Cutting Borders
2 February 2004

I like bringing flowers into the house. I don’t do arranging, they are stood in a container of water until the head gardener turns them into something worth admiring. The problem arises from the colour gaps left when armfuls of flowers are cut and removed.

This year I am having a cutting border hidden from public view and not overlooked by any of the main house windows. With it I will be able to cut as many flowers as I want without spoiling the show in the main borders. It needs to be sited in a sheltered, sunny position where the soil is free of perennial weeds such as docks, thistles, convolvous and nettles. Incorporating lots of old farmyard manure and compost will open the soil while helping to retain moisture.

When it comes to plant selection it is personal choice but the list of suitable varieties is long. Annuals that are grown from seed and planted out in May will be in flower by mid-summer. Sunflowers are always popular and there is something pleasing about cutting a bunch instead of one or two. Asters, nemesia, antirrhinum, stock and sweet pea are great for cutting. Biennials such as sweet William last for ages in water. Perennials are value for money returning year after year with an increasing number of flowers. Scabious, oriental poppy, hollyhock, delphinium and echinops are just a few of the herbaceous plants I will be planting. There will be summer bulbs including gladiolus, dahlia and freesia.

Foliage is also important and what better than the juvenile, blue-green, aromatic foliage of Eucalyptus gunnii. Always plant a small eucalyptus as they dislike being transplanted. After the first year cut the tree back every spring to within 6 inches of the ground. It will resprout retaining the immature foliage. It will grow to 6 ft in the season and eventually will become a thicket of stems for cutting. If there is space left I will plant some bush roses for their flower concentrating on those with perfume.

Bulkier shrubs such as mahonia, viburnum, hydrangea and hebe will remain in the main landscape but the amount cut off a mature plant will never be missed. With the cutting border it is essential you stay on guard against slugs and snails. They can destroy plants overnight. Use milk or beer as bait to trap them emptying the containers daily. You won’t beat them but with luck, will have flowers to cut.

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