Naturalistic Planting - Styles
Styles - Winter Interest - How a Designer can help with Implementation
4 Wild-looking planting with self-seeding, relatively short-lifed perennials at Sichtungsgarten Hermannshof in Germany
What are the styles available?
When hearing naturalistic planting, most people think of prairie-style planting, borders with swathes of Stipa tenuissima, Echinacea and Salvias in them. They love the look of it and often get disheartened when those plants don’t seem to thrive in their garden. There is no need to be.
There are many natural landscapes to choose from other than the North American Prairie or Grasslands, where the plants growing in them are suitable to your gardens’ conditions and soil. Think of a woodland border with its lush green leaves under small trees or shrubs, creating a layered effect to your border. There are also meadows and marshlands to draw ideas from.
Through the selection of suitable plants different themes such as modern, Mediterranean, woodland or formal can be created whilst still staying within the definition of the naturalistic planting style.
Find more visual ideas of how plants can arranged to create different effects through one of my boards on Pinterest.
5 Mix of herbaceous perennials for semi- to full shade on wet to damp soil, seen at Sichtungsgarten Hermannshof, Germany
Will my garden look bare in winter?
A planting mix that considers plants for winter structure will provide dried seed heads & interest in winter. Plants such as Hylotelephium, Calamagrostis, many Asters and Stipa gigantea stand well through winter. A good practice is to cut your plants back in late winter to get the most out of them. Some grasses and perennials such as many Euphorbia & Carex or Stipa gigantea are evergreen and provide year-round interest. Shrubs can be topiarised for a more formal look amongst swathes of herbaceous perennials to provide interest in winter with their geometrical form or left in their natural form. They might be chosen for their spring flowers, winter berries, colourful bark or architectural form
How does a garden designer help with implementing a naturalistic planting?
Extensive plant knowledge and ability to choose the right plants for your site conditions, wildlife and matching the wider surrounding
Creating planting plans, so your vision can be implemented
Providing maintenance schedules, how to best care for the plants during and after establishment
Able to provide maintenance advice when questions arise
Site visits after implementation to see how the garden is progressing and where adjustments need to be made
6 Bog/Wetland Planting along a stream at RHS Rosemoor
Picture Credit: unmarked = squarespace stock photo, 4 5 6 = T. Volk