Architectural Plants. Christine Shaw

Acacia dealbata, Acacia pravissima, Callistemon subulatus and Solanum laciniatum, probably planted densely around a summer house with a corrugated iron roof and a shady verandah.

      New Zealand gardens can easily be created in cooler areas that have a high rainfall. With a mix of Cordyline australis, Dicksonia squarrosa, Phormium, Astelia and the fabulously weird and wonderful Pseudopanax crassifolius, pulling back the curtains every morning and gazing out on plants such as these could make you forget which country you actually live in.

      My favourite group of plants is the spiky and succulent one, and any choice of these can look fab together. To look out of the window and see a scene that could easily be from the Sonoran Desert in Arizona always gives me a real buzz. A mix of Agave, Yucca and Dasylirion can be used to good effect, although postmen, meter readers and visitors to the house don’t seem to share my enthusiasm for these plants – they’ve probably been on the receiving end of the sharp thorns once too often.

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      Leafy tree canopies underplanted with palms give a jungly feel.

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      Loud and vibrant flowers remind us of trips to the Caribbean.

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      Rows of formal Cupressus have an air of the Mediterranean about them.

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      The rich scent of Magnolia grandiflora flowers fills the air in Italianate gardens.

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      Planting schemes like this remind me of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, but they can be created in even the chilliest garden.

      There are enough plants in this book to create gardens with Chilean and South African themes too. Depending on how vivid your imagination is, you could replicate the planting of just about any country in the world. There are also plenty of plants that can be used to make much more traditional gardens, as well as those where the emphasis is on fragrance. Believe it or not, it is possible to create unusual, bright, flowery gardens – there are just about enough exotic blooms among these plants to satisfy the floral needs of gardeners, despite the emphasis being on their foliage. There are also lots of plants here that have excellent salt resistance, which makes them very practical for seaside gardens.

      Last of all, even bog gardens can get a look in with a selection of moisture-loving specimens such as Gunnera manicata, Acorus gramineus variegata, Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Crowborough’ and Arundo donax.

      I can’t think of any garden anywhere that wouldn’t benefit from at least a small selection of architectural plants.

      Garden designers

      If you really can’t bear the thought of choosing your own plants and would prefer someone else to create a beautiful garden for you, then it’s worth considering bringing in a professional.

      There are lots of garden designers out there, and although many of them are talented and dedicated people, some of them are not quite so marvellous. So, how do you choose one?

      There is nothing to beat a verbal recommendation from a chum or neighbour who has recently had their garden revamped. And it’s usually a fairly safe bet to employ someone who’s been in the business for a long time. He or she will have the benefit of years of experience and, hopefully, will still retain a certain amount of enthusiasm for the task.

      Don’t just accept quotes from one designer; it pays to shop around. It is also reasonable to ask to see their portfolio of recent commissions. If their photos are beautifully presented in a well-cared for album, this bodes well. If their portfolio consists of a few faded pictures stuffed into a tatty old envelope, then their attention to detail probably won’t amount to much.

      Within reason, try not to be too influenced by the cost quoted. To dismiss a quote purely because it’s expensive can definitely be the wrong thing to do. You might miss out on the best, tidiest, nicest and most professional teams of chaps or ladies in existence. Sometimes a very cheap quote might not include various hidden extras that will be tacked on at the end of the job. In other words, the gardening world is no different from anything else when it comes to employing someone’s service.

      Finally, just because someone is a designer, don’t assume they are a gardener. Some designers never leave their office desk and will present you with a garden plan only. The planting and hard graft might still have to be done by you.

      New gardens & borders

      Sometimes the opportunity arises to create a completely new section of garden. If a reasonably large area is being considered for this type of planting, its preparation should be given some careful thought. Architectural plants need the same kind of preparation as most other types of plant, but it’s useful to offer a couple of tips on the subject here.

      Fashionable advice is often given about the use of some kind of membrane cover, such as Mypex. This is placed over all of the soil in a large sheet and is used to suppress weeds and slow down water evaporation. Please, please, I beg of you, don’t use this ghastly stuff. It’s truly awful and, although it does keep the weeds from growing, the disadvantages far outweigh any benefits. Although useful for large commercial areas, it has no place in a private garden. Once in situ it becomes impossible to condition the soil in any way. Digging can’t be done – this won’t hurt for a couple of years but, long-term, it isn’t a good thing, as the soil will gradually become more compacted and stagnant. Feeding, except with foliar food, isn’t possible. Worms can’t work the soil, as they cannot pass back and forth through the material. Adding any new plants is a bore because the material has to be uncovered and cut before a planting hole can be dug. And, lastly, it’s hideous to look at. Even when top-dressed with a mulch of pea shingle or bark chippings, the weather and local wildlife will soon shift this around, exposing areas of it to public view. Well, I think I’ve probably made my views on it more than clear, so enough said.

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      A careful balance of shape and colour can be used to create a pleasing mix of architectural plants.

      When a new border has been dug over and levelled, it’s a useful opportunity to be able to feed the whole area in one go prior to any planting. Numerous references throughout the book are made to using copious quantities of well-rottted manure. This is excellent for providing all sorts of nutrients for practically all types of architectural plant. But, make sure it is well rotted and has reached the stage where it is dryish and crumbly. If it is runny and smells bad enough to make your eyes water, then don’t use it. When it is this fresh, it needs nitrogen to help it to rot down further. So, instead of adding much-needed nitrogen to the soil, it is actually taking it away. Also, very fresh manure can scorch delicate foliage and roots. If well-rotted manure is difficult to obtain, buy sacks of 6X from the local garden centre. It works just as well and is easy and pleasant to use. It also stinks out the entire neighbourhood for about a week but, what the hell … Blood, fish and bone also gets talked about a lot in these pages. It is bought as a powdered mix and sprinkled over the surface of the soil. It smells awful, but the horrible pong will soon fade. If you keep a pet dog, this powder will have to be forked in lightly otherwise the greedy mutt will feast on it.

      Before planting, take some time to arrange all of the plants across