Planting Arrangement

noreply@blogger.com (sir.twotech."PuriBali") — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Planting design is different to other artistic pursuits like painting or drawing because it is not two-dimensional but three-dimensional and also contains a forth-dimension: time. As plants grow and change across the seasons the design must take their changing natures into account. This makes planting design a challenge of keeping all those design factors such as shape, balance, harmony, rhythm, repetition, scale and colour in mind while also considering how plants change over time.

The sheer number and variety of plants available can also make planting design daunting. Perhaps it is better to think of all these variables as opportunities to create something that will be unique to your garden and unlike anything else unless you want it to be.
I find it pays to begin with the conditions available in the garden for the plants to grow in. These give clues about what kind of plants will thrive there: a shady town garden will not enable sun-loving Mediterranean plants to grow in it. Working to the strengths of the space will help the right choice of plants to thrive there and result in less maintenance. Your preferences on the colour and style of planting will help to further narrow down a palette of plants for your garden and I can help to design a scheme that will please your eyes as well as thrive in your particular garden.
If you would like help with a planting design for your garden, whether it be a front garden to impress your neighbours, a back garden full of flowers and interest all year or perhaps a specific project like a bog garden, meadow or potager, please contact me with your ideas and I can turn them into reality. I produce hand-drawn plans and a set of instructions for layout and maintenance to make the project easy. I can also help you with sourcing plants and turning the plans into a reality, or you can use the plans with instructions and do it yourself.
Stop dreaming about your ideal garden and make it a reality!
Call me.(Indonesian Only)
on +62-21-7544366
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Seed of tomatoes, peppers, chillis, aubergines, pumpkins and courgettes can all be started off inside on a window-sill in pots at this time of year. I like small 7cm pots as you can fit lots into a tray and place them on a window-sill or on the table beside a bright window.
As your seeds germinate they will benefit from being shaded from really intense light (in my case this is an east-facing window so I keep the curtains drawn for as long as possible on very bright days). Feed your plants with a general food or tomato fertiliser every other week to keep them growing strongly. Turn the pots every few days if the seedlings begin to lean towards the light. You will probably need to pot some of them on into larger pots as they grow so plan how much space you’ll need indoors to fit them all in.
These plants will not be able to go outside permanently until the danger of frost is gone. At the start of May I usually put them outside on warm days and bring them in at night, then they can be gradually acclimatised to night-time temperatures by using a cold-frame or a mini green house before planting out into their final positions. Don’t rush the process, plants that aren’t hardened off properly will have their growth checked by the cold if planted outside suddenly. If you have a greenhouse you can use that to harden them off, or as their final position.
Potting-on seedlings

Once your seedlings have two or more pairs of leaves you can think about potting them on, that is to say, upgrading them into a bigger pot with more space for their roots to fill. I’ve just done this to some of my tomato plants. Remember to hold them by the leaves and not the stem, you can afford to have an accident and remove a leaf as the plant will probably recover, a crushed or broken stem is fatal for tiny plants.
Gently transfer to a pot with fresh compost, to help prevent disease spreading, and gently lower into pot and backfill with more compost to fill any gaps. I like to tap the pot on the table a few time to settle the compot into any air-pockets and then firm gently. Don’t forget to water them.
You can prop up any leggy plants with small canes (I have re-used chopsticks in the past with success) use string tied in a figure of 8 loop to cushion the stem against the support.
The best time of the year for garden re-designs

If you have been thinking about having your garden redesigned, or perhaps you want to sell your house and are looking for ways to add value to it, now is the best time to talk to a garden designer about the project.
Like most design projects the dialogue between designer and client to find the right solution can take time. There are practical considerations like booking builders and contractors to actually do the works when the design is finalised. Thinking about garden design in the late winter means that all the paper-based work can be done, contactors found and booked, and decisions made in time for the actual work to begin

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Planting Arrangement