Spacing Plants:
One thing that most gardeners don’t consider when planting their garden is how much a plant will grow and spread out during the growing season and over the years. Our landscapers in Nanaimo often see gardens that are extremely crowded. Overly crowded gardens can get to the point that it’s hard to tell one plant from another. It looks messy and it allows weeds to grow in without being quickly noticed.
If you suspect your garden is too crowded, we hope the following landscaping tips and design considerations will help.
Why do my plant beds get crowded?
Plant beds often get crowded because the plants and shrubs are bought when they are small. Obviously it is much less expensive to buy smaller trees, plants and shrubs, so it’s not a bad idea. However, to make up for the vast spaces between the small plants, there is a tendency to plant them too close together.
How to avoid a crowded garden bed?
When planting smaller plants, you can avoid the crowding effect in your garden beds by reading up on the size that particular plants will grow to. Note as well, that the root structure of plants can spread out 3 – 5 times the visible part of the plant. This has to be considered when planting next to buildings or other structures. If the plant’s roots cannot spread out, it won’t grow to full size. In the time it takes the plants to reach maturity, use perennials such as day lilies and iris, and annuals to fill in spaces.
The best option for long term success is to plant trees and shrubs at correct distances.
What do I do to clean up a crowded garden?
If your garden is already in a crowded condition, you have the option to either remove some plants or shrubs or to do some pruning. There are some special considerations to take into account with each option.
If you decide to move the plants, you’ll need to dig up a root ball nearly as large as the visible plant. The larger and more intact the root ball is, the better. Try to disturb the roots as little as possible and move the shrub during its dormant season if possible.
In terms of pruning, some plants need to be pruned at certain times of the year, and some look better if they are never pruned. Most conifers, for example are best if never pruned. It’s wise, therefore, to do some research before pruning or call in the professional landscapers at Sitka Landscaping.
In order to help our Nanaimo landscaping and gardening clients as much as possible, we’ll be posting several articles on the theme of the best landscaping and gardening tips. Although everyone could use a professional landscaper at times, especially when selling your home, moving into a new home or newly built home, or tending to a large yard and garden, a great way to avoid lessons learned the hard way is to integrate some key landscaping tips from the pros into your do-it-yourself garden jobs.
Sitka Landscaping has been providing professional landscaping, lawn & garden care and fence building and repair services in Nanaimo, B.C. for over 5 years. We are dependable landscape experts, priding ourselves in providing landscaping, lawn & garden care and fence building and repair services in Nanaimo on time and at a reasonable cost.
