Deciding what to leave out

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 20, 13 October 1987, Page 11

Deciding what to leave out

With beds anid borders prepared and the ground well nourished we arrive at the planting stage. With the wide variety of shrubs and plants av ailable the problem becomes not which favourites to include in the small amount of space available but which to leave out. We made a rough diagram of the garden, marking those areas which were heavily shaded for a good part of each day, those which were lightly shaded, and those which received full sun. This proved a great help in choosing plants which would flourish in the different areas. From a selection of suitable plants we chose those which teamed well together in colour and form. It is quite a good idea to look at a few established gardens and to note which type of planting appeals to you and how the plants will look when fully grown. I had such an opportunity last weekend when with a small party of Garden Circle members we visited Gordon Collier's beautiful gardens at Titoki Point. A

good opportunity to see how the experts do it. What a wealth of plant life in those beautifully landscaped gardens, from the tiniest alpines and ground covers to the majestic rhododendrons dripping with huge blossoms, each growing in the environment best suited to its needs. Sun loving plants basking in the warm sunshine and dainty woodland anemones and Fritterlaria growing so profusely in their shady woodland setting. The latter would be unlikely to survive if planted in a sunbaked border of a back garden. Don't be carried away by some exotic looking beauty which takes your fancy, to say nothing of your money, only to find when you bring it home it is quite unsuitable for the area in which it is expected to grow. In the part of our garden shaded by the house from all except very early morning sun we have planted varieties which will grow happily in full shade. Pieris 'Wakehurst', the Lily of the Valley 'bush, the new leaf growth

emerges a bright scarlet turning green as it matures. An evergreen shrub it bears numerous sprays of Lily of the Valley type flowers in early spring. Kalmia Latifolia is a lovely shrub for shaded areas with dark glossy green leaves and pink bell like flowers which in bud form resemble the icing on a cake. For this reason be careful of this shrub with young children as it is poisonous. All Lophomyrtus varieties enjoy shady conditions and a number of them have attractive colour variations in the leaf which will brighten a very shaded area. Aucuba the golden laurel enjoys shade, and will keep its colour better than in full sun. Hebes will be quite happy, different varieties bearing blue, white or pink f lower spikes and some have colour variations in the leaves. The evergreen Azaleas prefer a shaded area. We have underplanted this areas with primroses, primulas, bluebells, scilla and dog tooth varieties. A very shaded area can be as colourful as any part of the Cont'd onp. 12

GARDENING WITH BEA Contdfromp.il

garden. When planting ensure that your plants are given sufficient space between them so that they have room to grow and spread. It is such a pity to have to remove plants later because they were not given sufficient room in the first place. With summer ahead the spaces between the young growth can be filled

with groups of flowering annuals giving a large blaze of colour all summer long. A wide choice of seedling plants are available. Invest in nursery grown seedlings growing in their own medium. These may cost more in the first place but each plant has been nurtured through each stage of growth and when plant-

ed in your garden will quickly grow to full potential. The poor specimens ripped from the soil and bundled up, deprived of food and more important moisture, struggle from the start and those that do survive can never achieve the same rate of growth as their more fortunate contemporaries.