STUDY OF GARDEN FEATURES
It is essential to know the various features of a garden. This helps to include as many features in laying out of a garden, This also helps to decide to delete unnecessary crowding or repetition.
OBJECTIVES :
1. To know the different features of garden,
2. To know the importance of garden features and plant suitable for it,
GARDEN FEATURES
Any garden is not a single piece of land or space just occupied by plants. The garden is composed of many features in a desirable fashion. Each feature has its own characteristics. Besides, the different features have got some relation with each other and all features together give a form to the garden. The planner should know these features so that he can select suitable features in designing of the garden. Following are the garden features.
Garden wall :
No body will like to block the view of a garden by putting wall around the garden. However, some time it is necessary to have a provision against nuisance or theft from outside and for this purpose walls can be provided. While providing wall, one has to think not to build a wall just like fort or prison. Walls can be built up in pieces, keeping low height with more windows, using colourful combinations and also such walls can bebeautified by putting creepers in different colours, covering the wall in a fashionable way.
Fencing :
Fencing may not be included in the list of garden features but it affects the total garden view. Fencing is necessary to have fixed area for a garden. Fencing can be provided by using wire stretches or putting some live plants. Fencing with plants is not only economical but also it adds beauty to the garden. A very careful selection of plant is essential. Trees, climbers and shrubs can be used for this purpose. Bamb0o, casurina, thuja, duranta, lantana, bougainvillea, clerodendron and many others can be used for making a fence. The plants should be rather hardy, quick growing, having attractive foliage or flowers and not easily damaged by tree passers or stray cattle.
In some situations, where the path goes from one level to other or one has to climb or get down from the terrace garden, steps are necessary. Steps should be of the same material which is used for making the pathways. Grass should not be used in the steps The steps should be broad and the risers low. It should be kept in mind that, visitors come for leisure, pleasure and comfort and should feel comfortable while using the steps.
a drive in a garden refers to a road which leads to the house, office or garage. Normally, a drive is made of gravel, but in places where there is considerable vehicular traffic, it is advisable to have concrete drives. The main purpose of a drive or path is to provide a flat and pleasant passage for persons or vehicles and it should be little higher that surroundings. The width of drives should be between 3-5 m, depending on the situation. A drive in a bungalow or a small office need not be too wide but, in commercial complexes and big factories, the width should be sufficient to allow the vehicles to cross each other. The main purpose of paths in the garden is for trolling in the garden and to facilitate the carriage of tools, manures and other garden material. The paths may be made by using any of the following material. 1) Gravel 2) Bricks 3) Stones 4) Grass paths 5) Crazy paving Edging: Lining af borders of flower beds, paths, lawns with brick or concrete low (10-15 cm) wall or living plants is called edging.
Materials used for edging
Bricks -
Well shaped, sound and uniform can be used in different fashions
Tiles - Various shapes, sizes and colours are used with cement mortar
Stones - Different colours and sizes are available. Surface should be
smooth Concretes - Various blocks can be mounded and then fixed for making edges.
Plant material suitable for edging Grasses, Alternanthera, Cineraria, Coleus, Eupatorium, Pilea, Gerbera, Pansy, Miniature rose, Perennial verbena,
Hedge :
The hedge can be defined as planting of shrubs at regular intervals to form a continuous screen.
The main objects of hedges are:
a) To serve as a compound wall
b) To provide shelter from wind
c) Provide privacy
d) Help in separating one component of garden (vegetable garden, flower garden)
e) Help in screening odd spots like manure pits, lavatory, servant quarters, etc,
Criteria for selecting hedge plant
a) It should be self protective
b) It should be quick growing
c) Hardy
d) Easy te propagate
e) Dense
f) Should respond to frequent pruning
g) Long living
h) Attractive Hedge plants are planted closely (either by cuttings or seeds) in a trench. These need to be manured regularly. Before the commencement of rainy season, 4 kg FYM per running meter should be applied. Fertilizers should be applied at 30 g each of SSP, bone meal and ammonium sulphate per meter length twice early.
Some of trees and shrubs recommended for hedges are :
Acacia, Eythrina. Thevetia nerifolia, Casurina equistifolia, Acalypha. Clerodendron inerme, Golden duranta, Hibiscus, Thuja, Tecoma stans. Bougainvillia, etc.
Arches :
Arches are used for training climbers. These are generally erected near the gates and over garden paths. The height of the arches should be 2 to 2.5 m high so as to keep the branches of the creepers from interfering with access. The breadth should be 0.75 to 1.0 m. Arches of different shapes and sizes are constructed with stout and durable wooden or iron pole supporters.
