Plants
There are two attitudes to plants in gardens. One is that the
purpose of a garden is to grow plants; the other is that the plants
ate one of materials to be used in the creation of a garden. The
qualities of plants are so complex and their cultural requirements
so diverse, that even with our present vast choice it is not always
easy to find the exact plant for each position. To choose rightly
you must be quiet sure what qualities the plants pose and what
role you want them to fill. The first selective process is to
choose plants suitable to the climate; tolerant of the wind exposure
the amount of sun. Dryness or moisture which they encounter and
suited to the soil. Before evolving the design, you must know
what these conditions exactly are and select the plant to suit
them. Unless otherwise, your dream garden may not become a reality.
There are physical functions of plants. They are
i. Giving shelter, shade & protection.
ii. It determines the proportion & the form of the garden visually.
The contrast between closed & open space and it's division.
iii. It provides - texture - Framing - Background, tone & sculptural
form.
(1) Wind Shelter
In extremely windy areas tree belts could be used to shelter.
To obtain adequate protection the minimum width of the shelter
belt should be properly determined. In a garden shelter belts
may express a definite character rather than appear as indeterminate
borers.
(ii) Seclusion
The predominance of urban living makes seclusion one of the most
important structural uses of planting. It should always be a part
of the garden design and could be combined with wind shelter.
(iii) Shade
Providing shade is a very important use of planting in garden
design. With the shade; it also provides nice patterns on the
ground; by shadows. Those shadows will be doing in the wind, and
it will be pleasing to sit in a planter's chair in such shaded
and shadowy area.
IV) SPACE DIVISION
Plants could be used to divide and define spaces of a landscape.
The trees will give perspective, balance, height and background.
In every case primary needs of the design should be kept in mind.
You have to decide what shape, colour, and texture is needed,
what size is the plant is grow, etc. you must also know how long
will it take to flower etc. In many gardens trees are used as
sculptures.
Hedgers There is a structural component of the garden. A wall
like hedge may require height, solidity depth of colour and evenness
etc. While a background plus planting composition - contributing
may require the mottled texture of the hidcote hedgers or the
swelling buttresses.
