Adams Garden Design: November 2012

One of the first things that I commented on in this blog was the lack of understanding amongst contractors of the plants that were used in new home gardens.
House builders knew there business (usually!) when it came to house construction, and some had an inkling when it came to garden design....but, oh dear, when it came to planting the garden, then I'm afraid that the majority have little idea at all (harsh words, I know, but read on and you'll see why).
I have already shown the disasterous planting of a grass tree under a south facing balcony (see earlier blog).....where it will never, ever get any direct sunlight or natural rainfall - this for a plant requiring 6 hours direct sunlight daily, year round.
I have seen countless examples of plants that are similarly unsuitable for where the builder/contractor has placed them. Plants in shade that require full sun and vice versa, acid loving plants in limestone and (most worryingly) plants that will quickly outgrow the limited space in which they have been planted.
Let's face it, any builder just wants the new house to look great until it is sold. Thereafter, he really doesn't care (unless there is some kind of long-term maintenance agreement).
The worst examples are trees that have been planted close to houses. Trees are good for shade and when they arrive from the nursery appear to be a manageable size. Within a couple of years the proud new owners of the house are faced with something that is quickly outgrowing its alotted area and needs regular pruning just to keep it to a reasonable size.
I find myself in this situation. Alas, as I'm in a rental property, I can do little but ask for regular pruning of the native hibiscus that is growing in the back garden. In only two years it reached a height of 8 metres (as high as the two storey roof) and was cut down, quite brutally, to chest height. It is already back to roof level in only 18 months! All this in an area of only 2 square metres! It really needs to come out and be replaced with something that will only grow to the same size as it's designated space....and no further.
I have also recently advised someone to get rid of FIVE trees planted in the 2-3 metre gap between their house and their neighbour. These trees I identified as desert ash. They will grow to 8 metres high and 6 metres wide! Now come on...who in their right mind would plant such a monstrosity in that location???? Let alone five of them!
The worst case that I have come across prompted me to right this post.
Yesterday I spent the morning removing two ficus benjamina from a garden. These were planted only a year ago in a new build house garden. Anyone who knows anything about ficus generally will be aware of their reputation for incredibly invasive roots. It was not an easy job getting them (and all their roots) out even after only 12 months in the ground. Read the label and you will see that they are meant to be potted plants, and with good reason. Stick them in open ground and they are a menace.
And where were these planted ? In a pot? Nope. A mere 60cm from the house wall! Long and very thick roots were already making their way under the house slab. Given time, they would have damaged the house foundations and the neighbouring path and drive. Irreparable damage may easily have been caused.
These plants were chosen by a local landscape contractor....one I had recommended myself to lay lawn as I had seen their work in progress and they appeared to be doing the correct soil preparation (unlike most lawn contractors). Needless to say I won't be recommending them in future, at least not for planting gardens. To make such a fundamental error demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge of the plants that they are using. I only hope that their public liability insurance is up to date. If they have planted similarly elsewhere, they may have alot of trouble on their hands in the not too distant future.
And the mature size of this species of ficus? 30 metres high.....60cm from a house wall! And you can prune the plant all you like...it's the roots that will cause the damage.
I have used another species of ficus only once in a garden design when I wanted pleached trees. Ficus do lend themselves to this. However, they were many metres from the house and had root barriers buried around the root ball sending all roots vertically into the soil. There would have been no lateral roots and it's these that cause the damage.

Bottom line? Make sure that the person planting your garden knows about the plants they are using. Clearly most landscape contractors don't...and, yes, I'm afraid I mean MOST.

Employ a qualified designer ! You know it makes sense!

Various photos taken of orchids in Bali October 2012.
The first batch were taken at Bali Adventure Tours Elephant Park near Ubud. The second at the Orchid Garden about 10 kms north of Sanur.
No labels for these as orchids are by no means my area of expertise. Some are recognisable as the type you can find in many garden centres and interior design magazine articles around the world. Some I have never seen before.
Enjoy!

Vanda coerulea 'Sansai Blue' - one of 2 contenders for the Blue Orchid apparently

The fairly familiar phalaenopsis orchid......found in many a cool temperate living room

Oncidium cebolletta

Two plants for damp shade - the one on the left is spathiphyllum and on the right eucharis grandiflora (eucharist lily, not dis-similiar to the swamp lily - crinum penduculatum) but with pendant flowers.

Unidentified aquatic plant - any ideas?

Close up of flower

Asplenium nidus ? Bird's nest fern

One plant I did recognise - actually a type of passion flower - passiflora coccinea.
All of the above orchids were growing in the shade....whereas many of those at the Orchid Garden in Sanur were, to my surprise, in full sun.
See below.