off with a brick edge to divide the bed from the lawn. As soon as I can, I'll take DH's truck and go get mulch.

Connie

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Comments (21)

patricianat
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
That is going to be one great border! What painstaking steps you are taking to make it perfect.
mendocino_rose
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It's going to be wonderful. What a joy it must have been to plant those roses.
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Congratulations on your new home! Thanks for posting a photo - it makes it easier to visualize. Do you have a photo that shows the whole width of the property so we can see how this fits in? Like Defrost, I'm just an average homeowner who gardens in my own yard. I think a plan like yours with a combination of woody and herbaceous plants helps give year-round interest. (And I'm impressed that you have mapped out a plan!) With your house style, which isn't formal and balanced, I wouldn't worry about balancing your garden. You've done well in making the bed relatively deep so that your plants don't look like a line along the house. Be sure you are starting your bed outside of where the drip line would be if you didn't have gutters. Otherwise you will find it hard to keep plants happy within the dry zone as they have a roof over them. If it were my house, with the visual weight of the upper story, I would want some plants that reach up some to balance that and to break up the strong horizontal line where the upper story steps out. On the far side of the door and farther out from the house (not in your bed unless you extend it to reach out) I probably would put a small tree that has year-round interest, but can be limbed up so as to not block your lower story windows, perhaps a Japanese maple, Stewartia, or pagoda dogwood. I'd put three shrubs, one on each corner and one on the left of the front door, but not one on the right of the door, unless it's a quite small shrub that will stay small. It's not as big a space so there really isn't room for much of a shrub without blocking light to the window to some extent, and you want the front door to be visible. You might want to consider one of the more restrained clematis on a narrow obelisk to give some height and bulk to that small space. A large pot planted with taller annuals or tender perennials would also work there. I like hdrangeas, Mt. Laurels, and rhodies to fill the role of larger shrubs, if they work for your growing conditions. Hydrangeas in winter are pretty homely, however, so I might put that at the far corner of the house if you want one so that it isn't as prominent when it's unattractive. Consider getting one that blooms over the course of the summer, since many are only spring bloomers and if you have a late frost, you've lost all flowers for the year. In choosing your specific varieties of shrubs, be aware that sizes are often given at what they will be after 10 years, after which they will continue to grow. Then, as your plan shows, fill in the bed with herbaceous plants. I have assumed that you have checked out your soil, sun and moisture, and have chosen your plants to suit that. I haven't grown most of your smaller plants so won't comment on those. One thing to consider if you haven't already is plant foliage. Since most perennials and shrubs only bloom for part of the year, think about whether the foliage on your plants have interesting and varied color, texture, shape, and size so that even when your plants aren't blooming there is something of interest in the garden. A good resource is Mindy (AKA arbo_retum) here on the New England forum. Her website, which has lots of great photos, is http://www.cottonarboretum.com/ As far as the overall layout, think about getting annuals for the first year or two to fill in some until your other plants get larger. I usually plant for that 10 year size or even a bit larger, and put in smaller fillers for the first few years. I probably would plant that grassy triangle as the walkway makes a natural ending/edging. From the photo, your front walk looks a bit narrow (could 2 people walk comfortably side by side?) so you may want to consider a plan to widen that in the long run if it's as narrow as it looks. Too ambitious? Really only you can answer that since you know your energy, finances, and time. It can be done in stages - prepare one bed, then plant it. Then start on the other bed. Or prepare both beds and plant your woody plants and then mulch well to prevent weeds and keep moisture even. (You'll want to do that regardless.) Plant your perennials in early fall when there are sales or even next year if you have run out of time, energy or finances this year. You will probably want to put an edger outside of your bricks to prevent to grass from growing in under them. Ultimately, if you decide you don't like the bed or something doesn't flourish there, you can always replant. Please keep us update with your progress.
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ronda_in_carolina
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow girl....you take on projects that put mine to shame!! That border is going to be INCREDIBLE when it matures. I love the old posts.

Be sure to keep us updated as the garden matures. I suspect we will be in awe.

Ronda
buford
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Can't wait to see pic next spring!
rjlinva
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Connie..I LOVE it...When can I come to see it? I just had a 14 ton load of mulch delivered...it makes the roses pop out...

Robert
hartwood
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks, everybody. It feels so good to finally have roses in the ground. I've been a pot gardener for 3 years now, holding onto my roses and gathering my collection as the restoration of our house dragged on with delay after delay. I know the roses are happier -- but they look so small without their pots to raise them up. :)

Count of roses planted so far:
Front border - 40,
Ramblers on the back fence - 15 (there's no way to get even close to a decent photo of them right now. I'll see what I can show you in spring.)
Roses still left in pots - about 60, or so. (A little more than half of these are modern -- HTs, shrubs, minis, and about a dozen Austins. The weather isn't looking like it will cooperate to let me get them into the ground before it gets too cold to work outside comfortably. The large ones will winter in their pots -- they've done it before. The small ones may go into the garage. The REALLY small ones will probably go under the lights in the basement with my cuttings.) I'll resign myself to wintering over the roses, and I'll turn my attention to planting daffodil bulbs -- I LOVE daffodils!

