Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
4
OR N A M E N TA L P L A N T S
Trees,shrubs,variegatedplants,
herbaceousperennials,grassesandtufty
plants
Pruning ornamental plants is a matter of
deciding what makes them ornamental and
then enhancing that feature. Is it their
flowers, their stems and bark, their fruits or
their foliage? Whatever pruning you do,
nothing beats good plant selection. Consider
your space, aspect, local climate and the
shape you want your plant to become. There
is no substitute for a qualified horticulturalist,
experienced gardener or good research for
these decisions. The pruner, no matter how
skilled, will never be able to make an upright
growing plant into a spreading or rounded
plant. Shrubs that naturally make a rounded
relaxed cascading shape, like Spirea or
Plumbago, will never make a tidy hedge. It is
possible to fit a tall spire like tree under a
power line, but is it worth the effort? A tree
with a rounded crown can be trained to cope
with the situation (see Figures 4.1 and 4.2).
Good plant selection for the site can save on
pruning and maximise a plant's natural beauty
. A
plant's natural shape can be forced into
submission through constant pruning and
training; however an ornamental plant is just
that, ornamental. It exists in our gardens
landscapes due to its inherent beauty.
Pruning can only help a plant be the best it
can be. Much like the local beauty salon, the
beautician can enhance your best assets, but
heavy plastic surgery usually results in the loss
of individuality. Who would want a garden
full of Barbie dolls? A successful garden or
landscape is made up of varied individuals,
each complementing its neighbor to present a
harmonious whole. Choose your plants for
what they can add to your landscape, not for
what they can be bludgeoned into. An
ornamental plant should be allowed to
express its personality, and the job of the
Figure 4.1
This liquidambar has a naturally spire-shaped
crown that has to be constantly pruned to keep under the
power lines. Despite the autumn foliage, it looks cramped
and uncomfortable year round.
