GARDENING BASICS

Garden: is a purposefully designed/planned plot of ground, set for the display & growing/cultivation of plants with natural and manmade materials.

Gardening: can be considered both as “an art, concerned with arranging plants harmoniously in their surroundings,” and as “a science, encompassing the principles and techniques of plant cultivation”. Because plants are often grown in conditions markedly different from those of their natural environment, it is necessary to apply to their cultivation techniques derived from plant physiology, chemistry, and botany, modified by the experience of the planter. The basic principles involved in growing plants are the same in all parts of the world, but the practice naturally needs much adaptation to local conditions.

Styles of garden

Various styles have provided inspiration for the garden design. There are 4 styles of garden:

1.     Informal

2.    Formal

3.    Free

4.    Wild

The style of garden is influenced by many factors such as Topography, Country of Origin, Climate, Vegetation, Material of Construction and The people, their functions and purpose such as pleasure, comfort, magnificence and grandeur or display of social status.

1.   Informal garden

·         Main aim is to capture natural scenery

·         Land is not leveled

·         Asymmetrical design

·         Non-geometrical beds and borders

·         Untrimmed hedges, edges and topiary

·         Individual plants are not selected as feature

·         Example: Japanese, Chinese, English gardens

Japanese garden

Chinese garden

·         Planting is often of a mixed nature and there is a complete absence of set lines.

·         An informal garden should have just as much design as a formal garden, except that balance is secured by an asymmetrical plan instead of a symmetrical one.

·         Smooth, curvaceous outlines are more appropriate in this design rather than rigid lines.

·         Informal gardens are laid out with open large lawns, bordered by clumps of shady trees or shrubs.

·         The shape of the garden may not be square, rectangular or circular.

·         The plant material includes mostly the local or native plant species predominant in the region and landscaped in such a way as to merge with the surrounding nature.

2. Formal garden style

·         Symmetry is the main characteristic of formal garden style.

·         Land is leveled

·         Geometrical: Square, rectangular, circular beds and borders

·         Roads and paths cut at right angle

·         Balance is symmetrical as same feature replicated on both sides of central axis

·         Hedges, edges and topiary are trimmed

·         Depending upon the availability of space, some of the features like lawns, water pools or tanks are used.

·         The Persian gardens, the Moorish gardens of Spain, Mughal gardens and Italian gardens were formal in design.

Persian garden

Mugal garden

·         Water impounded in large pools is often used as a reflective surface. The central water body may have a fountain or a statue at the centre.

·         A well clipped topiary, straight pergolas, architectural statues and paved paths are generally included in the garden.

·         Attractive focal points at the terminals and intersections of paths and roads are essential to make such formal gardens more effective.

·         These gardens are, however, scarcely thought of in present day garden design, and are found mostly in the front portion of public buildings

3.   Free Style Garden Design

·         In free style of garden design, the good points of formal, informal as well as naturalistic features are aesthetically mixed so as to create a picture scene.

·         Formality and flatness of the geometrical styles are dispensed with. There is enough freedom in treatment while choosing the essentials of different styles. This style can, however, be adopted to suit the needs of almost all situations

·         Curved paths with both regular and irregular shapes.

·         Non-geometrical beds and borders.

·         Well defined borders with hedges and edges.

·         Close to naturalistic garden design

·         Less regulated and controlled planting.

4. Wild Style Garden Design

·         The concept of a wild garden is against formalism.

·         Such gardens are laid out for more, agreeable communication with nature.

·         Wild style of gardening follows no rules, but aim is to make the garden beautiful and natural.

·         Wide variety of trees, plants and creepers are used in a natural way.

·         No formal rules are followed and plants are allowed to grow in their natural shapes.

·         This type of garden combines a pleasing blend of beauty and utility with ecological and environmental needs.

Types of garden:

A wide range of garden types exist which can be broadly categorized based on Country origin, Religion based and special types of garden. Some examples of these categories are tabulated below:

S.No.

Country origin

Religion

Special type

1

Chinese gardens

Bahá'í gardens

Bog garden

2

Dutch gardens

Biblical gardens

Bottle garden

3

French gardens

Islamic gardens

Rock garden

4

Japanese gardens

Mary gardens

Roof garden

5

Mughal gardens

Sacred gardens

Shade garden

6

Persian garden

Sunken garden

Biblical gardens

Bahá'í gardens

Sacred gardens

Some special types of gardens with their special features are described below:

• Bog garden

The actual bog garden is an area where there is stagnant acid water and only plants such as sundew, butterwort, etc., grow. But the bog garden in landscape gardening refers to a marsh where the soil is not sour or acid and a shallow stream or trickle runs through it. The main criterion of a marsh garden is to keep it moist and in a swampy state all throughout. The site should be low-lying where the surface drainage water will collect naturally. A site having a sub-soil of sticky clay is ideally suitable for marsh garden as only a trickle of water will keep this wet, but if the soil is light in nature, certain amount of digging will be needed before establishing a marsh garden.