DH had gotten comfortable with my putting roses onto this fence. He had the idea that he could try to straighten the posts, but I doubt it would be successful. They're heavy, and are well into the ground on deep footings. The former forsythia hedge and the moisture it retained did a lot of damage. We will, however, replace the fence boards next spring before the roses get too big. (we have complete access from the pasture on the other side of the fence) We will probably be able to repaint the posts too. That'll make him happy.

Robert, my friend, you are welcome here any time you would like to come. (That goes for the rest of you, too.) Give me a call and I'll check my calendar. 14 TONS of mulch? Wow! BTW, if the roses pop out won't you have extra work putting them back in? (sorry, smart a$$ comment alert.)

Connie

P.S. Now that I've planted my Teas and Chinas, Hybrid Musks and Noisettes, I guess that means that I'll have to start scheming new ones for next year. I have a few on my short list . . . (insert evil laugh here)
carolfm
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I love it too! I am amazed that those posts are concrete! When established, it will be an amazing sight.

Carol
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Great Job! This is going to be a real showpiece.

Don't worry about the fence. It has character.
carla17
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Connie, you have done a wonderful job and lots of hard work. I will be anxious to see it next year.

Carla
Krista_5NY
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
What a wonderful collection of roses. I look forward to seeing pics of them next year.
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You have done a great job. It will mature into something really special. The boxwood hedge will really set all those roses off.
jim_east_coast_zn7
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Carolfm!
I was amazed to read that those posts are concrete too AND I SAW THEM UP CLOSE! So much for my powers of observation. Often think of our visit to Ashville. Connie has a beautiful place; enjoyed the rose/plant swap so.
Jim
zeffyrose
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Connie-----what a wonderful job you have done to restore this rose area---I was totally shocked to read that the posts were concrete---I have never seen one like that----

It will be a gorgeous site when all these roses are in bloom-----

I'm too far north to grow these tender roses so I will enjoy your pictures----

Great Job------

I do hope to be well enough next year if you have another meeting at your lovely property--

Florence
zeffyrose
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
BTW----Please tell your DH not to worry about the fence (which I love) as soon as those ramblers get going you won't be able to see the fence-----

Good luck with this lovely project.

Florence
debnfla8b
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
That fence is wonderful...what character is has!

Now when your border has grown some...please show us some more pictures. I can't even begin to imagine how lovely it will be. Lucky you to have that to watch it grow into a beautiful border!!!

Deb
linrose
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
What a great project - you must be thrilled after the long wait to plant! Those old concrete posts are cool, I like the idea of rebar tripods in the back to support your climbers. My advice, just get rid of the boards and don't replace them. It'll be much easier to get in to do maintenance on the back side (like mulching, weeding and pruning.) Trying to get through just two rows of staggered roses can rip you up pretty good. I just pulled some thorns out of my scalp the other day! And Florence is right, that fence will disappear once those climbers mature.

Please post pics next spring! I'm sure it will be a wonderful garden you'll be very proud of.
cemeteryrose
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You are doing this so well - good spacing on the roses, and a great selection! I'm with everyone else about the posts - not only is it ok that they lean, but it's rather nice. One thing that our gardens tend to lack is patina, any sense of having been around for a while. Your new garden starts out with that feeling, which is a great advantage.
Anita
hartwood
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you, thank you -- I appreciate your kind words. I so enjoy following the progress of everyone else's gardens, it's nice to have the beginnings of mine to share.

Not to worry. There's no way I could take the patina off 50 year old concrete. I have to do some stabilization on the cracked ones to keep them from deteriorating any further. (concrete adhesive and metal bands should do quite nicely). Three of the worst ones, that you can't see in the photo, completely fell apart while the forsythia was being taken down. Water infiltration rusted the center iron support completely away in spots. I plan to use their cannonball tops in the garden in some way. (gosh, they're heavy)

Everyone will definitely get to follow my progress with this part of the garden and others. We all love photos, don't we? If you're convenient to the area, I enjoy having visitors and meeting new people -- I call my GW friends my 'Internet dates'. Things in the garden should be cooking along really well by the time we have the 2nd annual plant swap gathering at my house next fall. I have plans spinning around in my head for a series of arches by the detached garage covered with my new climbers . . . and the Van Fleet roses on the other front fence . . . and the modern cutting-style garden . . . and a cottage style garden by the workshop building . . . and what to do with all these Austins? Lots of planning to do over the winter. Goodie, goodie.

Connie
paddlehikeva
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
My Connie, you have been a busy girl. It looks fabulous, I cannot wait to see it in person. I "finished" my new rose garden Sunday, I planted 400+ bulbs - I have the aches and moans to prove it. I planted the butter and eggs daffys I got from you front and center. We should do a daffy swap this year, like yours, a lot of mine are rescued and I don't know the names. You will have to come visit to see which ones you would like.

Robert I too have a load of mulch coming soon. I have a couple of woodchucks in my neighborhood and I am going to try some of their free mulch. I was hoping to get some earlier, but since we have not had many bad storms this year, business is extremely slow. I would like for it to sit and cook for awhile before I put it around my roses. I may have to once again visit the local sawmill with the huge pile of seasoned oak mulch.

Kathy
jjpeace (zone 5b Canada)
8 years ago
I know this is an old post but I am very curious to see what the garden looks like today.
User
8 years ago
....me too, I'd love to see it now.... when I first saw this I thought it was recent and just realised how old it is... and that's quite an eccentric fence going on there.... fun...

The New Front Border Garden

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