Style: May 06, 2016

34 Style | landscaping
AuTuMn GArden
MAInTenAnCe
Landscape architect Craig Wilson shares his expertise on how
to keep on top of your garden tasks.
As the season moves into autumn our
gardens take on a distinctive charm that
reflects the cooling of the days and the
gentle slide into winter. Yellow, orange
and red hues from deciduous plants take
centre stage and provide what can be
the annual highlight in the garden. The
resulting leaf drop can also be the start
of a pre-winter tidy up with leaf piles to
compost, pruning to be done and – if
you’re really into gardening – the odd
cutting to be taken. The layout of your
landscape and the planting selection
will determine the amount of work
that’s required.
Most people are looking these days
to reduce their garden maintenance,
and a couple of tips may help you do
this if you’re looking to cut back on the
workload.
Firstly, reducing the area and depth
of your garden beds and increasing
your lawn area could be the right place
to start. This may also increase the
perceived size of your outdoor space as
a bonus effect. Quite simply, the less area
of garden you have the less time you’ll
require to tend to it.
If you don’t want to reduce area, try
the application of a quality mulch to
your beds. A good layer – 75-100mm
thick – of a composted mulch will
supress weed growth, retain moisture
and add organic content to your soil as
it slowly breaks down. If you have deep
borders, pea straw will do the same job
more cost-effectively.
One of the most effective tools used by
garden designers to reduce maintenance
is the well-selected evergreen hedge.
Once established it will cover right down
to the ground, and should only need
two the three trims a year to maintain a
well-defined form. Try buxus to hedge a
deep garden border. It’s been done for
centuries for good reason – the defined
edge draws your eye away from the work
required behind it.
The key to hedge success is selection
of the right hedging species. If you’re
after low maintenance watch out for the
trap of Teucrium and Lonicera. These are
both vigorous growers that will establish
quickly, but then need regular and
numerous trimming throughout summer
to keep a crisp look. Corokia and laurel
may be better options with far less
trimming required.
One of the most effective tools used by
garden designers to reduce maintenance
is the well-selected evergreen hedge.
– Craig Wilson
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