How do I look after my newly Planted Borders?

The landscaping is complete and the last of the perennials have been planted. It looks great but what do with it now? Plants are expensive items and need a little love and attention to keep them in shape, especially in the first few months after initial planting.

Here are a few things to check in the first few months to make sure you get the best from your borders.

Watering

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to check that the soil that your plants are growing in does not dry out. Plants drying out does not just happen when there is no rain, it also happens when there is plenty of windy weather which will make the plants and soil drier much quicker than usual. Water the borders once a week to enable them get their roots established into the surrounding soil. Make sure you drench the soil fully as lightly watering the surface will have the effect of only encouraging surface roots. Keep the soil moist but not soggy or waterlogged.

When watering, use a fine sprinkler or a rose attachment to a watering can to apply water to the base of the plant. Avoid watering the plant itself if possible and give more attention to your plants at times of drought.

Feeding

There is not a great need to feed the plants after they have been first planted. We generally do not feed plants straight away on planting and certainly not if planted towards the end of the year or in winter but in spring you can apply a high phosphorus, low-nitrogen fertiliser or if plants appear yellow or growth is poor.

Mulching

You may have chosen to have your borders mulched, if which case this part has been taken care of. If you Have not, it’s worth thinking about. Mulching a border will not only keep precious water in the soil rather than evaporation; it will also stop weeds appearing, lessening the competition for your new plants.