While the specific varieties of plants used will differ from region to region, the basic concept of this garden project remains the same. Gilmer starts with trees to provide shade and then adds long-lasting shrubs and perennials. The garden features a birdbath to supply water to the wildlife that will be drawn to the space. The garden is located in an empty bed at the edge of a lawn (figure A), and Gilmer uses one half for plants suited to hotter, drier climates and the other half for those suited to cooler climates. This project is a little challenging because you will need not only plant knowledge but also some familiarity with the kinds of wildlife that each plant will attract. This following are the project's requirements: Skill level: 4 (on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult).
Time needed: 12 hours
Supplies: Plant material native to local area, birdbath
Tools: Standard gardening tools, shovel Instructions:
- Choose plant material that grows naturally where you live.
- Grade area to be planted.
- Plant native trees at the rear of the garden to provide shade.
- Make sure the trees are planted far enough apart to allow room for them to mature. Knowing the canopy size of your tree will help you make this decision. For example, a 20' diameter canopy means that there should be at least 20' between tree trunks.
FYI:
- It's okay to plant redwoods closer together because the tight spacing allows a larger area of each tree's root ball to be shaded.
- If you're losing your dogwoods, check out the Rutgers Constellation Dogwood ( Cornus 'Rutcan'). This white-blooming dogwood was developed by Rutgers University to be disease resistant and will reach 20' at maturity (figure B).
Expert tip (James Folsom, garden curator): Native is a word that can mean several different thing: native to a county or state -- or even a small stream valley. You can need a lot of information to determine which plants are native and which are not.
RESOURCES :
Perfect Plants for Every Place: Choosing the Best Plants for Your Garden
ISBN: 0754800709
Author: Susan Berry
Order this title from Amazon.com.
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