Pollinator sun border
A 6 m sunny border of feather reed grass, coneflower, catmint and lavender that flowers from June to October and feeds bees and butterflies.
6.4 × 2.3 m footprint
In this layout
7 products · 26 items
Select a product to highlight its items in 3D.
Plant choices
- Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster', #2 pot
- USDA zones 5-9 · Full sun · Low water once established · Flowers: early summer (plumes)
- Purple coneflower 'Magnus', #1 pot
- USDA zones 3-8 · Full sun · Low water once established · Flowers: midsummer to early fall
- Catmint 'Walker's Low', #2 pot
- USDA zones 3-8 · Full sun · Low water once established · Flowers: late spring to early fall
- Hidcote English lavender, 1 gallon
- USDA zones USDA 5-8 · Full sun · Moderate water once established · Flowers: summer
- Oregon sunshine, #1 pot
- USDA zones 5-9 · Full sun · Low water once established · Flowers: late spring to midsummer
Growing zones describe winter cold. A matching zone is a useful starting point. Sun, soil and water matter too.
Product information
7 products
From each product’s own information, shown once however many are used.
New garden bed, prepared and mulched14.25 m²
Care
First weeks
This prepared bed is soil finished with bark mulch; plants/edging are separate. Check grades and leave existing crowns, root flares and house clearances open. Pull mulch aside before planting and set each plant at its proper soil level, not into mulch.
Ongoing
Keep mulch in the bed, remove confirmed small weeds and check soil moisture below before watering. Do not dig woody material into roots to tidy it: this is surface cover, not fertilizer or potting mix. Irrigation must reach soil; damp mulch does not prove roots received water.
Seasons
After storms, rake displaced surface material back without burying crowns or drains. Measure what remains before topping up; repeating the full quoted depth builds a mound. Replace only thinning/decomposed coverage with planned material, maintaining plant/building clearances.
What's normal
Fading, settling, decomposition, fungi and variable bark/chip texture are expected. These alone are not defects. Weeding remains necessary, especially for established perennial weeds; mulch does not make a bed weed-free. Keep new weed seedlings from rooting deeply in decomposing material.
When to call
Call for washout, sour saturated material, ponding, buried crowns or plant decline. Check moisture/drainage before fertilizer or pesticide. Keep children/pets from eating fungi/unfamiliar material, and do not assume visible mushrooms require chemicals.
Confirm
Confirm soil blend/depth, bark layer, drainage and future planting plan. Plants added later need their own care; an empty prepared bed does not require automatic plant irrigation/fertilizer. Avoid changing grades near building drainage or tree roots without the installer's assessment.
Steel landscape edging, 4 in10.62 m
Care
First weeks
Steel landscape edging, 4 in defines a bed/lawn boundary. Confirm exposed height, joints and stakes/bedding at handover. It is not a step, guard or retaining wall. Learn its position before mowing and keep children clear of sharp or broken sections.
Ongoing
Brush debris away and keep soil/grass from hiding the top/stakes. Clean with water and a material/finish-compatible mild cleaner if needed. Avoid solvents, heat tools and impacts from mower blades/wheels or powered trimmers.
Seasons
After frost, rain and gardening, look for heaving, separated joins, loose supports or new trip edges. Return only loose mulch to its bed, leaving installed supports undisturbed. Keep mower wheels/blades clear at all seasonal cutting heights.
What's normal
Marks on powder-coated steel may expose it to corrosion. Protruding stakes, sharp edges, new lean or spreading rust need attention; this is coated steel, not intentional weathering steel.
When to call
Call for loose supports, recurring frost movement, broken sections or sharp/tripping edges. Isolate the hazard; never hammer blindly where services or irrigation may be buried. Have bedding/stakes corrected rather than raising soil around a failed section.
Confirm
Confirm coating/touch-up system, stake layout and safe top profile. Inspect before mowing; do not grind protection off or substitute a bare sharp strip. The steel specification reference is a material example, not proof of the installed brand.
Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster', #2 potCalamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'5
Care
First weeks
Check the original rootball and nearby soil several centimetres below the surface, especially in warm or windy weather; rain or a wet surface can hide a dry rootball. Water slowly at soil level when it is drying, soaking the roots and surrounding soil, then allow drainage. Adjust to actual moisture and local watering rules; never leave roots standing in water. Check the crown area of new 'Karl Foerster' while roots establish; mature drought tolerance should not be used to withhold early watering.
Ongoing
Grow in sun or light shade with reasonably moist, draining soil. Once established it tolerates some dryness, but prolonged drought may reduce vigour. Avoid heavy nitrogen and deep shade, which encourage leaning. Keep mulch and soil from covering the growing crown.
Seasons
Leave tan stems for winter structure if they remain upright. In late winter or early spring before new blades lengthen, remove old dead stems and foliage carefully above the living crown; do not cut through emerging green shoots. Divide a congested clump in spring when needed.
What's normal
Green foliage and upright early-summer plumes turn straw-coloured with the season. Winter-brown stems are normal dormancy. This cultivar is sterile and clump-forming, so a scattering of seedlings is not expected from it.
When to call
Call for a soft crown, no spring regrowth, extensive rust or plants consistently flopping despite good light. Check wetness and airflow before more irrigation; rust or a few old brown blades does not justify routine spraying.
Confirm
Confirm the installed variety, local winter suitability, soil drainage, irrigation settings and the installer's establishment plan at handover. Confirm the cultivar and intended winter cutback timing, particularly because it starts growth early. Leave access for maintenance between the clumps.
Purple coneflower 'Magnus', #1 potEchinacea purpurea 'Magnus'8
Care
First weeks
Check the original rootball and nearby soil several centimetres down, especially during warm or windy weather. Rain or damp mulch can conceal dry roots. Water slowly at soil level when it is drying, soaking the roots and surrounding soil, then allow drainage. Adjust to weather, drainage and current local watering rules; do not leave roots standing in water. New 'Magnus' coneflower needs moisture until rooted into the bed; drought tolerance belongs to an established plant, not a dry nursery rootball.
Ongoing
Provide sun and freely draining soil. Water during prolonged dry spells when soil checks show need, particularly while flowering. Avoid continually wet crowns, heavy feeding and deep shade, which encourage rot or floppy stems. Leave space for air around the clump.
Seasons
Deadhead early flowers for tidiness or a longer display, but leave selected late seed heads for birds and winter structure. Remove old dead stems in late winter/early spring before fresh growth gets tall. Divide crowded older clumps in spring only when needed. In wet-winter climates keep runoff away from the crown.
What's normal
Pink-purple petals eventually fade and central cones remain. Winter dieback is normal and spring shoots may emerge relatively late. Some seedlings can appear where seed heads were retained.
When to call
Ask for diagnosis of stunted distorted flower heads, green abnormal flowers, spreading yellowing or a soft rotten crown. Distorted plants may need removal after a disease diagnosis; do not compost or treat them automatically. Check slugs around emerging shoots.
Confirm
Confirm the installed variety, local winter suitability, drainage, irrigation settings and the installer's establishment plan at handover. Confirm the 'Magnus' selection, full-sun exposure and drainage. Agree whether seed heads will remain and whether self-seeding is acceptable; a first-year plant may flower less than an established clump.
Catmint 'Walker's Low', #2 potNepeta × faassenii 'Walker's Low'4
Care
First weeks
Check the original rootball and nearby soil several centimetres below the surface, especially in warm or windy weather; rain or a wet surface can hide a dry rootball. Water slowly at soil level when it is drying, soaking the roots and surrounding soil, then allow drainage. Adjust to actual moisture and local watering rules; never leave roots standing in water. Water at soil level while 'Walker's Low' roots establish, without leaving the crown buried in wet mulch.
Ongoing
Give full sun and drainage. Mature catmint tolerates dry spells, but a new plant still needs establishment water. Avoid rich feeding, which encourages floppy growth, and leave room for the mound to spread rather than cutting it into a narrow edging.
Seasons
After the first large flush fades, shorten spent flower stems and some leafy growth to encourage another flush; leave healthy basal foliage. In late winter or early spring clear last year's dead stems before new shoots extend. Divide crowded clumps in spring if flowering declines.
