Once we read some of the concepts of naturalistic purpose , questions of a more practical nature be given to pop up . We get to out to landscape architect Thomas Rainer and garden graphic designer Piet Oudolf to get some answers .
Q:Can a naturalistic garden be done on a smaller scale?
Thomas Rainer : The tools for making a realistic garden — layer compatible species one on top of another — are ideal for little - blank space gardens . When you have circumscribed room , there ’s so much atmospheric pressure for each plant life to face dependable for as long as possible . This is often why so many suburban gardens swear on gaudy meatballs that never convert . With naturalistic layering , you could literally get more flowers out of a small space by layer dynamic plants on top of each other ( see below ) .
Imagine this seasonal planting with wave after wave of color
March
April
May
June
July
August
descend
Q:Much of the matrix seems to be made up of grasses. Does this leave a gap in interest while they bulk up?
Piet Oudolf : Grasses that are used as a matrix are not belated build up . Use plant like sedges and moor grass and other pasture species that are already present in former spring . replete up irregular gaps leave by late - develop grasses can be done , but the plants will probably die when they are cover afterward in the class . A dependable ground substance is closed like a rug . Spring ephemeral , however , will pull round because they go dormant in summer .
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Q:During the planting phase, which should we put in first—the matrix plants or the primary and scatter plants?
PO : Planting order is important . If you set out the primary plants and strewing plants first , it realize it easier . you’re able to then fill in the open space with the intercellular substance . When you first prepare out the intercellular substance , it is more complicated to fill in with the soul if you want to make change .
Q:What advice do you have for someone who would like to adapt an existing bed to a designed plant community?
TR : It ’s promiscuous to convert existing beds as long as you match plants to the site stipulation . Is it a hot , ironic , and stressful sphere ? Stick with stress - broad plants such as muhly grass ( Muhlenbergiaspp . , Zones 5–9 ) or ‘ Little Rascal ’ sulphur buckwheat ( Eriogonum allenii‘Little Rascal ’ , Zones 5–9 ) . Is your layer full of moist , productive grime ? That is ideal for competitive plant life such as switchgrass ( Panicum virgatumand cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) or giant coneflower ( Rudbeckia maxima , Zones 4–9 ) . Is your bed frequently disturbed , like a hell strip along a pavement ? Try ruderal self - sowing species that will be activate by the disturbance , such as angry petunia ( Ruellia humilis , Zones 4–8 ) or columbine ( Aquilegia canadensisand cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) . When you agree the plant residential area to the site condition , it ’s easy to adapt .
Q:Plants in a designed plant community will knit together to keep weeds down. What do you do before they have time to grow together?
TR : We mulch with a tenuous level of quick decomposing mulch : leafage mold in umbrageous situations , compost in average soil , or even all right gravels in live , sunny site prior to planting . Then we plant into that mulch . If you plant at the right time in spring or fall , that density typically shut down within a few months . It ’s a method acting designed to minimize weeding .
Q:Approximately how much of a planting should consist of matrix plants?
polonium : The pct for a intercellular substance range from at least 30 % up to 50 % , depending on the diversity you intend to bring in .
For further reading
There is much more to realistic garden design than will fit in one article . If you would like to scan more about the subject , here are some options .
Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West
Planting: A New Perspective
by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury
The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden
by Roy Diblik
More on naturalistic gardens :
Steve Aitken is editor at large .
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Left:Thomas Rainer,landscape architect based in Virginia, whose work can be seen at the New York Botanical Garden and the U.S. Capitol. Right:Piet Oudolf,renowned garden designer from the Netherlands who has designed gardens all over the world.Photos: (left) Rob Cardillo, courtesy of Thomas Rainier, (center) Adam Woodruff, (right) courtesy of Piet Oudolf
Crocuses(Crocusspp. and cvs., Zones 3–8).Photo: Stephanie Fagan
Triandrus daffodils(Narcissuscvs., Zones 4–9),species tulips(Tulipaspp., Zones 3–8), andgolden groundsel.Photos: (from left to right) Stephanie Fagan, Steve Aitken, and Bill Johnson
Eastern bee balm(Monarda bradburiana, Zones 5–8) and‘Caradonna’ sage(Salvia nemorosa‘Caradonna’, Zones 4–8).Photos: Steve Aitken and Jennifer Benner
Calamint(Calaminthaspp. and cvs., Zones 5–9) andbutterfly weed(Asclepias tuberosa, Zones 3–9).Photos: FG staff and Jennifer Benner
‘Millenium’ allium(Allium‘Millenium’, Zones 5–8).Photo: Ann E. Stratton
‘Iron Butterfly’ ironweed(Vernonia‘Iron Butterfly’, Zones 4–9).Photo: Michelle Gervais
Showy aster(Aster spectabilis, Zones 4–8) andprairie dropseed.Photos: Adrian Bloom/gapphotos.com and Jennifer Benner
Left:sedge.Right:moor grass.Photos: Michelle Gervais
Leaf mold.Photo: Graham Corney/dreamstime.com
