As a small nursery proprietor and gardener with a mission to inspire customers to use plants more adventurously and to think about them in three and four dimensions and to get rid of the bark mulch, I like the way you are thinking about this. One component I would add is root systems. One of the ways that plants are able to grow in a community is different root systems utilizing different depths of soil in different ways. So sure, a meadow of hearty customers like Eutrochiums, Helenium autumnale and Monarda fistulosa, all of which would rate high on your scale of strong growers in a damp sunny meadow, is one way to make a choice, but if the “why” of the ability for certain plants to co-exist with respect to root structure was front and center in plant descriptions, that would also go a long way to help gardeners make successful plant combinations. Thank you for getting me thinking!
Yes that’s a great idea to think about or include root systems, absolutely agree. I think about that a lot too, different types of roots together eg fibrous top layer go well with tap rooted deeper layers.
A very important consideration when designing a plant scheme especially for non gardeners but it’s a slippery concept. In my experience plant vigour can change over time largely dependent on weather conditions. This last wet winter here in Hertfordshire has increased the vigour of many plants in my garden notably Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ which has romped way unlike in previous years. Oh well, plenty to pass on !
That’s true but I would say for most plants, it’s very easy to predict and educate people on plant vigour. Especially if we take into consideration decades of experience. And the issue you describe would be covered by my point on layering condition data. Garden conditions do change, so that’s part of the consideration.
Interesting article, thanks Jack. We have a similar wild patch to the one in your photo and would like to include some taller vigorous non-natives. Do you have any specific suggestions for things that will survive well? Thanks
Hi Felix and Annie, yes I’ve included lots of plant suggestions in the garden design guide - there are a number of plant lists in there. Happy growing 🌱💞
I agree, it's something I've been thinking about myself lately. However I've found that friends find plants that are vigorous in my garden hard or impossible to grow and vice versa, and I'm not just talking about position - some things grow like Topsy in my every border while I can't grow, for instance, lavender to save my life despite providing all the conditions listed on the RHS website.
As a new gardener I had no idea of the relative vigor of catnip and oregano in my area (northeast US). I now spend a tremendous amount of energy digging it back up as it tries to spread to cover my *entire* garden.
Was thinking along similar lines yesterday after two excellent sustainability webinars: one on understanding the importance of soil protection and preservation and best practice for garden projects (Liz Nicholson via SGLD); and one on Natural Garden Design & Management by Benjamin Vogt. We need a way to bring together knowledge of soil/site conditions together with data on plant communities and plant sociability. Dr Noel Kingsbury’s perennialdirectory.org contains valuable information on rooting types and methods/rates of spread - extremely generous of him to share, but it shouldn’t be down to one man to collect, record and share this data. Surely such a project, carried out by the right combination of partners, could attract funding? Good for you in taking the initiative! I wish you very good luck and look forward to hearing how you fare.
That’s great, I’d like to see such data from an organisation like RHS and Kew so that multiple people are collaborating, and it can work off of existing databases, linking into the wealth of these organisations. Also to secure its future forever for public use.
As a small nursery proprietor and gardener with a mission to inspire customers to use plants more adventurously and to think about them in three and four dimensions and to get rid of the bark mulch, I like the way you are thinking about this. One component I would add is root systems. One of the ways that plants are able to grow in a community is different root systems utilizing different depths of soil in different ways. So sure, a meadow of hearty customers like Eutrochiums, Helenium autumnale and Monarda fistulosa, all of which would rate high on your scale of strong growers in a damp sunny meadow, is one way to make a choice, but if the “why” of the ability for certain plants to co-exist with respect to root structure was front and center in plant descriptions, that would also go a long way to help gardeners make successful plant combinations. Thank you for getting me thinking!
Yes that’s a great idea to think about or include root systems, absolutely agree. I think about that a lot too, different types of roots together eg fibrous top layer go well with tap rooted deeper layers.
Thank you Jack ,
A very important consideration when designing a plant scheme especially for non gardeners but it’s a slippery concept. In my experience plant vigour can change over time largely dependent on weather conditions. This last wet winter here in Hertfordshire has increased the vigour of many plants in my garden notably Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ which has romped way unlike in previous years. Oh well, plenty to pass on !
That’s true but I would say for most plants, it’s very easy to predict and educate people on plant vigour. Especially if we take into consideration decades of experience. And the issue you describe would be covered by my point on layering condition data. Garden conditions do change, so that’s part of the consideration.
Plants are expensive, advice about vigour, might reduce wastage from the consumer, and help to offer more useful advice in garden centres perhaps
Very true, I agree it would reduce wastage and as you say, help nurseries and garden centres advise gardeners.
Interesting article, thanks Jack. We have a similar wild patch to the one in your photo and would like to include some taller vigorous non-natives. Do you have any specific suggestions for things that will survive well? Thanks
Hi Felix and Annie, yes I’ve included lots of plant suggestions in the garden design guide - there are a number of plant lists in there. Happy growing 🌱💞
I agree, it's something I've been thinking about myself lately. However I've found that friends find plants that are vigorous in my garden hard or impossible to grow and vice versa, and I'm not just talking about position - some things grow like Topsy in my every border while I can't grow, for instance, lavender to save my life despite providing all the conditions listed on the RHS website.
Yes, I guess with anything to do with plants it can only be a general guidance - best way is to trial things ourselves
As a new gardener I had no idea of the relative vigor of catnip and oregano in my area (northeast US). I now spend a tremendous amount of energy digging it back up as it tries to spread to cover my *entire* garden.
This is the thing, why would you have known. We have the tech and means to share this info now. Hopefully it can happen to help everyone 😊
Was thinking along similar lines yesterday after two excellent sustainability webinars: one on understanding the importance of soil protection and preservation and best practice for garden projects (Liz Nicholson via SGLD); and one on Natural Garden Design & Management by Benjamin Vogt. We need a way to bring together knowledge of soil/site conditions together with data on plant communities and plant sociability. Dr Noel Kingsbury’s perennialdirectory.org contains valuable information on rooting types and methods/rates of spread - extremely generous of him to share, but it shouldn’t be down to one man to collect, record and share this data. Surely such a project, carried out by the right combination of partners, could attract funding? Good for you in taking the initiative! I wish you very good luck and look forward to hearing how you fare.
That’s great, I’d like to see such data from an organisation like RHS and Kew so that multiple people are collaborating, and it can work off of existing databases, linking into the wealth of these organisations. Also to secure its future forever for public use.
100% agree!