by Sally Gregson.

Fifty years ago every garden boasted a fashionable heather and conifer bed. We gardeners were sold ‘dwarf’ conifers to interplant with winter-flowering heathers (Erica) for a sunny spot. We planted them out and turned our backs. Just for a minute. And they grew, and grew.
The ‘dwarf’ conifers turned out to be just immature plants of full-sized forest trees – and the heathers grew woody and gangly. By year three the whole border was just a mess. It put many gardeners off growing both conifers and heathers for decades.
But, as with all plants, a little knowledge can save the day. Growers of conifers are a little more accurate with essential information these days. And the heathers are neatly split into two different types according to soil types – there are the summer-flowering Callunas, the Heaths, that require acid, draining soil, and the winter-flowering Ericas that tolerate alkaline soil.
And there are some gloriously coloured forms to compare and contrast in a border. Many, such as E. carnea ‘Foxhollow’ have bronze-coloured foliage throughout the summer months, and E. carnea ‘Vivellii’ has dark foliage that deepens by the winter. Contrast these with E. carnea ‘White Perfection’ or golden-leaved E. cinerea and the bed sparkles all year round.

Maintenance is key to a successful display. In the late spring, once the flowers have faded, take a pair of shears to the plants. Cut back the stems that have flowered without cutting into the wood, and give them all a close haircut, leaving little mounds. Spread a top dressing of well-composted bark mixed with a little organic granular feed into the crowns to feed the plants. It’s better not to use your own garden compost for this job – it can be full of weed seeds however carefully you exclude them from the heap.

In this way the plants will make flowering growth for next winter, ready to grace the borders with their pink, purple and white flowers, and colourful foliage throughout the season.