Monday, July 31, 2017

My garden bed secession plan

I have a reasonably clear plan for garden beds. I have examples of beds at all stages of this now.

Pioneers

Initial tough plants go into a location. They can survive there over one year, even if there is frost or can get a bit dry or windy.
Examples such as globe artichokes, rosemary or salvias.
Usually will be sheet mulching around them with cardboard and compost and straw. Moving rocks for weather protection and thermal mass. Fencing of various levels


Established

Now the garden has a few living plants, often clustered around the pioneers. It can start to grow and produce and spread. Still probably has some unwanted plants in the borders and may need help at the edges.






Spreading

Spreading. Self seeding, sending runners. Complex ecosystem keeping pests in check. Hopefully fences can be removed.
A mature forest in effect.
Pigface, perennial basil and other mints, warrigal greens, chamomile, alyssum are some spreading plants.

Wilderness

Even if left alone the gardens should hopefully spread and be a useful ecosystem, not becoming a weed problem for the area and while helped by human intervention, not required.



Enhancing

As a garden progress it will have increasing species and diversity to fill more roles.
The gardens are always producing some useful effects. Food production, medicines, beauty, wind break, water control, animal habitat, insects.
These can be enhanced over time with new plants or features filling those roles.
It can be made especially beautiful, or food producing.