Garden Design – Page 14 – Gardeners Tips

Creative Mulching

January 12, 2013 hortoris

Mulch can be organic or inorganic and its purpose is to conserve moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, prevent seed germoination and protect the roots of new plants. The right material will look good and cut down on maintenance with less weeding and watering.

Mulching is the covering of bare soil with a mulch. Choose a mulch that appeals to you and don’t be worried about experimenting.

Organic Mulch

The good old stand by garden compost is one of my favourites that also adds some nutrition
Grass clipings. You can use grass clippings straight from lawn mower, as long as they donâ€™t continue weed seeds or weedkiller.

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Perennial Garden York Gate Adel

January 6, 2013 hortoris

Perennial is the name of the Gardeners Royal Benevolent Society the charity for ‘Helping Horticulturists in Need Since 1839’. They have an interesting programme of events for 2009 and a selection of garden related gifts to support the charity. Last summer I visited Perennial’s own garden near Leeds called York Gate and found the volunteers very attentive and helpful. Best of all was the plants propagated from within the garden that were available for sale at economic prices.

York Gate

Approaching the garden through an old church yard in Adel and straight down a short lane you cross the narrow road into the one acre garden. …

Alpine House at Harlow Carr

November 22, 2012 hortoris

Outside the 2009 Alpine House at the RHS garden in Harrogate are these new ‘Standing Stones’. I am interested to see if the planting links the new building to the sculptures but some how I doubt it. Possibly they are meant to represent the Alps or just be the start of a new part of the garden.

2012 update shows the stones front the much improved vegetable plots.

The new building, opened in May 2009 for the first time.Â Is a tour de force and shows what finance and labour has been put in by the RHS and particularly the local Alpine and Rock Garden Group.

A mixed selection in a 2 meter square raised frame-bed. The sort of thing I want to try in my own garden as it is raised to working height and helps the inspection of small plants.

Sternbergia lutea

2012 updates

Tufa walls and more mature sink planters are now paying dividends.
The plant displays always include a good selection of alpines in flower.Â Crocus and cyclamen were in profusion during November but below are some that took my fancy.

Ranunculus calandrinioides

Scented Massonia pygmaea

Top Ten Styles of Garden

October 26, 2012 hortoris

Garden design and style is influenced by Gardeners, Location, Objectives and Resources. No two people would design the same garden for the same space nor would that garden grow and develop in the same manner.
Style is a personal choice made by the gardener but influenced by nature.

Top Ten Garden Styles

Alpine or Rock garden
Cottage garden
Wild or Environmentally friendly garden
Walled or Victorian garden
Family and traditional garden
Fruit and Vegetable plot
National garden, Italian, Japanese, English, Swiss, Spanish, New Zealand or Mediterranean
Sculpture garden
The Peace garden
Water garden

There are so many gardens that could be designed that a top 10 list is subjective in the extreme. The content of the garden then goes to the heart of the gardens style.
A woodland garden came very close to inclusion in out top ten and is a natural feature that many want to cultivate.
We could have selected a ‘garden of rooms’ but that is often a ‘technique’ used in many of the above types of garden.
Specialist plantings like Rose gardens or Herbaceous gardens could have had there own spot but I had to finish somewhere.
Top of the shop should have been my garden (or my wife’s and our garden).

Colour Can Con Gardeners

October 7, 2012 hortoris

Colour is a complex science and not a subject for the colourblind to take lightly.

Both of these images were taken virtually at the same time and of the same plant. Is it red or orange seed capsules that are right. If the plant is Arum maculatum a Lords and Ladies plant then orange would be the favoured colour.

Light has a temperature and like a ‘white hot’ metal it can look dark red through orange to a burnt out white.
See the ‘Fearless Colour Gardens: The Creative Gardenerâ€™s Guide to Jumping Off the Colour Wheel ‘

It comes as less of a surprise when sun and shade affect colour perception as in this pairing.

Colour saturation can vary with the tone of pigment but is more likely to be a function of the camera and photographic settings.

Reproduction is the last variable we are considering in this set. Electronic screens ipads, phones, Tv’s etc vary more than printed matter. Even print can often look quite different as plates and blankets wear.

For more on colour visit the The Society of Dyers and Colourists Colour Museum in Bradford

Learn From Visiting Japanese Gardens

August 14, 2012 hortoris

There is always something new to learn from observing others garden and it is mental work not physical labour.
Some of my favourite Japanese gardens are featured below or on other pages.
An alternative or added opportunity to learn can come from one of any number of Amazons specialist books.

