Underwhelming plants or underwhelming gardener?
On the face of it
It was predictable.
‘Red Queen’ stuff.
You know the sort of thing:
‘Off with their heads!’
In her last Saturday’s piece:
Anne Wareham, the self styled ‘Bad Tempered Gardener’ says:
‘Don’t put up with underwhelming plants. Plants seduce us into waiting for them to come back to life, when the best thing for all concerned would be to remove them.’
And the plants commented on were pretty predictable too:
Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ and roses. I’ve heard those mentioned before!
But it kind of begs some questions. Exactly why would plants underwhelm us?
- Were our expectations of them as plants too high?
Here plant knowledge and selection are useful. Let us call it plantsmanship. Of course there are some people who will never be satisfied!
- Were our expectations of what they would do where we put them realistic?
Here it is helpful to have a basic understanding of plant physiology and some fundamental knowledge of your own garden, its growing climate and soil.
- How effective is our planting design?
Placing plants to their best advantage is after all a skill!
- And more crucially did we underwhelm them ourselves?
There is a fundamental connection to be made between poor horticultural techniques and poor performance!
Sure, remove, but try to work out why it failed, otherwise you are doomed to an endless cycle of mistakes!
Of course not everyone has these aspects at their fingertips. But such knowledge is readily accessible:
- There are consultants – do check their credentials. I’d be suspicious of any untrained amateur who calls themselves a consultant for example.
- There are courses ranging from basic thru to skilled. Best start at the bottom and work your way up!
- The internet contains a mine of information which needs some sifting but often gives leads to focus groups, research bodies, nurseries etc. If you build up a good rapport with people it is surprising how much information you can garner for free.
- There are also a host of magazines, journals and books from basic thru to skilled. As before I’d start with the basic!
And then there’s the love factor…….
Things done with love usually stand a chance!
Robert
Category: General Gardening Stuff, Now YOU Have A Go!, The Planty Stuff
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Though of course some plants have a short shelf life – even some trees and shrubs dont last for ever and if we have a very wet year or maybe a very cold winter and they suffer and never recover. I have had plants that have limped on after a very cold winter despite having been healthy and wonderful for years. So I agree with Anne that we need to be ruthless and if a plant is failing to get rid of it but maybe look at why it failed and learn from that
Hi Helen,
Oh of course some things are short lived, but we are now in a disposable society anyway. Guess you establish all that by research and if your research is good and the resultant care is good you optimize performance. You are getting out what you put in. I think so many people think they can garden when they really can’t, but could with a little training! And failures are an expensive waste!
Thanks for your comment Helen,
Best
R
This analysis is perfect, especially “did we underwhelm them ourselves?” I think those who copy inappropriate plant selection / use because of overwhelming popularity in their locale, can be a challenge…I wonder if it requires popularity of a new, better way of horticulture to help them?
Hi David!
Thanks so much for your comment.
What better system of horticulture did you have in mind?
Personally I think just a few basics like putting the roots in the ground, water thoroughly, keep your tools clean to avoid transferring disease when pruning etc would go a long way!
Congrats on your #GDRT stardom BTW!
Best
R
Hi Robert
You make some very good points here about research, knowledge, good techniques etc. which are important to steering clear of avoidable mistakes.
I’m sure however that even the most expert of gardeners or designers experience plants that are under-performing through no fault of theirs; even when they’ve chosen carefully and done all the ‘right plant, right place’ research. Plants can be fickle things; affected by all kinds of environmental & biological nasties and no matter how much love, care and skill we lavish on them they’re never going to be what they once were but often hang on as a shadow of their former selves. In an instance like that, ‘love’ can get in the way of doing what we know, deep down, is the sensible thing!
We all know too that gardens are not static; they develop and change. Despite very careful plant choice, sometimes a plant that was right and adding to the garden five or ten years ago is now detracting, or at least it would be better if we replaced it with something else.
We all long for that paradise where every single plant is lush, bursting with health and vitality and is performing its proverbial socks off. Ahh if only.. maybe in the next life eh!
This post reminds me of the gardener’s adage: don’t give up on a plant until you have killed it three times. I guess that requires some patience, but isn’t that what gardening (and love) is all about?
Hi Libby,
Thanks so much for your comment.
Glad something I said made sense!
I think I also say something like ‘ sure, remove but try to understand what went wrong’ and this seems to me to be common sense. You hear dreadful stories from people who proudly say they don’t clean their tools, they don’t prune, they don’t feed and then in almost the same breath this died, that died and this is always struggling.
I think there is a kind of Helen Keller moment to be achieved here with such people!
As regards removing of course! Its our paradise or as close as we can get to it. We must do what we want. But its like decorating the key is the prep. And in this case you then know the longevity, the flowering habit, the dimensions etc. Do we have the right to change our minds of course!
BTW in rather more space than twitter allows congrats to you and hubby- to- be. You must be so happy.
Best
R
Hi Michael,
You made me laugh. I had not heard that adage before.
But I think you are being rather naughty. You know I am not saying that. And I know that with all your love of plants and your wonderful public spaces which you put so much effort into you know what I mean.
The sad thing is that there is so much info available and that all some things require is a little research and effort!
God knows I am thick and lazy enough so if I can do it any one can!
Best
R
Completely agree with Anne Wareham on this. Despite much effort, ample research to ensure correct plant selection, care through the best possible plantsmanship, some plants just don’t perform. Reasons that are often beyond the realms of any of our knowledge, admittedly including yours. No amount of ‘training’ could ever change/impact what is recorded in each plant’s specific DNA. Pining over underwhelming plants is therefore futile, and takes away from others that require ‘plantmanship’….
Not heard of genetic modification then I take it?
