Renovating existing flower beds - le Grand Pressigny

Following a project to create a new bed for a client in le Grand Pressigny, we were asked to look at two others within their gardens, these had been created over a period of time since they renovated the property. The brief was to produce more colour throughout the summer.

The two beds included well established shrubs which had initially offered shape, form and a green backdrop. They had outgrown their space (things grow well in the Indre-et-Loire!) we agreed those which were best to stay and those which had to go!

We removed shrubs, then pruned and shaped those staying. The rest of the bed was dug over & enriched - the soil is heavy chalky clay with alot of flint mixed in, this becomes very compacted over time especially when the rain runs straight off the roof onto the bed. Although existing plants don't seem to mind new plants can quickly rot in winter or die of thirst in summer!

We then add our own secret mix of compost...not all that secret really just a labour intensive mix of various organic matter and patience while it changes to a rich dark crumbly stuff :D

The beds were then underplanted with a mixed colour range of tulips, then alliums which will grow through the shrubs before the are at their best.

We then chose a range of perrennial plants which provide a long flowering period and will perform well during hot dry summers and will very likely re-flower during the same year if cut back after first flowering - echinacea purpurea, papaver, penstemon, geraniums, scabious, verbena etc.

We also split and re-planted the clients overcrowded established plants such as iris, geraniums to rejuvenate and encourage them to flower profusely.

By mid November the plants are in place to make the most of the cooler wet months to establish a good roots system. We will return with photo's in Spring 2010 and beyond to see how the plants top growth performs!