Monday, 31 October 2011
Softscaping; Plant Selection and Layout
Softscaping is a commonly used term in the landscape industry that composes all the living parts of the landscape. There are many things that can be incorporated into a softscape, including annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers. Some of the most important things to take into consideration when planning a softscape are climate, plant selection and plant layout. Using different plant arrangements and materials you can create a softscape that provides a beautiful show year round.
Knowing your sites existing condition is the first step to take when planning a softscape. Plants thrive in different growing conditions and it is extremely important to put the right plant in the right place so they flourish. Find out what kind of soil you have (clay, sand, loam) and the sun/shade conditions of your property. Depending on the plants you choose you may have to add soil amendments to improve existing soil conditions. It is always beneficial to add organic matter to your soil through composting and mulching.
Heres a video talking more about different soil amendmants:
Once you understand your site conditions I recommend going to your local nursery and look at the plant material they have. This will help you see the plant material available to your climate zone. Write down plants that interest you keeping in mind there final size, texture and bloom time.
Plant Selection -
Do not just look at the plants with the prettiest flowers when at the nursery! Some of the most fabulous blooms (rhododendron, magnolia) may only last up to 2 weeks. It is important to look at foliage textures and colors that work well together. You want to create a season long show in your garden so choosing plants that have contrasting bloom colors and different bloom times is important. Living in Canada our growing season is limited for certain plants. A basic rule that should be followed is that 60% of your budget goes towards coniferous shrubs and trees and the remaining 40% be used for perennials, deciduous trees and shrubs. This is so your landscape provides year round interest and doesn’t just go flat once all the perennials die. Using grasses is also a great way of adding winter interest!
The pictures above show the increase in plant size over the course of only three years!
Planting Styles-
There are many great garden styles to choose from that will influence your plant selection. Things that can influence your planting style are the structure of your house, existing or planned landscaping, personal preference and maintiance. With peoples increasingly busy schedules low maintenance gardens are becoming increasingly popular. Choosing the right plants can minimize maintenance; but remember these are low maintenance not no maintenance plants.
Plant Layout -
Always place your plants in the garden bed based on the final size they will reach. When planting a new garden it is important to allow three to five years for perennials to reach maturity. Your garden may look bare at first but be patient and give it time to fill in. This will save you money and time in the future because you won’t have to be removing over crowded plants.
This plant was planted to close to the house.
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2 comments:
Awesome blog Andrew. Lots of very valuable information on softscaping. It gives enough informaton for even someone who doesnt have any knowledge in the horticulture industry, to understand. Informative video and great picture selection! Good job
Great job Andrew. I found this very informative and helpful for making decisions on choosing plant material and understanding my property. I am curious where you got your 60/40 coniferous/deciduous number from. I think you could have added some deciduous plants that have interesting branch colours or shapes, like red twig dogwood, or corkscrew hazel, for winter interest. Overall I found this very informative and helpful. Good job
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