DIY Network

Garden Railroad Plants A gardening expert helps Chris pick the perfect plants for the garden railroad. From "Workin' On the Railroad" episode DWRR-204L

Guest Chris Johnson, a gardening expert, joins host Chris Chianelli to share tips on selecting the proper plants for the Oak Ridge Children's Museum garden railroad.

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Plants are added to the Oak Ridge Children's Museum in this fourth of five episodes.

Materials:

plants
shovels
#10 Ballast
track
low-voltage lights
floats
sand
level
stakes
buildings
spray paint

	Figure A
	Figure B

Tip: Chris suggests that you consider the zone in which you live before selecting plants for your garden railroad. (East Tennessee is Zone 6—and the plants selected for this particular project are hardy for the climate, including evergreens and perennials.)

1. Pick several dwarf plants (figure A) to stay in scale. Moss is utilized to resemble grass in and around the track. Small-scale ornamental grasses work beautifully as well. And don't forget that seasonal flowers help to add color to the garden railroad.

2. Loosen the roots after removing the plant from the container.

3. Dig a hole no deeper than the original soil line.

4. Pack soil around the root ball (figure B).

5. Prune some of the foliage from underneath the dwarf plants. (This makes the plants appear sized to scale.)

6. It's important to plant a to-scale trees to give an illusion of a mountain mass in the distance.

Figure C

Plant Selection and Pruning Tips:

• While dwarfed you want to expose some of the trunk area (figure C) so it looks more in scale.

• If you choose a boxwood, be sure to take out some of the lower branches to better assimilate a tree.

  Note: Pruning will not only add the aesthetic needed, but it will improve the overall health of the trees. The top will branch out more.

• Most dwarf shrubs don't need pruning because they will stay in scale for years.

• To be able to remove the plant it may be necessary to strike a sharp blow to the pot.

• Always be sure to loosen the root ball.

• Amend the soil if need be.

• Be creative in the selection process and have fun!

Plant selection is vital to creating a beautiful garden railroad:

RESOURCES :

Magazines and Books on Railroading
Kalmbach Publishing Co.
Website: www.modelrailroaderbooks.com

Model Railroader magazine
Website: www.kalmbach.com

National Model Railroad Association
Website: www.mnra.org

Scenic Supplies and Modules for all Scales
Woodland Scenics
Website: www.woodlandscenics.com

Sterling Models (Scenery Supplies)
Website: www.sterlingmodels.com

GUESTS :

Miles Hale
Master Model Railroader
Model Railroading University
5608 N. Mercier Dr.
Kansas City, MO 64118
Phone: 816-746-1567
Website: www.modelrailroadinguniversity.com