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What beautiful thing can I plant in peat?

6 replies

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 26/03/2016 07:31

Our garden is peaty, I'm a novice. I've spent some time getting a lawn going, but I have a bank that I would really like to cover in flowers. It's steep, west-facing, and digging in anything to make it less acidic would be difficult.

What bright, summery flowers love peat? I tend to prefer wild-flower types, but I think it's too rich for them (I could be wrong). The daffodils I've planted love it.

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FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 27/03/2016 18:55

Bump :)

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Ditsy4 · 29/03/2016 07:53

Azaleas and rhods love it. You could get different varieties so it staggers the flowering times. I've done this and as one fades another starts.if you are in Scotland Inriach(sp) gardens on the northwest coast is beautiful and very inspirational. There is a small garden near Aviemore which was helpful to me. Not sure if still open. I had a peat bed at my last house. I had Primula Candelabra but it more spring than summer. I can't remember what I had. Oh Godetia was one.

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FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 29/03/2016 09:12

Thanks Ditsy, that's really helpful. I think up until now I've not been taking the conditions into consideration enough. More fighting against what I have, rather than working with it. Which was never going to end well! :)

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Ditsy4 · 30/03/2016 17:13

That's ok have a look at gardens in North Scotland and the islands they have to garden on peat. I brought some of my azaleas with me and from March to May I have at least one out. Stunning colours and I plant bulbs under or near. I also put some bulbs in pots so the can go under/next to some.
If you get a chance go to Gardening Scotland in June. There are lots of ideas in the plant marquee where they make small gardens. Take a camera as they are amazing. Lots of peat, peat bog garden and they sell the plants. They will generously give advice. I'll pop back when I find some more. I can picture them but can't remember the name.

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Ditsy4 · 30/03/2016 20:21

Inshriache, Aviemore.
Inverewe gardens
These are the two I was thinking of.
Cassiopeia, flag iris, bluebells, Lent Rose, Begonias, Gentians, some lilies these are some of the things you could plant. It could be really beautiful.

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FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 31/03/2016 16:30

That's great :) I love blue bells and lilies. I'd already put some bluebell bulbs in before researching, so hopefully they'll do well.