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Different Features of a Garden

Some of the important features of a successful garden are described below.

Lawn

Lawn is one of the most important element in the garden design which is attractive at all times and providing a pleasant surrounding. One of the greatest charms of a garden is clean, verdant and beautifully made lawn. Grass is considered one of the main feature on which garden picture is built. A patch of good velvety green lawn is desirable close to the house to secure a greater breadth and dignity to a place. Planting of any kind of trees, shrubs, etc. should not be advisable which may encroach the broad expanse of lawn area before the house. The lawn or a portion of it, should always be seen from the best parts of the house, the choicest shrubs or the richest terrace garden will satisfy in the same manner. The size of the lawn will depend very much on the availability of space, whereas the shape should be such that, which creates an attractive appearance. The quality of the grass and the various levels of the lawns should be settled with exactness in an architecturally treated garden. But a more natural and landscape portion will make lawns pleasing. Once the lawn is established, it takes little effort to keep it growing beautifully.

Rock garden

Rock garden is an interesting feature in the garden. In most of the garden they are laid out in such a non-artistic way and badly planned that it looks out of place and bas no utility of any symmetrical balance with the garden. In nature rocks serve as flower pots. So any attempt to initiate this natural condition should have naturalistic approach and good technical thinking.

It is better to select rock material which is porous and the soil in rock garden must be well drained. The rock garden should be as far as possible, removed from a formal environment. The aim should be to imitate a piece of nature. If associated with walls, green houses or other artificial surroundings, the illusion falls to pieces. It is also better to keep it away from the neighborhood of trees. One great charm of rock garden is its variety and that can be maintained by providing all the conditions of aspect and exposure demanded by various plants.

The rock garden may take the shape of a mountain or the stony slope of a hill, a rock crest or a peak. But whatever may be the plan in the mind, it must have definiteness of the scheme. All rock gardens should have proper slope and adequate drainage. All rocks on the ground should be buried up to two- third portion leaving one third exposed to look like a natural outcrop. Rocks of different shapes and sizes are combined and rooted in the ground to get the desired landscape effect. The actual outlines and dimensions of the rockery depend entirely on the chosen site. A fairly steep of different characters facing south -east is a good spot for laying out a rock garden, and it should not end abruptly. It is better to let it gradually merge into the general surface of the same as we find it in nature.

Careful selection of plants and bulbs suitable for growing in rocks which give long flowering season and beautiful colour effect are desirable.

Rosary

Roses are grown in the garden with great love and sincerity in isolated beds or where the space permits they may be grown together in a special garden, termed as rosary or rosarium. Rose can be grown in a place by itself without a monotonous effect. The most common method is to cut the rose beds in grass and there is much to be said in favour of grass as a setting for roses. The beds should neither be elaborate in outline nor too small. The groups should show a geometrical relation between their components beds. It is not unusual to carry a path through the rose garden or to set it where two paths intersect at right angles. The point of intersection is sometimes marked by a sundial or vase.

Establishing a rose garden involves three aspects namely, design, choice of varieties and preparation of soil and planting. Design will depend very much on the available space in sunny location and personal taste. This may consist of a number of beds grouped together leaving paths and space of green velvety grass in between. This pleasant setting brightens the display of rose flowers of different types and varieties. Considering the growth habit of different types of roses hybrid tea roses may be grown in simple beds, and floribunda and standard roses in border or along the side of long paths, whereas, climber and rambler roses on walls, rustic arches or fences. With various types and enormous varieties, a complete garden may be laid out by using roses as planting materials.

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Principles of garden designing - Flower gardening

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Different Features of a Garden

Lawn

Rock garden

Rosary

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