Plant selection and cultivation techniques are the primary problems affecting plant performance.
Significant reductions in the incidence of pests and diseases can also be achieved by sound horticultural procedures.
Really basic things like clean tools, feeding, pruning etc.
Starter magazines, books by trained horticulturalists and courses by the same are helpful here.
The good news is that once these simple things are mastered, there is the fun bit: using the plants creatively!
Then definitely no ‘pining and futility’ :-)
Toodle-pip!
My husband (he’s the nurseryman, not I) always says “grow what you can and leave the rest alone”. This doesn’t mean don’t try but accept there will be failures. I agree with Anne on this. A lot of plants under-perform because people are just determined to have something unsuitable for their garden or their ability. Sometimes it’s a genuine love of that plant, sometimes it’s just a wish to have something ‘different’ or rare and unusual. But if plants aren’t ‘doing’ for you and your garden, don’t grow them. Change your style, re-plant your garden but clear out the less-than-happy, rather than persist with what ends up just looking scrappy and unloved.
Thank you for your congrats Robert, we’ere very happy thanks and having fun discussing the many options for our wedding!
So back to the topic. I think we’re all agreed that there’s no substitute for sound horticultural knowledge, good plant selection and good technique. But I can’t help feeling that you’re living in some kind of garden Utopia, playing devil’s advocate or just not admitting to plant failures that you’ve had along the way.. maybe all three!
In spite of everything you say, including the benefits of genetic modification, things keep changing; oh that they wouldn’t but they do! The climate changes and pests and diseases respond to that and change accordingly. Plants that were once cast iron and bomb-proof succumb to changes in climate or pests and diseases they were resistent to before. For instance, there are a whole range of plants that need a certain number of ‘chill hours’ in winter to break their dormancy and our recent mild winters are having an adverse effect. And it takes a while for plant breeders to respond to that in their selection and to make those new cultivars available. But in the meantime things can change again and so it goes on!
I think that we also have to take into account what realistically can be achieved in a large garden with limited resources. I’m a very firm believer in plants having to earn their keep, in addition to being aesthetically beautiful they have to perform a useful function; preferably several. This is probably not a popular notion amongst plant collectors but as a designer I find it essential.
Hi Sacha,
Thanks so much for your comment!
Of course there will be failures and if you read what I said it was , ‘sure remove’. No one wants a garden full of failures. I see we agree on plant selection being a possible cause. Another reason for failure might be our own failure to provide proper support in terms of basic husbandry, the like of the effective establishment which any plant needs, pruning, feeding and so on as appropriate. Both of the latter two can enhance flower if that is what you are lacking!. If however basic plant husbandry is not your policy then…. You may get away with things, be lucky, in which case so be it. But if there are deaths occurring sporadically or on any scale it is worth working out why. You might have honey fungus in the garden or it might be a case of pruning your apple trees and thinning their fruits so they don’t fall over under the weight of their own fruit etc etc. I could go on but won’t bore you. There is of course also the case management of expectations but that is another story……….
Best
Robert
Hi Libby,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment!
Wrong on all three counts in the first para, I’m afraid.
Didn’t use the word ‘benefit’ of genetic modification. That was a throw away remark to someone saying very confidently that training could not affect DNA, which manifestly, and from my perspective unhappily, it can!
Yes gardening is yearly more challenging and that is precisely where good horticulture, plant selection etc are advantageous. In testing times it will be the strongest plants which do the biz! This will be best achieved by them being climatically appropriate, constitutionally appropriate, geologically appropriate and well looked after, particularly initially.
Large gardens? I have looked after 5 acres of complex garden with 4 staff and 30 volunteers. I have also looked after 5 quite complex acres with just myself doing I suppose about 2 days a week and someone in to mow the grass. In the latter situation for sure I found that it was important for example to only plant what I could support for the whole of the following year in terms of watering thoroughly in dry spells etc. Basic plant husbandry or wifery! Husbandry in my case!
As to plant health of course I have had losses – in 25 years of professional work! But if something turns turtle I am still interested in the why! Roses for example are greedy feeders, the soil gets sick of them, they can then be successfully moved. The timing of pruning of prunus (!!) needs care etc etc. And these facts are readily available to the amateur gardener. And if you have a number of failures then there is something wrong!
These days I garden for my own enjoyment and design as my career. But the one influences the other. I want to ensure that when clients shell out good dosh they are going to be able to look after what I design both timewise and that they have the knowledge or knowledgeable staff to do it justice. Gardens are not cheap and therefore it behoves us to research, nurture (=love!) and enquire.
Best
R
“requires popularity of a new, better way of horticulture to help them”:
Popularity seems key (show some celeb like Adele or football player who is supposedly into horticulture, why they do what they do, and the benefits)
New, better way – return to the basics…designing, placing, and maintaining a plant into a space in how it’s growth habit dictates. Or if forced habits such as topiary or pollarding are desired, show the above points in doing that.
Help – most people actually want something pretty, though they confuse it all choosing fad with fashion.
But you probably already knew that, I just sometimes try not to comment with something more like a blog post…my apologies if this is too long!
Hi David,
Thanks for taking the time to expand on your ideas!
People do often want what is fashion and why not? And so as long as it is right for the site, and that is a big as long, that might be a possibility. But I am not really that keen on fashion and tend to choose the plants I choose, if you see what I mean.
We are increasingly being asked for basic maintenance schedules which are personalised to their site. And we are happy to oblige. These give generalised treatments for whole areas of the garden and vague timings for these, according to the vagaries of the weather, and also any specialised requirements such as vines, roses etc. They or their gardeners then at least know what they ought to be thinking about doing. Even if thinking about it is all that happens!
Best
R