| Creating
structural elements in your garden will transform it from
the ordinary, to the extraordinary. A well-planned framework
of supports and dividers will create visual interest throughout
the year, as well as allow your plants greater depth and
perspective by incorporating the walls, fences, arbors,
trellis and forms, into their growth pattern. Boundaries
and divisions also create the stage setting for each area
in your garden, while keeping the rest of the world (and
its problems) out.
The feeling of going through a rose covered arbor with
a boxwood hedge, into a wide expanse of lawn with a central
feature, is inspiring. The sight of a stonewall with climbers
in bloom, cascading over its surface with the light dappling
through its leaves, allowing just a glimpse of the plantings
behind it, overwhelms the viewer with joy. Everyone can
easily create this feeling and look in their garden, by
incorporating structure and by understanding the method
of dividing your property.
Firstly, you need to analyze your gardens:
Foreground – The area closest to
your home and the most visible. This is often your entertaining
feature and utility area. Very small gardens usually have
only a foreground, and thus require considerable planning.
Midground – This is the middle
area of your property where you can show off with large
perennial beds and special features. This is also the
best area for lawn, larger ponds and garden structures.
Background – This is the furthest area from your
home and is generally best suited for larger trees, greenhouses,
vegetable gardens, wild life cultivation (birding), composting
and larger perimeter fencing and hedges.
The garden divisions you would use in the first zones
(foreground and midground) should be lower in height and
semi transparent in nature (picket fences, wattle, low
hedges, stone walls, trellis and varying ground levels).
In both very small gardens and large gardens, view your
outer most perimeters as an opportunity to create a sense
of enclosure and privacy for your garden. External boundaries
create privacy, shield you from noise and wind and allow
you to create your own personal theme. Internal boundaries
are used to inspire and entice both yourself and your
guests to lose oneself in the garden. These semi transparent
or small-scale internal divisions are to create a psychological
break between zones and usage’s.
Methods of Division
Lattice – Indispensable! This is
the only word that can encapsulate its many benefits and
uses in your garden. From the French “treillage”,
you can make it yourself, buy it off the shelf, or have
it customized. Fencing created with lattice, gives an
open, seductive quality to it, while allowing the passage
of air and light, with a degree of privacy. Lattice can
be mounted on your external boundaries to create both
visual depth and foliage support. Anything that cannot
be moved from your garden (garage, shed, and block wall)
can be easily covered with lattice. In a formal setting,
lattice (treillage) can be arched with tapering lines
to give a classical perspective, while providing winter
interest. In small gardens, lattice provides a horizontal
growing space for foliage and hanging containers.
Natural Stone Walls – Walls built of flagstone,
slate or rubble, provide a sense of permanence and comfort.
Natural stone internal boundaries create a visual strength
and power to your design while being both functional and
ornamental. You can construct internal walls yourself,
however, anything over 36” will require professional
advice. Plant moss in the cracks and train your plants
to cascade over them to create a sense of antiquity.
Fencing – The spectrum of choices
includes: country style picket fences; woven twig mesh
fences; lattice fencing; panel fences; split rails and
imposing palisades. Whatever your choice, remember to
first examine your space and determine which style will
best suit your design, internally and externally. For
example, if you are creating a Japanese garden, then your
external walls will be tall, of natural materials and
will provide complete privacy from the “outside
world”. Internal divisions may be created to direct
your eye on featured elements, while also providing a
sense of intimacy to secluded areas in your garden. When
choosing the materials for your fencing, think about their
size, alignment, pattern, colour, configuration and style.
Cast Iron – Popular since the early
19th century, this style is best suited for formal gardens,
particularly for their external boundaries. Iron can be
left in its natural state, or can be painted.
Arbors – This type of garden divider
is essentially an area for seating, with a canopy structure
above. Arbors, in all their forms (pergola, arch, etc.),
create a sense of romance and mystery. An arbor will create
an internal division in your garden, while also providing
support for climbing plants, focusing your view and directing
traffic flow. The contrast of the shaded retreat within
and the sunlit garden surrounding it, gives a greater
sense of depth to your design. These structures (arbors,
pergolas, archways, etc.) frame the garden view beyond
them, while providing an enjoyable means of emerging from
your foreground, to your mid ground.
Hedges – A natural method of creating
boundaries, while providing yearlong visual interest.
Hedges, like fences, will filter the wind, afford privacy
and depending upon your plant selection, bloom throughout
the summer. In a formal garden, hedges are usually clipped
into geometric forms; thus, you need to select a plant
with a dense growth pattern. Boxwood (Boxus Sempervirens)
is perfect for parterre gardens and topiary forms. Yew,
white cedar, privet and juniper are also all well suited
for training and heavy clipping, allowing you to create
any form your design requires. In an informal garden,
a softer, unclipped hedge is best suited. While they will
take more space, you can achieve a cascade of blossoms
with this design. Dwarf lilac, Potentila, Roses and Bride
Wreath (Spirea X Vanhouttei) are just a few examples.
Prune your informal hedge only when your plants are becoming
too large.
By incorporating some or all of these elements within
your garden you will transform it from merely having summer
interest, into a garden that is equally beautiful throughout
every season of the year.
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