Learn From Visiting These Top Japanese Gardens

Compton Acres The Japanese Garden at Compton Acres Dorset is one of a collection of “gardens of the world”. It was originally designed and built in 1920 by Japanese architects and workmen. Such was the original owner’s passion for authenticity, every last stone and ornament was brought from Japan. They include stone lanterns, a pagoda, and various carvings.
There are four Japanese-style buildings within the garden – a thatched temple, summer house, sewing bower and imperial tea house. Visitors can follow either of two routes – stepping stones across the water features, or the normal path. The stepping stones lead through a red Torii (shrine gate) with a giant serpent coiled around one of its columns.

The Japanese Garden at Giggle Alley Eskdale looks tremendoud in the sunshine, a rare event in the Lake district.

Newstead Abbey is best known as Lord Byron’s ancestral home. The Japanese garden was laid out in 1907 with many of the original plants, trees and ornamental stonework imported from Japan. It is one of many themed gardens in the grounds of the Abbey, which are Grade 1 Listed in the English Heritage Register of Historical Parks and Gardens.

Rivington Country Park Bolton, Lancashire
Japanese water gardens were laid out by the industrialist Lord Leverhulme at the beginning of the 20th century.

Holland Park London has some interesting features and tips on Japanese gardens

Tatton Park, Cheshire The Japanese garden at Tatton Park is said to be one of the finest examples in Europe. Originally laid out in 1910-13, it was fully restored for Japan 2001, the year-long celebration of Japan-UK relations. It is in the style of a tea garden connected to an island upon which rests a shinto shrine. Every season brings it own beauty, although the spring and autumn are renowned for their colour.

The London School of Oriental and African Studies has an award winning Japanese-style roof garden and a bookshop specialising in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The garden is dedicated to Forgiveness, which is the meaning of the Kanji character engraved on the gardenâ€™s granite water basin. The garden can be accessed from the first floor of the Gallery.

Scarborough in Peasholm Park on the North Bay has a lake and an ornamental Japanese garden.
Heale Garden Wiltshire has eight acres of gardens, including a water garden planted with magnolias and maples surrounding a Japanese tea house. This straddles a fast flowing stream and also includes the terraces and stone lily ponds.

Japanese Garden Elements

1 Water
2 Rocks and sand
3 Garden architecture
4 Garden bridges
5 Stone lanterns and water basins
6 Garden fences, gates, and devices
7 Trees and flowers
8 Fish

Other Things I Have Lernt About Japanese Gardens

Shakkei or borrowed views takes its name from using nature as a natural backdrop.
A tea garden is called a roji niwa.
Izumi ishi-gumi is a stone arrangement to represent a mountain spring.
A Kaiyushiki teien is a garden designed to walk around as opposed to a Kanshoniwa garden which is intended only for contemplation.
Ikebana is a form of Japanese flower arranging

Special and Extraordinary Leaves

August 6, 2012 hortoris

Some plants are worth growing just for their special and extraordinary leaves. This is particularly true of houseplants and tropical species which we are less accustomed to seeing in our gardens.
Leaves can create a shock and awe feature in the garden or contribute to the overall peace and tranquility in a lush setting.

‘Leaves are everywhere, appearing in an astonishing variety of shapes, colors and textures. They are the unappreciated gifts of nature, worthy of far more extensive study by all’ according to Dennis Sharader author of Extraordinary Leaves.

Special and Extraordinary Edible Leaves

Aromatic herbs and salad leaves vary from the small Thyme & Rosemary to the giant Banana leaves used to wrap food
Salad crops provide essential vitamins and tasty leaves.
Vine leaves are used in some Mediterranean cooking to wrap food and the Chinese send their leaves off to the wok

Special and Extraordinary Seasonal Leaves

Some leaves can tell the time. Calathea open in the morning and close as it gets dark
Most leaves can tell the season and the colour produced in autumn by the Maple family can bring out the crowds in arboretum around the globe.
The first leaves of spring are often lime green and fresh but you also get the Pieris with red leaves that gradually turn green

Special and Extraordinary Shaped Leaves

Spiked and spiny leaves even bamboo leaves can deter invaders in your garden
Dissected and crinkle cut leaves can provide architectural features in your garden
Tree Leaf Design, Shape and Function is discussed in more detail here

Special and Extraordinary Coloured Leaves

We have mentioned autumn colour but grey leaves combined with purple leaved plants can look spectacular.
Colueus and Begonia can produce Fancy Leaves for Colour, Shape and Texture in one plant. See pictures
Four leaved clover is said to be lucky but do not rely on the two tone Oxalis leaves below

Alan J. Coombes is a Coordinator of Scientific Collections at the Herbarium and Botanic Garden of the University of Puebla, Mexico, and the author of many books about plants and trees. Zsolt Debreczy is Research Director of the International Dendrological Research Institute in Boston. They have combined to produce The Book of Leaves available now from Amazon. It is very strong on tree leaves.

