It is all coming up roses at Borde Hill!

22nd July 2013

 

Rose Garden

The hot weather has bought out an explosion of roses, with scents that will take your breath away!

All of the David Austin varieties are looking stunning; in particular, the R. ‘Summer Song’, R. ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ and R. ‘Graham Thomas’. There is a kaleidoscope of colour throughout the rose gardens, from oranges to reds to pinks to whites.

The Gardening Team have been working hard despite the heat, with dead-heading, weeding, feeding, watering. Pictured are the team clearing back the nepeta (catmint) borders; these will re-grow again in August.

 

Where a greenhouse once stood there is now a beautiful array of Gold Standard roses together with yews, artemisia, creating an enormous ‘walk-in’ plant pot!

 

Paradise Walk

The Paradise Walk was given a make-over this spring. The new planting designed by James Alexander Sinclair has established well and the results of all the hard work are really paying off.

Watering information and tips

We are using pumps to draw water from the lakes in the Parkland up to the Garden to water the plants that need it most during this hot spell. The spring-fed lakes were created in the early 1990’s especially to supply extra water and reduce the Garden’s large usage of tap water.

 

Our Head Gardener, Andy Stevens’ “top tip” for watering during this weather is to water prolifically but infrequently. The key is to really saturate the soil one evening and then leave for a few nights before watering again. 

Our Mid-Summer Border has been enjoying our hot spell, the best bit is it doesn't need watering!

Commemorative Styrax

Pictured is Andy watering the commemorative Styrax planted this year to celebrate the 150 years since the birth of Col. Stephenson R Clarke; founder of the Garden.