Caring for living things in your garden...

Sometime ago, the planting scheme of a site was being discussed. The first palette was proposed keeping in mind the site requirements and limitations, but it was disapproved because it shed more leaves. Another handsome choice was rejected because it stayed sans leaves during some part of the year. On similar lines, some other possibilities were pointed out.

Then, another fresh palette was proposed, but owners found that they have never seen those plants around. And unfortunately, they were comfortable with only what they had seen before.

Understandably, they had to be coaxed into just giving it a chance. During the whole process, I couldn’t help but feel bewildered about how disconnected people are from the cycles, patterns and diversity of nature.

The natural process seems like an anomaly and an inconvenience to them! In today’s technology-dominant world, there is an increasing loss of sense that a life cycle occurs in a certain pattern of growth and senescence. Managing it leads to long enjoyed bounty and benefits while
controlling it means turning it into an ugliness which eventually interests no one.

Lack of awareness

A constricted checklist of expectations has led to the severe shrinkage of diversity and interest in gardens. It’s common to see the same palette being repeated. Builders decide to stick to a certain group of plants and trees to meet the narrow understanding of the masses and other business interests.

Unfortunately, the very standards of a landscape are being defined by the limited understanding and lack of appreciation of nature’s diversity. Having unrealistic expectations like a leaf should not shed, flowering should happen throughout the year, or that a showy flower is the only appreciable aspect of a plant etc is like asking a human being not to grow their nails and hair, otherwise they would have to be attended to, or that skin shouldn’t build up dead cells etc. Doesn’t that sound unrealistic?

And then there is another side of the spectrum. The problem of too much. A scenario where the need to choose wisely and manage growth is not recognised at all or is done too late. It always leads to a smothering effect. Perfectly bloom-filled gardens have turned into lanky woody stretches over time, because the overhead growth and tree canopy were not checked and they kept on blocking the light.

Eventually, the bloomers stopped blooming and stems became bare. It all starts looking dark and less beckoning. So, in such a scenario, one decides what a liability it is to manage this unsightly view, and lets someone clear it all and concrete it!

In urban setups, this is a tricky line, because, for a balanced and sustainable outcome, every garden needs to be managed on a regular basis with a long-term view. Diverse gardens that include managed trees, big or small, shrubs, bushes and bedding plants serve the widest audience and are an extremely relevant range of purpose.

Not only are such gardens exciting for young children who are just beginning to explore the planet, but also for individuals, families, and communities. The beneficial side effect being that it supports the fauna living in or through it. Because of the range in diverse forms, habits and seasonal interest, the maintenance is also spread across the year, never burdening it in one go. So, the question is, how to go about it?

First step

The starting point is always the consideration of available space and purpose. If you wish for a tree form, but space does not permit it, then, choose a shrub which grows to the desired height at maturity. By doing so, many problems are checked even before they occur. For instance, you don’t want to plant a liability by putting the building, nearby hard surfaces or wire lines at risk in due course. This permits the scope to grow more diverse forms without compromising their performance or overloading your commitment.

For the love of grass

In urban gardens, a fascination with grass still rules. The only challenge is that it asks for plenty of sunlight. Most often, it fails because either the boundary or next building are blocking the light. If it has to co-exist with neighbouring trees etc, then the poor grass is fighting for not only light but also for food.

Now, cutting down a pre-existing tree or a mature growth is not advisable. It has its grace and a valuable presence. Instead, it needs to be managed. The easiest way to manage it is by looking at the form and judging what portion can be trimmed to open up the canopy without sabotaging the natural structure. Keep the strong branches and get rid of weak, dried or criss-crossing branches.

The time for such an exercise is best when the new growth phase or flowering phase is well-known and not sabotaged in the process. This method manages the woody climbers also. As they age, a built up of woody twining becomes overpowering and flowering dwindles. For a home owner, a year of observation will help in understanding when the new growth comes and how flowers are borne. On some plants, flowering happens on current year stems while others need at least a year old branch.

Ongoing maintenance has an important aspect and that is feeding. Unless we are talking about deep-rooted trees or large expanses of uncrowded organically rich soil, every other scenario needs food. Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are the major elements.

Zinc, boron and magnesium are trace elements, but still play a critical role in the overall performance of the plant. These come in both inorganic and organic forms with varying percentages of components. In the growth season, fertiliser application benefits the plants and for container plants, an ongoing practice is better.

Fertiliser can be in pellets, granules, powder, or liquid form. For container-grown plants, foliar feeding is the most effective method of providing nutrients. Kitchen compost is a wonderful thing, but over time, it proves to be a little deficient in certain components. Well-nourished plants are always more disease-resistant and potassium helps in building such resistance. Go beyond watering, equip yourself with above practices and you can see the difference.

(The author is with True Nature Advisors)