Summer planting
Whether you’re planning an entirely new subtropical garden or filling a few gaps in an existing one, summer is an ideal time to plant. These balmy-climate beauties respond to warm soil, quickly producing new roots and becoming established before the onset of winter. They also require shelter, good soil aeration and drainage, high nutrition and plenty of moisture.
So, if you’re off on holiday, wait until you return till you plant them! Prepare garden beds by digging over and breaking up soil to a depth of about 30cm. Fork plenty of compost through the top 15 – 20cm and scatter a generous layer of sheep pellets over beds. Water beds thoroughly to ensure they are well moistened before planting. on hard clay soils, it is best to construct raised beds. Break up the clay base and fill beds with quality planting mix.
Layering effects
When deciding what to plant, think in layers. Palms and tree ferns create a perfect canopy, especially in a small garden where space is at a premium.
In larger gardens, indulge in spectacular flowering trees to shade lower layers. Select a good mix of bold foliage plants, such as taros and gingers, for the middle storey. Add colour with the likes of hibiscus and vireya rhododendrons.
Take it down to the next layer with a range of 75cm to 1m-high plants, such as native hen and chicken ferns, and clivias.
Lastly, mass plant ground covers to hug the base of taller plants and edge garden beds. Ground covers not only complete the overall picture, they also help suppress weeds and retain moisture.
Pride of place
Before getting stuck in with the spade, consider plant placement carefully. Select a few large plants (palms, trees or striking sword-shaped foliage plants) to create focal points or features.
Arrange sub-canopy plants and ground covers in groups of three to five, or in swathes of mass-planted blocks of the same plant, to create stronger visual effects.
Spacing plants close together will provide quicker cover but is wasteful. Crowded plants do not prosper and are susceptible to disease so will need to be culled at a later date. It is therefore better to be patient and space plants according to their ultimate dimensions.
once planting is complete, water the garden thoroughly and apply controlled release fertiliser. Finish off with a thick layer of granulated bark or garden mulch, taking care to keep it clear of plant stems.
oulch serves several functions. It retains moisture, keeps plants cool and encourages the production of new surface roots. As these are the main feeding roots, plants will be more able to absorb available nutrients, keeping them vigorous and healthy.
To enhance the overall ambience and bring a true touch of the tropics, place containers planted with highly fragrant gardenia, frangipani, moonflower or citrus-scented murraya, near entranceways and outdoor seating areas.
Just add water
After composting, mulching and feeding, the next most important aspect of a jungle garden is regular, deep watering.
An irrigation system is the ideal solution, saving time and – if it’s correctly installed – delivering water to exactly where it’s needed.
A more immediate and quick- fix solution is to lay soaker hoses through the garden. Lastly, have a good pair of secateurs on hand to trim and tidy exuberant growth. If you have prepared the garden thoroughly, you will definitely need them!
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