Naturalistic Planting - Benefits
Benefits of a Naturalistic Planting Style
3 Late Summer Border by Piet Oudolf at Hauser & Wirth in Somerset, the drifts and groups of plants are clearly visible
Benefits of introducing a naturalistic planting scheme to your garden
Calmness - Mixing herbaceous perennials with ornamental grasses can provide a sense of calmness to the border with the green foliage of the grasses breaking up more colourful drifts of flowering perennials, especially when the latter are chosen for their calm colour pallet.
Movement and Sound - Ornamental grasses rustle in the wind and sway in the breeze.
Winter Interest - by leaving flower- and seed heads standing throughout winter instead of cutting them down provides interest in winter, and birds such as goldfinches love picking the seedheads.
Empathetic to site conditions - most garden conditions and climates can be found in nature, meaning there are planting combinations for most situations. Plants found at the edge of woodlands might be used in plantings for a shady border whereas Mediterranean Plants can be introduced to sunny, dry spots. Using plants that are suitable to the site conditions means plants need less or hardly any watering once established and leads to healthier plants less susceptible to pests & diseases.
Longevity - plants that are chosen for specific site conditions, such as a clay soil for example, will thrive and grow into strong, healthy plants. Most perennials are easily divided and replanted and can therefore be rejuvenated and multiplied without much cost.
Attracting wildlife - there are many herbaceous perennials to choose from to attract insects, birds and other wildlife.
Picture Credit: 3 = T. Volk, unmarked = G. Kouvatsis