Looking for ideas... low growing perennials

Hariet-Rose , i've never heard of Glechoma hederacea , think i'll google it , thanks
l

I know blackbirds can be a pain chucking mulch all over the place but I like to use lucerne, pea straw or sugar cane as well as underplanting with different plants. Can be a bit tricky for little plants not to get swamped though. I've collected lots of ideas here that I will try out over time. When it's feeding time, I find it's easier to shove the mulch out of the way to scratch food in and at the same time get an idea of the condition of the soil, moisture etc. I've got some roses with living mulches around them so I've tried both ways. My mulched roses always seem to do better and I put this down to improved soil from the built up mulches from one season to the next. But you're right Maree, much cheaper using a living perennial mulch.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Today I had friends come for lunch so I picked some roses and some agastache which is the plant I mentioned a couple of posts ago. The roses are Blue for You, then George Thomson's 65 roses for cystic fibrosis, Lady Phelia and Deanne Ross. The buds are from the Alister Clark rose Marjory Palmer. My roses are going very well at present here outside Toowoomba, Qld

Yep , thats probably a good way to go Silky , mulch then some small groundcovers over the top to stop the birds chucking it everywhere , i used to be able to buy organic lucerne from Bunnings , but they don't have it anymore , so have been using the organic sugar cane , and it lasts longer , but its not as good nutrient wise ..

City Farmers have organic Lucerne in bale and shredded in large bags...

City Farmers , wonder if they are in Melb area , better google it , thanks Neptune , while your here Neptune , my niece is moving to Perth and wants to plant some roses in the garden when she gets there , do you know of any good rose/plant nurseries in Perth ? thanks

I agree about the sugar cane mulch, doesn't have the nutrient level and I don't think it holds moisture as well either, but it does last longer and is relatively cheaper. I've used both this year, different beds. I was surprised too that Bunnings don't stock pea straw or lucerne. My preference is lucerne in bales, messy in the car though. The finer lucerne in plastic bales rots down very quickly. Also tried coir mulch - doesn't go far, waste of time.

Bonita your flower arrangement is just lovely. Your roses must be happy to give you blooms like that at the height of summer. It's been so dry here in Melbourne, hard work getting enough water to my roses and all the other plants.

do you know what area/suburb she is moving to?...... try and get one closest to her...

Bonita , so glad you posted that photo , Deane Ross is a rose i'm really wanting to try , but don't know anyone who has it , i planted Lady Phelia , but it died on me , my fault , i was in a rush and planted it way too low , are they fragrant , healthy etc , i have Agastache , i love it too , beautiful pic .... can you put up some more pics of these roses , plus blue for you , love em , was just sitting here thinking maybe i should try Lady Phelia again and Deane Ross too , when i saw your photo ... lucky ...

Looks like City Farmers in WA and QLD only. Try your local nursery Maree, if its got garden supplies (soil etc) they will probably stock lucerne bales. I get mine for about $16 per bale but have noticed size of bales has shrunk recently.

Not sure Neptune , i'll find out , was just talking to her today .... Silky , i'll only use organic , read somewhere about the pesticides that leach out of sprayed mulches , especially if you use them in vegie beds . I'll try the local garden supply , will need lots soon , making the vegie beds into no dig this year , better on the poor old back .....thanks ...

Maree, just pm me the answer and I will let you know....

Thanks heaps Neptune !!!

Maree I love the rose in your Avatar - I am not sure if this topic is still being used but as I am very interested in Perennials (as I have a Cottage Style Garden), I decided to add to this thread. Some of the plants I have planted with my roses are - Perennial Phlox (Blue & White Ridge, Nancy Logan & Mrs H Jones) (these are all dwarfs), Heliotrope, Low Growing Achilles, Anthemis (Susannah Mitchell, Mrs EC Buxton), Perennial Violas & Violets, Erodium, Hardy Geraniums (not the Pelargonium type but the old fashioned garden type), Pyrethrum Daisies, Geums. Some of the smaller growing Herbs are also suitable and the Roses will benefit from the attraction of the Beneficial Insects. I am also always looking for new plants to add if anyone has any other ideas.
Happy Gardening.

How about Gerberas, Hippeastrums or Aquilegias? Just a thought!

PS. I know you stated low growing, but you can get dwarf varieties of the above, I think!  

Hi Sue, I have put in a couple Mini-Hippies but didn't think of the Dwarf Aquilegias, every time I plant Gerberas if I have someone help me weed they pull them out thinking they are weeds. I have Milk Thistles growing in the middle of the Vegi Patch at the moment and Graham keeps asking me "Will I pull this weed out"? and I keep telling him I am growing it for the Birds & Beneficial Insects, he thinks I am made. Back to the Aquilegias, I bought my first ones this year so if they grow here for me, I will put some dwarfs in as well, and put them on my Plant Shopping list for next year.
Keep Gardening, Don't slacken off now that it is warming up.

Have to keeo gardening, otherwise it gets away from me and weeds invade with great relish! Will be putting Dahlias, Gerberas and Tubar Begonias in, over the next couple of weeks. Oh, how about you putting in some Begonias?

Diane , that is Jubilee Celebration , not my pic though , one of my favourite roses , i have bought packets of cottage style plants this year, mixed them all together and thrown them about , lets see what happens . The weeds this year have been the worst i have ever seen , had lots of rain this year and they have flourished ..

Dianne

You can get Aquilegia seed off EBay. Someone in Brisbane (I think) sells it,

Not sure if there are any dwarf ones varieties but we bought some seed in April and now we have quite a few of them to plant out.

Maree, Your garden should look lovely with all those plants coming up. Send Pics when they start to flowers or better still send some pics of your garden now, I am sure it is lovely. Do you know if there is a Topic at the moment for Members Spring Gardens, I couldn't find one. I thought I recognized your rose, I have it in the garden. Last year I made a mistake of using Organic Lucerne instead of my Organic Sugarcane Mulch in the Perennial Garden, well didn't I pay for it, weed everywhere, good weeds but never the less not wanted. I use Lucerne in the Veg Patch but just pull them out & leave then there to go back into the soil.

Gary, I am sure your garden is looking lovely. Our Heritage Rose Group was up to visit you not so long ago. Do the Aquilegia grow well on the Sunshine Coast & what kind of a situation are you growing them in. They are one of those plants I love but have always questioned. Also what about Clematis have you tried growing them there. I started growing the Hardy Geraniums under my Roses to help keep the roots cool & that has been a success story. I am always open for new ideas.

Sue, I would love to put in Tuberous Begonias, but anymore plantings will have to wait till I come out of hospital, otherwise I might come home to some Deadies as there is so much here to water, though only a house block that I have used every space up on gardens, not 2 acres like Gary has to look after, thank goodness.
Happy Gardening.

Sounds like my garden!! Always looking for a space - like parking at Christmas time!! LOL