Architectural Plants

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Strong sturdy ladders are a must, and there are some beautifully made, lightweight Japanese ones currently on the market, which are worth every penny of the asking price. Similarly, if your choice of plants includes lots that require frequent clipping, such as Buxus or any topiary, it is worth buying a pair of lightweight, super-sharp secateurs to make the task more pleasurable. And expensive secateurs are a joy to use. They can be taken to pieces and sharpened to keep them in pristine condition for decades, and they usually come with a smart leather holster to keep them in.

To help in moving some of the larger plants in and out of the conservatory or around the garden prior to planting, a superior type of sack truck is essential. Buy one that is beautifully balanced, easy to use and has nice thick pneumatic tyres for bouncing over uneven ground or gravel.

ABOVE

Formally clipped plants such as this Hebe rakaiensis are always a feature of Japanese-style gardens.

Pruning & chopping

If lots of herbaceous plants such as Canna and Hedychium are used, after they have turned brown for the winter, instead of cutting them right down to ground level, leave a couple of inches of stem showing above the ground. These will remind you of their whereabouts so that other plants aren’t mistakenly planted in the same place. This might sound drearily obvious, but it’s something I read in a gardening magazine years ago and I found it a useful tip.

Pruning or clipping plants little and often keeps them in shape and encourages bushy, tight new growth. This is also important with some plants such as Hebe parviflora angustifolia that won’t tolerate hard pruning back into old wood. In fact, such action could kill them. With plants such as Buxus sempervirens that have been grown as spheres, if the growth is allowed to get out of hand, cutting it back into its original curvy shape can be quite tricky.

Maintenance

Finally, my last word on the subject of gardening. There is no such thing as a no-maintenance garden. The reason for stating this is because I’m often asked to supply one. Television has a lot to answer for …