Master Landscaping
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On the North Shore, however, a wide range of soil and climate conditions can add levels of challenge not experienced elsewhere. We went to the experts to get the lowdown on how to get more out of your yard and have fun doing it.

Martin Wouters of local landscaping firm West Coast Home and Property Services sees some common errors when people set about planning their gardens. Martin and partner Glenn Whitted have built a solid reputation with both residential and commercial customers and have seen a lot of gardens in their career.

“People forget to check to see if the plant or shrub can be grown in their area,” says Wouters. “When buying shrubs, make sure you find out what zone you are in and when selecting plants make sure they are acceptable for growing in your zone. People also tend to buy shrubs without checking to see how big they get and eventually their garden becomes overcrowded. Make sure you check the full size it will be at maturity by checking the tag or asking questions at your local garden centre. When selecting annual bedding plants make sure you check the tags again and plant them where recommended (sun shade). So many people plant bedding plants where they don’t belong and end up with a disappointing garden.”

Enhancing soil and growing conditions also requires more than a little digging.

“People tend to over water or over fertilize their garden,” says Wouters. “Just because the soil on top is dry it does not mean your plants or shrubs need water. Dig down a few inches with your fingers to check for proper moisture levels. Too much water will eventually rot the root system and the plant will not grow fully or bloom properly. People also tend to over fertilize. Plants and shrubs only require feeding every 10 to 14 days.”

If you’re thinking of minimizing maintenance by planting a large lawn, think again.

“Homeowners plant more grass than garden thinking that grass is low maintenance. Grass requires cutting weekly and can become a chore or a large financial expense if you have to have it cut by a local lawn cutting service. People wait too long to remove the weeds from the garden, making it a long and unwanted task. It is recommended that you cultivate your garden weekly because if you keep knocking down the young weeds they eventually will be unable to reproduce and will not return.”

As with most aspects of home decorating, trends change and design ideas evolve over time. Here are some of the latest looks and fashions,

“Rock walls, interlocking walls, stamped concrete, paving stone driveways are all very popular in today’s landscapes. They offer a very rich look to your property and blend in well with your garden landscape. Low voltage garden lighting has become popular in all gardens and new landscapes. It offers a wonderful look to your garden and landscape when illuminated in the evening. The lighting requires a small amount of electricity to operate, so they are very cost effective and easy to install. Perennial gardens have also become popular.

Tags: amp, bedding plants, climate conditions, commercial customers, financial expense, fingers, grass, landscape, Landscaping, low maintenance, maturity, moisture levels, north shore, plants, plants and shrubs, proper moisture, reputation, Services, shrub, shrubs, soil, sun shade, weeds, west coast, whitted, wouters
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ith plants, it’s the roots that keep them going, providing all their water and nutrients. So the leaves are more like a barometer of a plant’s health - if the foliage looks peaky, it is time to check the roots. In the extreme wet of last summer, and especially on heavy soils, many sickly plants had drowned, rotten roots. Their finer roots, when examined, were brown and mushy unlike healthy roots which are firm with a white core.

If you have a wet garden, choose plants that love moist conditions such as astilbe, astrantia, elderberry, lythrum, schizostylis and spiraea. Alternatively, use raised beds or plant on mounds to lift the roots out of the worst of the wet.

Every year brings its successes and failures - that’s gardening. Last year brought bumper crops of runner beans and summer border displays that lasted into October. No doubt 2008 will have its own triumphs and disasters.

More information

The RHS Advisory Service provides free advice to members; a taster of the information provided can be found at www.rhs.org.uk.

Find out how wildflowers and animals respond to the changing weather at www.naturescalendar.org.uk.

Want to know more about climate change? Log on to www.rhs.org.uk/climate or visit the Met Office website at www.metoffice.gov.uk.

Common weather-related problems in 2007

Tomato blightPotato blightLeaf drop on robinia treesSlug and snail damagePowdery mildewDrowned rootsFungal leaf spotsPoor growth of bedding plants in early summerWeed junglesUnseasonal floweringAutumnal leaf symptoms in late summer

Benefits of a wet summer

No need to waterGood harvest of runner beansEstablished plants grow wellLawn stays greenBumper salad crops

Leigh Hunt is an RHS advisor.

Tags: bedding plants, plants, soil
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