awallace1962

Flowers To Use in Stone Planters

The council nursery have advised that due to soil depth and dryness any new planting will be quite restricted. The plants below have been suggested for that purpose.

Overview

Compost & soil: Improve existing soil with peat-free compost or well-rotted organic matter; top up with local topsoil if needed. Mulch (bark or compost) to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Seasonal timeline:

  • Spring (Mar–Apr): Sow wildflowers; enjoy early bulbs.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Perennials/shrubs provide height and colour; deadhead to prolong flowering.
  • Autumn (Sep–Oct): Plant bulbs for next spring; divide overgrown perennials.
  • Winter (Nov–Feb): Evergreen structure; refresh mulch to protect roots.

Action plan

1) Quick ID check for the tree (on site)

  • Thorns present → Hawthorn (Crataegus).
  • No thorns; finely serrated leaves, cherry-type bark → Ornamental cherry (Prunus).
  • Glossy oval leaves; tiny hard “pears” in autumn → Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana).
    (Whatever it is, the under-planting below still works.)

2) Prep (60–90 mins)

  1. Hand-weed and remove litter.
  2. Expose the root flare (don’t bury the trunk).
  3. Fork the top 5–8 cm gently to break crust; don’t dig deep near the trunk.
  4. Water once (10–15 L) so the soil is workable.

3) Soil refresh (per m²)

  • Peat-free multi-purpose compost: 25 L
  • Loam-based compost (John Innes No.3 or similar): 25 L
  • Sharp grit/sand: 10 L
  • Slow-release fertiliser (balanced 5-5-5): use label rate
    Mix and work this into only the top 8–12 cm.
  • Finish with 5–7 cm bark mulch, kept 10 cm away from the trunk.

4) Planting palette (sunny, drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly)

Edge (trail/soften stone), 25–30 cm spacing

  • Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus)– pictures & care (sun, drought-tolerant). RHS
  • Creeping thyme (Thymus spp.) – species page + “How to grow thyme”. RHS+1
  • Trailing bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana) – pictures & cultivation notes (great ground cover). RHS

Fillers (35–40 cm spacing)

  • Catmint (Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’) – cultivar page + RHS Nepeta overview. RHS+1
  • Sedum/stonecrop (Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’/‘Autumn Joy’) – genus page + cultivar + growing guide. RHS+2RHS+2
  • Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) – species page + growing guide. RHS+1
  • Perennial wallflower (Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’) – cultivar page + RHS note on perennial wallflowers. RHS+1
  • English lavender ‘Hidcote’ (Lavandula angustifolia) – cultivar page + RHS lavender overview. RHS+1

Evergreen dots

  • Heuchera (coral bells) – RHS growing guide (lots of pictures across pages). RHS+1
  • Spindle ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Euonymus fortunei) – cultivar page. RHS
  • Cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus) – species page (pruning + sun). RHS

Bulbs (autumn)

  • Crocus – RHS crocus hub & growing guide. RHS+1
  • Dwarf tulips – RHS tulip guide + AGM dwarf selections. RHS+1
  • Alliums (ornamental onions) – RHS guide + plant hub. RHS+1

How many plants to buy (rule of thumb)

  • Per m²: 3–4 edge plants + 4–5 fillers + 1 evergreen “dot” + 20–30 bulbs.
    (If your bed is ~2 m², double that.)

5) Layout in minutes

  • Keep a 20–25 cm mulch ring clear round the trunk.
  • Run the edge plants around the inside of the stone.
  • Drop 5–8 clumps of fillers through the centre.
  • Add 2–3 evergreens as winter anchors.
  • Tuck bulbs between everything.

6) Watering (measurable, with a can)

  • After planting: 20–30 L total to soak.
  • Weeks 1–6: 10–15 L per m², 2–3×/week if dry.
  • Thereafter (summer dry spells): 10 L per m² weekly (annuals may need twice).
    Water slowly; keep water off the trunk.

7) When to do it / replacements

  • Best planting windows: Sept–Oct or Apr–May.
  • Bulbs: Sept–Nov.
  • Perennials: no seasonal change-out; divide/refresh every 3–5 years.
  • Mulch top-up: each spring (5 cm).

8) Maintenance cheat-sheet

  • Mar/Apr: trim winter tat, feed, mulch, split crowded clumps.
  • May–Aug: deadhead wallflower/lavender; shear Nepeta after first flush; monthly weed.
  • Sept/Oct: plant/divide perennials; add bulbs.
  • All year: keep mulch off trunk; remove litter.

9) Indicative budget (per m², UK high-street prices)

  • Compost/loam/grit: £15–£22
  • Bark mulch: £6–£10
  • Plants (10–12 perennials incl. a few evergreens): £45–£70
  • Bulbs (25–30): £8–£12
    Total: ~£75–£110 per m² (can be halved via donations/wholesale).

10) Volunteer rota template

  • Weeks 1–6 (establishment): Mon & Thu – “Water 1 can each side (≈10–15 L/m²), quick litter pick.”
  • Summer dry spells: Sat – “1 can/m²”; Wed (optional) – “spot-water wilting plants.”
  • Monthly: “15-min weed & deadhead.”

Example Flowers with Pictures

  • Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus)– pictures & care (sun, drought-tolerant). RHS
  • Creeping thyme (Thymus spp.) – species page + “How to grow thyme”. RHS+1
  • Trailing bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana) – pictures & cultivation notes (great ground cover). RHS
  • Hardy geranium ‘Rozanne’ – cultivar page; also RHS feature on award-winning geraniums. RHS+1
  • Catmint (Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’) – cultivar page + RHS Nepeta overview. RHS+1
  • Sedum/stonecrop (Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’/‘Autumn Joy’) – genus page + cultivar + growing guide. RHS+2RHS+2
  • Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) – species page + growing guide. RHS+1
  • Perennial wallflower (Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’) – cultivar page + RHS note on perennial wallflowers. RHS+1
  • English lavender ‘Hidcote’ (Lavandula angustifolia) – cultivar page + RHS lavender overview. RHS+1
  • Heuchera (coral bells) – RHS growing guide (lots of pictures across pages). RHS+1
  • Spindle ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (Euonymus fortunei) – cultivar page. RHS
  • Cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus) – species page (pruning + sun). RHS
  • Daffodil ‘Tête-à-Tête’ + RHS daffodil growing guide. RHS+1
  • Crocus – RHS crocus hub & growing guide. RHS+1
  • Dwarf tulips – RHS tulip guide + AGM dwarf selections. RHS+1
  • Alliums (ornamental onions) – RHS guide + plant hub. RHS+1