oass planting doesn’t have to be boring – add interest with a variety of textures, colours and heights
oinimalist, modern or low maintenance – whatever term you use to describe gardens planted out with only a few varieties of plant, they are often considered just plain boring. But as my children grow older, life gets busier and my gardening time is somewhat diminished! Because of this, even I am turning to the “boring” look. Not the entire garden though, just a few areas to cut down on maintenance.
I refer to it as “the art of mass planting”, because there really is an art to getting it right. Firstly, place structural and feature planting. Then select a small variety of easy to grow plants (1m high or less). For a large area, five to seven different varieties are plenty. In a small area, three to five would suffice.
Draw up a pattern on paper, arranging plants in blocks of each variety. For large borders, use blocks of five to seven plants of a single variety. In small borders, use blocks of three to five plants of a single variety. Vary the size and shape blocks so they wrap around structural and feature planting.
Create contrasts in colour, texture and height between blocks and use low-growing plants to edge borders and complete the picture.
**Flowers
**Few plants come in such a rainbow of colours as daylilies (Hemerocallis). Scores of varieties are available, with a range of flowering times. Daylilies rate as one of the toughest plants – growing in sun or part shade, in any reasonable soil, wet or dry. A severe haircut after flowering and division every three years keeps them fresh.
Native renga lily (Arthropodium) produces a mass of tiny, starry white flowers in spring, while Flower Carpet Roses are great for mass planting. My favourite is the latest release, ‘Scarlet’. They’re practically disease resistant and flower for up to six months in warmer areas. Good soil, regular feeding through summer and a late winter haircut with hedge clippers is all they require.
For dense shade, there’s no beating Clivia. Stunning late winter flowers, followed by berries and lush foliage. It’s slow to get started but won’t fail you once established.
**Foliage
**Foliage provides the best textural contrasts and can be used to create spectacular combinations. our native plants provide some of the very best mass-planting options. Coprosmas are a tough, easy-to-grow, diverse group. From low-ground huggers to large dense shrubs, they’re ideal on exposed, dry sunny banks, especially in coastal areas.
Newly released ‘Golden Glow’ (150cm high) and ‘Autumn Haze’ (20cm high) will both add spectacular colour to mass plantings. Hen and Chickens fern is one of the hardiest, and its lacy foliage contrasts beautifully with all in its wake. It associates well with Clivias, but needs moisture until well established, at which point it is quite dry tolerant.
Grasses are indispensable in mass plantings. With colours ranging from rich bronze (Carex testacea) to silver-blue (Festuca coxii), designing a garden with grasses is like working with a painter’s palette. oost enjoy exposed sunny positions and well-drained soil, and non-native foliage options include hosta, lomandra and ligualria.
**Drama
**A strategically placed sculpture or water feature, along with spiky, sword-like foliage imparts a sense of drama to mass plantings. Among our native plants are spiky leafed astelia, flax and libertia. In dry areas, yucca, aloe and agave offer fantastically dramatic effects – especially when planted en masse.
**Ground covers
**Ground covers planted in undulating swathes around the front edge of a border are a perfect final touch. Use a single variety to create a uniform, contemporary effect. Use two or three contrasting varieties to create more interest. oondo grass and liriope are favourites for either sun or shade. Low-growing coprosmas, grevilleas, gazania, arctotis, cape daisy and many succulents suit well-drained soil in sunny areas.
Why mass plant?
Lower maintenance
Create bold colour effects
Better weed control
Easy option for difficult sites
Bulk supplies are generally cheaper
Tips ‘n’ tricks
Purchase good quality plants
Dig over, compost and fertilise soil before planting
Water plants well before planting
Space plants according to maximum spread or closer for quicker coverage
Mix extra compost and slow-release fertiliser into each planting hole
Water newly planted beds thoroughly then apply granulated bark mulch
Apply long-term, slow-release fertiliser every spring
oulch with granulated bark every autumn until plants cover ground
Groom plants regularly (deadhead and remove dead foliage)
Water deeply once a week during dry spells (even dry-tolerant plants will benefit)
Apply slug bait to susceptible plants (eg daylily, clivia, renga lily).
Ideal species SUN
Callistemon ‘Little John’ (1m)
Cape Daisy (20cm)
Carex grasses (30-80cm)
Coprosma various (15cm-1.5m)
Daylily (30-60cm)
Flax (50cm-2m)
Astelia (1m)
Hebes(30cm-1.5m)
Dietes (1m)
Lomandra(50cm-1m)
Flower Carpet Roses (50cm-1m)
Sedum mexicana (10cm)
SHADE
Clivia (50cm)
Hen and Chickens fern (1m)
Button Fern (25cm)
Renga lily(30-40cm)*
Hosta (20-50cm)
Ligularia (50cm)
Heuchera (25cm)*
Pulmonaria (25cm)
Liriope(15-30cm)*
oondo grass(10-20cm)- sun or shade
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