Pergola:
a pergola may be defined as a seres of arches joined together. Pergolas are suitably constructed over pathway in the garden for growing and training creepers. Pergola roof may be made of iron angle with longitudinal and chess rails. Over this base strong galvanized wire mesh or welded mesh should be placed and screwed to the rails. The paths well covered with thick creepers can be used as resting place during summers. Plants used for pergolas are Clerodendron (Red flowers and dark green leaves), Allemmanda (Bold yellow flowers) Passion flowers (Bluish flowers), Climbing rose (white flowers), Bougainvillea (diff, color) Morning glory (Blue flower), Lonicera (Faint yellow flower), Ipomea (Red flower),
Carpet bedding:
Carpet bedding means covering an area, preferably a bed or series of beds, with low growing herbaceous plants acording to a set design. It looks attractive when arranged on a slopes or slightly slanting ground. Different designs of geometrical figures or letter are cut out. This can be designed in innumerable ways depending upon the choice and planting material available. Suitable plants for carpet bedding are Alternanthera (various colours of foliage), Cineraria (Lower side of leaf is silvery). Coleus (Attactive colour of leaves), Pilea (tiny attractive leaves), Portulaca (delicate flowers).
Flower beds:
It is one of the attractive feature in any garden. The essential criteria of flower bed are to display the flowers in the best way possible. The most commonly used designs are square, rectangular, circles, elliptical, kidney shaped. The designed first marked on the ground and then the soil is dug and prepared for planting of flowering annuals. Flower beds are made according to season. The planting should be done in such a way that, when in flower, looks attractive. The bed requires full sun for flowering. Suitable flowering plants for flower beds are cosmos, Marigold (dwarf), Chrysanthemum, Zinnia, Gaillardia, Petunia, Larkspur, Snapdragon, Sunfiower, Hollyhock.
Shrubbery:
This is also an essential feature of any garden. This consists of shrubs planted in a group. Shrubs are of permanent nature and easy to maintain. These are mainly planted in big gardens and public parks. These can be used for separating one portion of the garden from other. Shrubs can aiso provide flowers besides beauty of foliage. Shrubbery can be made in pots or on ground. Shrubbery requires regular watering, manuring and pruning. Shrubbery looks attractive when arranged in a design. Some suitable plants for shrubbery are Acacia, Acalypha, Bahunia, Caesalpinia, Cassia, Crossandra, Lantana, etc.
Borders :
Borders are continuous beds of having more length than width. There are different kinds of borders and these are known as per the plants grown. For example Herbaceous borders, mixed border. Some borders are effective on the lawn, by the side of walls and paths and drives. Borders should be sheltered from heavy winds and should be well exposed to sunlight. In a single border, tallest plants are put at the back and dwarf plants in the front, so as to give a sloping effect from back to front If the border has two aspects, then taller plants should be planted in the middle in a row, medium size plants next to them on either side and small growing ones near to these.
For Herbaceous Border :
Dianthus, statice, canna, verbena, vinca, daisy, viola,
For Annual Mixed Border :
Phlox, chrysanthemum, marigold, vinca, salvia, zinnia, petunia, portuiaca, asters, candytufts
For Mixed Border :
Acalypha, African marigold, Crossandra, lantana, ageratum, lagestromia, nerium, poinsettia.
Rock garden or Rockery :
Generally, a rockery is created around the trunk of a big tree. Such rockeries look artificial and do not to have enough beauty. The rockery should be created in an open space. The rocks selected should be of local origin, should be porous. The plants would require soil for their growth, to achieve this pockets may be created by arranging the stones in a proper manner. These pockets should be filled with a mixture of soil, sand and FYM. Plants should be planted in these pockets. Plants suitable for rockery are cacti, ferns, Crossandra, lantana, irish, verbena, pilea, aloe, senseveria,
Lawn :
A lawn is an essential feature of garden, In fact there cannot be a garden without lawn. A lawn can be defined as the green carpet for a landscape. Site, size and shape of a lawn depends upon the area of garden. Other features in the garden and also the ability to maintain it.
Water ponds:
This is also called water garden. Water ponds are prepared where abundant fresh water is available, Suitable plants for water gardening are lotus, water lilies, water snow flake, hawthorn, etc.
Topiary:
Plants trained to different shape i.e. birds, animals, domes, etc. is called topiary. Topiary is becoming popular in city parks. The plant material used should be quick growing with small foliage and should be withstand frequent trimming. Clerodendron inermi, duranta piumeri, sesbania plants are most suited for topiary Training frames are employed for topiary.
Sunken garden :
This is formed by taking advantage of a natural depression. The garden goes down through a series of terraces to a small pool or a fountain at the bottom. In the terraces flowers and strips of lawn are laid out.
Conservatory or green house :
Certain plants with beautiful foliage or flowers or both which cannot thrive in open, exposed sun or wind. Such plants can be grown in conservatory or a green house where shade, humidity, coolness are provided. Ferns, orchids, anthurium, succulents are commonly grown in side of green house.
By :- Vijay Thorat
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