Today we thought we'd briefly illustrate how a garden evolves over time.
When we design gardens, we plan their layout with a long-term goal in mind, usually 5-10 years. This means ensuring that the major structure of the garden is appropriate for when the garden has matured. It's important to note however that the changes that take place during that time may necessitate a change of some of the plant species, specifically the lower growing perennials and small shrubs. When designing a new garden, it's impractical to select shade-loving species - e.g. clivias - for a particular area when we know they are going to be in full sun to start with. Yes, that area may become shaded over time - because we have planted a young tree there - but that shade might only be 5-10 years away, so in the interim we'll choose sun-loving plants, or semi-shade plants, to fill those spaces. Over time, as the garden matures, those plants can then be swapped out, or transplanted to other areas of the garden that may better suit their requirements.
So, to illustrate how a garden can change over time, I thought it would be insightful to show you the evolution of a small townhouse garden, from inception to what it looks like now. Although these changes take place over many years, and there are a number of intermediate stages missing, these images should help you appreciate how a garden can change over time, and how yours can too if you design, implement, and manage its growth appropriately.
Hello Glenice, I would really appreciate your advice on this problem. Our previously flourishing Cussonia was severely damaged by flooding whilst we were away. Dropped all leaves, and top part seems rather restricted/narrow.
We live in Cape Town (this happened during our wet winter, and we've been hoping to see some shoots in summer, but nothing as yet).
Kind regards,
Elaine Whitcroft
Hi Elaine
Thanks for visiting our site.
Cussonia species require free-draining soil conditions and will tend to die in flooding conditions. It sounds like your tree may not have survived the stress of the adverse conditions. It may be best to consider a new species as a replacement because a species-specific fungal infection may be the cause of your tree's distress.
Flourish!
Glenice