Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 1.2
A garden idyll
The nature of horticulture and
gardening
the plants grow in size. Both these have significant
consequences in attaining and maintaining what we
wish to achieve. We can choose between rigorously
maintaining our planned garden or allow it to evolve.
There are many skills and techniques associated with
both ways forward: planting and replanting; controlling
the size of the plant; allowing plants to spread by seed
or vegetative means such as runners or placing plants
according to carefully devised plans; but, probably
above all, selecting the right plant for the situation in
the first place. It is an ongoing job for the gardener to
hold at bay the undesirable plants and weeds while
protecting their chosen ones from the attack of pests
and diseases.
A gardener benefits from knowing about the factors
that may improve or harm their plant's growth and
development. The main aim of this topic is to provide
an understanding of how these factors contribute
to the ideal performance of the plant in particular
circumstances. For many gardeners, their intention
is to apply the knowledge to improve their garden or
allotment. Many others are seeking to build on what
can be learned in the private garden in order for them
to widen their interests, or seek professional or semi-
professional employment.
Most of us are familiar with plants through our
gardens
and
gardening
. Around us are examples of
gardens that are little more than surrounds to houses
with the priority being to provide standing room for
the car, utility areas and a place to sit out when the
weather is good enough; the owners' emphasis is
probably on minimizing the workload with much
hard surface. For others, the area is an opportunity
to provide an attractive view, to enhance the look
of the property or to have a safe playing area, but
without wanting to be more involved with the plants
than necessary. Again the emphasis is likely to be
on minimizing their input, with a person brought in
considered to be a good solution to dealing with the
time required and complications to keep good order. In
contrast, gardeners consider their garden to be where
they fulfil their wish to work with plants and seek to
create their 'paradise on earth' (see Figure 1.2).
We learn quickly that gardening is not a simple
process because it is a dynamic situation that we
face. Plants and plantings change over time. Over the
year there are seasonal changes; and as time passes