What's normal
It is a broad clump, despite 'Low' in the name. Flower stems can lean outward and pollinators visit heavily. Winter top growth may die away; this perennial is not expected to look like an evergreen shrub.
When to call
Call for a black or soft crown, whole-plant collapse or poor regrowth despite suitable moisture and sun. Leaves with a few insect marks rarely need treatment; check that neighbouring irrigation is not keeping roots too wet.
Confirm
Confirm the installed variety, local winter suitability, soil drainage, irrigation settings and the installer's establishment plan at handover. Confirm mature spread, the desired post-flowering trim and whether stems can overhang the path. Keep the base accessible for soil checks and route sprinklers away from the crown.
Hidcote English lavender, 1 gallonLavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'5
Care
First weeks
Check the original rootball and nearby soil several centimetres below the surface, especially in warm or windy weather; rain or a wet surface can hide a dry rootball. Water slowly at soil level when it is drying, soaking the roots and surrounding soil, then allow drainage. Adjust to actual moisture and local watering rules; never leave roots standing in water. New lavender needs watering while it roots into the bed. Let the soil begin to dry before watering again and avoid soaking the woody crown.
Ongoing
Give 'Hidcote' full sun, airflow and sharply drained soil. Once established, it needs little supplemental water except during prolonged dryness; avoid wet organic mulch against stems, heavy compost and high-nitrogen feeding. Good winter drainage is especially important in wet-winter climates.
Seasons
After the main flower flush, trim spent stems and a little green leafy growth to retain a compact mound. In spring remove winter damage only after live shoots are clear. Always leave green leaves below each cut; old bare wood may not reshoot. Avoid late hard cuts before frost.
What's normal
The interior naturally becomes woody as plants age. Some lower leaf browning and winter silver-grey tones are normal; flowers attract bees. An old leggy plant may eventually be better replaced than drastically cut back.
When to call
Ask for help with sudden branch collapse, a soft black base or extensive loss after wet cold. Check drainage before adding water. Do not assume flowers or leaves are suitable for food or remedies without confirming plant identity and treatment history.
Confirm
Confirm the installed variety, local winter suitability, soil drainage, irrigation settings and the installer's establishment plan at handover. Confirm true English lavender 'Hidcote'/Hidcote Group, soil drainage and a green-growth-only trimming plan. Other lavender types have different hardiness and pruning needs.
Oregon sunshine, #1 potEriophyllum lanatum2
Care
First weeks
Check the original rootball and nearby soil several centimetres down, especially during warm or windy weather. Rain or damp mulch can conceal dry roots. Water slowly at soil level when it is drying, soaking the roots and surrounding soil, then allow drainage. Adjust to weather, drainage and current local watering rules; do not leave roots standing in water. Keep newly planted Oregon sunshine from drying completely while the roots extend; avoid wetting the crown every day.
Ongoing
Provide an open sunny position with lean, sharply drained soil. Once established, it is suited to summer-dry conditions and needs less water than moisture-loving perennials. Avoid rich compost, high nitrogen and damp mulch packed around the base, which encourage weak growth or rot.
Seasons
Lightly trim faded flower stems after the main display if tidying is wanted, retaining healthy foliage. Remove dead or weathered growth in spring once new growth can be seen. Do not repeatedly scalp into an old woody base. In wet-winter climates prioritize drainage and reduce irrigation when rain keeps the bed moist.
What's normal
Silver-grey foliage, yellow daisies and a low spreading form are characteristic. Growth may slow and foliage look less lush in dry weather. Plants can be shorter-lived in a wet, rich border than in a suitable dryland bed.
When to call
Call for a soft black base, complete sudden collapse or widespread winter loss. Do not respond to poor performance by routinely feeding or watering more without checking drainage and sun exposure.
Confirm
Confirm the installed variety, local winter suitability, drainage, irrigation settings and the installer's establishment plan at handover. Confirm Eriophyllum lanatum, supplied form/provenance, local winter drainage and the watering zone. It should not share an unadjustable lush-border irrigation schedule merely because both are perennials.
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