Managing and maintaining a mixed herbaceous border with Benjamin Pope

Garden courses

Ref: S1D12062

Suitable for all £128
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About this course

Learn how to manage and maintain mixed herbaceous borders, using both traditional techniques and contemporary methods to create a soft and natural aesthetic.

Course Description

The tutor will lead you through the finer details of how to manage and maintain mixed herbaceous borders, using both traditional techniques and contemporary methods to create a soft and natural aesthetic.

The day will begin looking briefly at the history of mixed herbaceous borders and how this has led to the variety of planting styles we see today. The tutor will explain both traditional and modern maintenance techniques that are available to the gardener, detailing tools and materials with an emphasis on creating a soft and naturalistic appearance.

Following a coffee break the morning continues outside, with a demonstration and practical session where you will get to practise some of the various maintenance techniques already discussed.

After lunch, the tutor will guide you through the importance of plant choice and positioning within a border, concluding the session with an assessment of some of the mixed borders at West Dean Gardens.

The final afternoon session will be spent in small groups looking at borders in your own garden, where the tutor will be on hand to help you develop a maintenance plan for future improvement.

Timetable

Timetable for one day courses

Students should arrive by 9am for registration.

Classes are from 9.15 - 5pm

Lunch is included.

Course Materials

What students need to bring

  • Please bring with you any information that you have about the garden borders you would like to improve e.g. soil type, aspect, pH etc. along with details of problematic areas. Photographs would be very useful, and try to include broad general images and close up shots of problematic areas.
  • You will need a notebook and pens/pencils for taking notes.
  • Wear suitable outdoor/gardening clothing, which may include gloves, waterproofs and gardening boots.
  • Secateurs or gardening snips are also desirable.

Tutors

Benjamin Pope

Ben Pope has been in the horticulture industry for the last 19 years, studying and training at the Merrist Wood and RHS Wisley, where he was awarded Best Practical and Best Overall Student. His work experience ranges from nursery practices and propagation in Australia through to design and horticultural research in London for the practice of Arabella Lennox-Boyd.

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