Soil Management for Drought Conditions

April 18, 2012 hortoris

Much is said about collecting and conserving water during drought conditions. Careful management of your soil and garden structure can achieve many aims without recourse to extra water.
Increasing your soil’s water holding capacity and reducing the evaporation and consumption of water will make significant management improvements during drought conditions.

Soil Conditioning

Dig in organic matter which can dramatically increase the soils water holding capacity.
Mulch heavily – 3-4″ of composted bark or garden compost reduces evaporation and discourages weeds.
Do not walk on heavy wet soil in winter. This causes compaction damaging the structure and reducing the capacity of the soil to hold water.
Stop digging or cultivating soil by the end of March. Hoe only the weeds to reduce evaporation.
Erect barriers to stop valuable dry soil from blowing away

Management of Growing Conditions

Catch ‘run off’ on slopes by building up a soil damn to keep the water we do get.
Build a water retaining depression around plants to form a ‘water saucer.’
Remove weeds promptly as they suck water out of the soil.
Use fine compost in large pots and baskets with water storage granules

Soil & Crop Selection for Drought Conditions

Delay new tree and shrub planting until Autumn when more natural water should be available. If watering water at the base of the plant at cool times.
Choose drought tolerant plants like Mediterranean or arid region varieties.
Reduce ‘water greedy’ crops & bedding plants like begonia, fuchsia and lobelia to a minimum. Pelargoniums and Livingstone daisies need less water.
Lawns can be thirsty, keep the grass long to reduce evaporation and do not worry about brown patches.

Credits
Dry garden with arbor by ~My aim is true~ CC BY 2.0

How to Concrete in Your Fence Posts

March 27, 2012 hortoris

These basic tips for setting your wooden fence posts into concrete are simple, quick and easy to follow.

Making the Post Firm
That is why you are using concrete.
The hole should be 2 feet deep and at least three times as deep as the post is wide.
Use a post with straight sides and a flat bottom to add strength.

Avoiding Early Rotting
Use pressure treated or tannalised wood.
Do not have the end of the post in a pool of water. Concrete under the post to protect the end grain.
Finish the concrete above ground level and make the top of the concrete convex so water runs away from the post.
Put a cap on the top of the post so the end grain is not open to the elements. It is easier to replace a cap than a whole post.

Keep Posts Firm and in Line
Align the posts with each other using a string or rope line.
Use a spirit level to ensure the posts are upright
Allow the concrete to harden before attaching the rails or panels.
Support the post until the concrete dries with couple of timber props at either side.

Tips for Planting in Groups and Drifts

March 17, 2012 tejvan

There is great power through planting in drifts. Sometimes as gardeners we are a bit tentative and plant in ones and twos and so our garden becomes a bit of a hotch potch. However, if we can be bold and plant in large groups and drifts, the effect can be very impressive.

Tips for Planting in Groups

Even in small gardens don’t be shy to plant in large groups.
The above photo is taken from Oxford Botanic Gardens and shows some purple ornamental onions flowering in May. This is a herbaceous border which focuses on large drifts of plants. At any one time, there may only be 1 or 2 plants in flower; but the theme creates an impressive display.
Use groups of the same plant or of similar structure.
The leaves on the group below show how planting for shape and texture can be just as important as colour.

Tips for Planting in Drifts.

If you buy a large number of plants the average cost will be cheaper, you can benefit from economies of scale.
Don’t just plant in regimented blocks and straight lines, allow the groups to merge into each other and plant in S shapes. This helps create a more natural look.
Don’t just focus on the flowers but think of plants that provide all year round architectural interest.
The top photo shows a planting scheme carefully chosen to concentrate on a particular colour theme. This creates a calming effect. It is good to have some aspect of the garden with these conservative planting rather than always focusing on bright colour.
The photo below shows the use on one species, Primula candelabra, to provide the drifts unity and colour themes.

Gardeners Tips

Tips and advice for gardeners about gardening

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Category: Garden Design