Gardens and Landscaping 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 urbanisation, 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.
Although urban people may have been deprived of the
benefits of a garden, Architects are now more conscious of the need of Greenery
and are including gardens in their designs. Whether on the ground, balcony or
terrace, people now consult Landscape Architects on Gardens, instead of the
traditional ‘Mali’. There is plenty of scope for Landscape Architects to do
their work. In the present day people are now purchasing weekend homes to rest
in and there is inevitably much land 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 likes Circles, Hexagon and Rectangles could be
made for flower beds.
If you happen to be a novice, try 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 atleast five hours of Sunlight in a day and should not be near over hanging trees. An area of 40 sq.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 utilised.
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 fertiliser 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 a case you want an instant lawn. The
flower bed 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 is necessary to plant flowers that are in the
flower beds. The beds should be 5-6 feet wide for easy weeding and after
deciding the colours, you can sow seeds directly. You could start them in a
nursery or purchase established plants from there. For curtaining the wall, you
should have Pagodas, Bamboo trellis screens or 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 Colour, Fragrance and Decorative Purposes.
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.
Fertilisers 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.
Flowering trees and shady ones will give an Elegant
Touch to your garden. Ornamental ones should be planted close to the house,
eight feet from the foundation with a ten foot space between. If your yard is
small you should select a large, spreading tree. In the spring time have
frangipani, bottle brush, cherry or peach in your garden. If you want a
Colourful Garden round the year go for Seasonal and Bi-Annual flowers. In early
January, you may plant Sweet Williams, Forget-Me-Not, Foxglove, Pansies and
Daises. During the monsoon, you can plant Lilies, Gladioli, Zebra, Roses,
Hibiscus and Camellia. These require little Maintenance and Bloom round the
year. The tall growing flowers should be planted at the back.
Gardens can be made into a riot of colour 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. Colour can be
added through beds of Colia 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 labour will be rewarded by many rapturous hours spent
amidst luxuriant beauty.
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