• Shade garden

Shade gardening refers to growing of shade loving plants under shady conditions. The shady conditions may be natural tree shades or artificial shade created using protected structures such as conservatories, shade net houses, etc., The plants suitable for shade gardens are listed below. •

Ferns : Nephrolepis, Asplenium, Pteris

Foliage plants : Caladium, Alocasia

Bulbs : Daffodil, crocus, hyacinth

Cut flowers : Fox glove (Digitalis)

Perennials : Hydrangea

• Rock gardens

A rock garden is the arrangement of rocks with plants growing in the crevices. Its bold ruggedness is a pleasant contrast to the softness of the flowers. The stones help the plants in retaining their moisture and keeping their roots cool. In plains, on the sunny side some of the cacti and succulents, Lantana, Setcreasea, Verbena etc., can be grown successfully. Ferns and some indoor plants also look natural on the rockery slopes in shade.

• Water garden

Water gardens are becoming one of the most popular landscape projects. They can be designed to fit virtually any existing landscape. Water gardens are places for recreation. Many of the popular theme parks are based on the concept of water garden only.

· Vertical garden

Vertical gardening involves gardening with upright structures so as to utilize the vertical space. It is ideal for gardening in the urban city areas and apartments with balconies. Many structures including fences, arbours, trellises and walls can be used to create vertical gardens. Hanging plants and pulley systems can be used to make vertical gardening attractive.

• Sunken garden

It is formed taking advantage of a natural depression. The depression is made into different tiers over which ground covers, edges, flower beds and small herbs may be grown. At the center of the depression, a pond or pool is formed to grow water plants.

Since a sunken ground is likely to collect water, adequate drainage arrangement should be made. The simplest method will be to have one or two drainage outlets and connect them to the sewage system.

It is not advisable to have a sunken garden in a very heavy soil because of

the drainage problem. If the garden is likely to be flooded rapidly, special arrangements may have to be made to drain out the excess of water accumulated. Some drainage materials such as stones, rubbles, etc., may be placed below the surface of the sunken garden at a depth of about 1 metre from the surface.

The thickness of these materials may be about 60 cm. Steps should be taken to prevent the surface run-off water falling into the sunken garden.

• Roof gardens

A garden on the flat roof of a building, especially one found in an urban setting is called a roof garden. Often there is a misconception in India between roof gardening and terrace garden. In many publications, the gardening on the roof is often termed as terrace gardening which is not strictly correct according to the British concept.

In modern times, individual homes with a compound and a lawn are becoming rare in cities and towns and skyscrapers are replacing such homes. As a result, the private home gardens are vanishing and the only places left for gardening are the roofs of houses. A spacious well planned roof garden can be a place of joy and recreation. In bigger cities of India, many of the large hotels and public buildings are developing this type of gardens.

• Terrace gardens

It is a garden arranged in various levels or terraces. Terrace gardening involves land raising and construction of steps, ramps, walls and paved paths as well as planting of lawn grasses and other plants. It is desirable to have plants on the terrace but it should be restricted to the edges so that the middle is left open for circulation. Since such gardens are mainly for relaxation, they should provide both sunny and shady areas.

Terrace gardens must offer a fine year-round view of the entire garden. Addition of sculptured rocks, a small lily pond with a fountain and water plants will lend visual enrichment.

• Bottle garden

Bottle gardens may be called as miniature greenhouse in which liliputian landscapes are planned. Any size of bottle, a jar, or a jug is suitable for gardening provided these are made of clear glass. Bottle gardening is a novel way of growing certain moisture-loving indoor plants, which may be otherwise impossible to grow in a dry house.

• Terrarium garden

A terrarium is a transparent glass or plastic container with plants grown in it to make a miniature landscape. It has an open or closed top. These clear-sided containers have no drain holes and usually have a clear top. When a terrarium is properly planted and located, it can be a source of enjoyment for years, providing an interesting way to grow and display many plants with relatively little care. The introduction of the art of the terrarium is generally credited with Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward as early as 1842.

Terrarium planting is a specialized part of home gardening. Terrariums provide a humid atmosphere that allows growing of forest plants at home. The theory behind the terrarium is that in a closed container the moisture which the plants take up through their roots and transpire through their leaves is condensed and eventually returns to the soil again, keeping the plants watered and at the same time keeping the air within the container at a point below saturation.

• Window box garden/ Window garden

‘Window gardening’ or ‘window-box gardening’ is making of garden in the window sill or any other attachment to it. Containers for window gardening should be made of Wood, fibre glass, iron, plastic, etc. are suitable. A box of 75cm length, 30cm width and 20cm depth is ideal. Provision for drainage holes is essential for it.