Right Place, Right Plant
Beth Chatto, an iconic gardener and plantswoman, advocated for planting based on the specific conditions of your garden, working with nature rather than against it. It’s a philosophy I always start with when beginning a planting design. In essence, by understanding your garden’s environment and selecting plants suited to those conditions, you not only give plants the best chance at thriving but also ensure they look their healthiest and most vibrant.
How to Assess Your Garden:
Aspect (Sun Exposure):
- North-facing gardens get full sun for most of the day, perfect for plants that require full sun.
- North-west-facing gardens receive afternoon/evening sun, so choose plants that tolerate both full sun and partial shade.
- South-facing gardens are mostly shady, so opt for partial or full shade plants.
- Remember, trees or large structures can create shaded microclimates within sunny gardens.
Wind Exposure:
- Consider the prevailing wind direction. If your garden is exposed (e.g., on a hill), you’ll need to look for wind-tolerant plants
- However, you could be in a more sheltered area, or surrounded by a hedge or wall creating shelter.
Soil Type:
You can collect a sample of soil in your garden, dig down about 10cm and collect it from there. Wait a day or so to give it a chance to dry out a bit and see what you have.
- Clay soil: Heavy and retains moisture. This is really hard to dig into during the wetter months. Ideal for moisture-loving plants but may require improving drainage.
- Sandy soil: Light, free-draining, and easy to work, where I live if you dig a little you get pure light coloured sand in patches around the garden. Suited for plants that prefer drier conditions.
- Loam soil: The gardeners dream—nutrient-rich, dark, and crumbly. It supports a wide range of plants but is less common.
Soil Moisture:
Evaluate how well your soil retains moisture. If you’re unsure, dig a hole, pour some water in and see how long it takes to soak in, you have three options
- Well drained: common with sandy soils or soils with stones through them
- Poorly drained: this is common with clay soils
- Moist but well drained - this can be some clay soils and loam, it retains moisture without waterlogging
Soil Acidity:
- Plants have different pH preferences. Most soils in NZ are acidic, however if you’d like to know for sure, you can test your soil with a home kit to determine whether it is acidic or alkaline, and choose plants accordingly. I will always check the soil pH for my clients, it helps me choose the right plants, but also, if the pH is too high or too low it can affect the plants ability to absorb nutrients from the soil.
Microclimates:
Different areas within your garden may have unique conditions, some examples are:
- Sunny, sheltered spots (e.g., along a north-facing fence) may be warmer than the rest of the garden.
- Shaded areas under trees provide cool, low-light conditions.
- Raised beds with imported soil can offer different drainage and nutrients to what is found in the rest of your garden.