DESIGN YOUR GARDEN

DESIGN YOUR GARDEN

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A beautiful display of flora doesn't necessarily need a lotof land.

Gardens andlandscaping go back centuries in time. Those like Mughal Gardens, Hanging Gardens and Lalbagh are a living testimony to the skill and creativity of their gardeners who were largely uneducated.

Most homes of yesteryear, i.e. before the invasion of urbanization, possessed some kind of garden. When you want to forget all your worries and escape from the hustle bustle of life, a garden is the ideal place to take a siesta, and for the children to romp in. You could arrange a mouth-watering evening barbecue there too.

Althoughurban people may have been deprived of the benefits of a garden, architects arenow more conscious of the need of greenery and are including gardens in theirdesigns. Whether on the ground, balcony or terrace, people now consultlandscape architects on gardens instead of the traditional 'mali.' There isplenty of scope for landscape architects to do their work. In the present daypeople are now purchasing weekend homes to rest in and there is inevitably muchland around these houses which can be converted into a garden.

Why not try your hand at designing your own garden? A beautiful display of flora doesn't necessarily need a lot of land. You should make a note of those areas which get more sunlight throughout the day and those that don't. All plants do not require constant sunshine. You can start planning your garden with a sketch of the place. A focal point should be determined where you could place a sundial, a tree, a bird bath, rockery, statue or possibly a gazebo. 

For a narrow plot there should be parallel side boundaries. Geometrical shapes like circles, hexagon and rectangles could be made for flower beds.

If you happen to be a novice, try going according to the flow of land rather than using straight lines. Gardening tools such as a hosepipe, sprinkler etc must be kept handy. The land can be terraced, cultivated with grass or shrubs or made into a rockery. If there is a water body present it will add quality to your landscaping. 

For a water body you should select a spot that receives at least five hours of sunlight in a day and should not be near overhanging trees. An area of 40sq.ft is best as ponds smaller than that may accumulate algae. The depth should be 20-24 inches. You could line it with concrete or obtain pre-fabricated fibre glass pools. At the same time you can get one made to order. A water tight container, plastic tubs or drums can also be utilized. You must dig a sufficiently large hole and pack the soil into gaps tightly between the hole and the wall of the pool.

You may use an underground plastic tube to conduct water to the pool. The pond area should be planted with aquatic plants, ornamental plants like water chestnut, water hyacinth etc whose leaves and flowers grow above the water surface. You could have side paths leading to the outdoor eating area from there. For an aesthetic treat, plant some grass in the paths between slabs.

It takes a lot of time to maintain a perfect lawn. There is a variety of grass available such as Japanese turf which needs low maintenance as it grows in tufts and needs no mowing. The land should be well drained and the soil racked 6 inches deep. Then fertilizer should be mixed in and spread evenly. After this you can plant the cuttings or seeds. Planted slabs can be obtained from a nursery in case you want an instant lawn. The flowerbed borders should be raised a little from the lawn level and a 6 inch channel must be kept in between for the purpose of drainage.

It isnecessary to plant flowers that are in the flower beds. The beds should be 5-6feet wide for easy weeding and after deciding the colors, you can sow seedsdirectly. You could start them in a nursery or purchase established plants fromthere. For curtaining the wall you should have pagodas, bamboo trellis screensor poles propped against the wall for creepers and climbers. Juniper, ivy,morning glory, creeper roses, honey suckle, climbing hydrangea, bougainvillea,gypsophila and jasmine flowers are all good for color, fragrance and decorativepurposes.

You have to take into account the type of soil in the garden. Alkaline soil is not good for roses and neither is wind exposure. Fertilizers are needed and also protection from insects, fungi, aphids, caterpillars and borers. Common diseases are mealy bug, black spots and rust. The bloom is made ugly by black spot and brown pustules under the leaf surface come from rust. These will kill the plant in the end. Pesticide containing copper compounds should be sprayed and malathion also is safe to use.

Plants that have become unhealthy need not be necessarily infected by pests. They may suffer from psychological disorders that cause them to wilt and shed leaves. This may occur due to under or over watering. Some other causes of ill health may be aerosols, chemicals, manganese deficiency and the environment.

Floweringtrees and shady ones will give an elegant touch to your garden. Ornamental onesshould be planted close to the house, eight feet from the foundation with a tenfoot space between. If your yard is small you should select a large, spreadingtree. In the springtime have frangipani, bottle brush, cherry or peach in yourgarden. If you want a colorful garden round the year go for seasonal andbi-annual flowers. In early January you may plant Sweet Williams,forget-me-not, foxglove, pansies and daisies. During the monsoon you can plantlilies, gladioli, zebra, roses, hibiscus and camellia. These require littlemaintenance and bloom round the year. The tall growing flowers should beplanted at the back.

Gardens can be made into a riot of color by growing flowers like asters, anthirrinums, marigold, begonia, calendula, larkspur, cornflower, poppies, petunia, verbena, zinnia and salvia in the middle and for the border. Orchids such as slipper orchid, nun orchid and crucifix orchid are good when the seasonal flowers fail to bloom. Color can be added through beds of eolia and ferns. Using peat and compost for mulching keeps weeds away and saves soil moisture. Poorly growing plants should be replaced with thriving ones.

Enjoy your garden in the company of the flowers, birds and bees. Your labor will be rewarded by many rapturous hours spent amidst luxuriant beauty.

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