In the past, I have addressed small gardens, but what about those of you who have large ones—really large? There is often a large stretch of lawn with flowers beds around the edges. Obviously, this needs to be softened and changed in order to entice visitors to venture around a curve, along a trail, across a courtyard or through some trees in order to concentrate upon a point of particular interest. It also affords a splendid stage for one or two specimen trees. Standing alone, their true beauty can be dazzling.
What to choose as a prima donna? Depending upon your space, a sugar maple dominating with its glorious autumnal color, a magnolia with its thrilling spring flowering, a cornus controversa “Variegata”—known as the “Wedding Cake” tree because of its fascinating layers of growth. Acers bring grace and airiness, flowering cherries have a splendour all their own, crabapples offer gorgeous blossoms, fruit and an intriguing branch structure and the flowering pear will tolerate the difficulties of heat, drought and compacted soils. Lilacs provide blossoms and fragrance, and if you are fortunate enough to live in a climate where the exquisite jacaranda grows, rush out and buy one immediately and, having planted it, give it a hug for me…
Have you ever seen a Ginkgo biloba in the autumn? It is lovely enough in the spring and summer as it develops its bright green fan-shaped leaves, but turns a penetrating yellow in the fall. I used to live in a city where the builder had planted one in the garden of each house he had built—and there were many along a beautiful lane where they looked like a stand of lemon lollipops in the autumn. Laburnums (golden chain tree) are magnificent, but don’t plant them where small children come into contact with the poisonous pods.
For smaller gardens, consider a sassafras for its light, open look and resplendent fall display, or rhus (sumac) in an oversized pot because it tends to sucker and that creates a lot of irritating work, but its leaf pattern and color are a delight. A yellowhorn (xanthoceras) cannot often be found, but makes a very pretty picture with its mass of white flowers, as does the snowberry which will thrive well in limestone and clay soils. I am presently training a wisteria as a standard for my front garden and look forward to a lavender umbrella look in two or three years’ time. The poor thing had been buried beneath a tumble of cotoneaster and several other shrubs but appears to be smiling now. I have also just planted a salix caprea “Pendula”, a small willow with a pendulant form grafted onto a standard. I had a prunus “Pendular” (weeping cherry) in California and this type of tree is wonderful for a small space with its cascading branches of flowers or catkins. They are usually no taller than 7-8 feet.
As I always urge, leaf through your books (no pun intended), borrow some from the library, if necessary, visit many nurseries and walk through your town and parks. There will be many trees to stir you so make notes and gradually refine your list down until you can make a selection you know you will be happy with.
Miscellaneous Tips
Leave the roots of beans and sweet peas in the ground; the nodules on them will release nitrogen into the soil.
Don’t prune penstemons too early. Leave a long stalk to protect new ones during frost.
By planting flowers, one invites butterflies.
By planting pines, one invites the wind.
By planting bananas, one invites the rain.
And by planting willow trees, one invites cicadas.
- Chao Ch’ang, Chinese Poet
