$\""Church\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
c. Alister Thorpe<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
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Two gravel paths merge at a secluded seating area cocooned by tall grasses, including Stipa gigantea<\/em> and Calamagrostis<\/em> x acutiflora<\/em> \u2018Karl Foerster\u2019. In early summer, colour comes from dark-purple Cerinthe major<\/em> \u2018Purpurascens\u2019 and the delicate, star-shaped, pale-blue flowers of Amsonia hubrichtii<\/em>, while the emerging silvery spikes of Verbascum bombyciferum <\/em>will add bright-yellow tones later in summer. Within the planting, piles of logs create habitats for insects. Beyond the garden stands the old\nvillage church and churchyard, which features ancient lime trees that Stefano has \u2018borrowed\u2019 for the garden\u2019s outlook.<\/p>\n
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What is a plant community and how to create one<\/h3>\n
\u2022 Stefano has ensured a long season of interest by using a wide range of different plant groups \u2013 bulbs, annuals, grasses, perennials, shrubs and trees \u2013 that work together as a community. For this to be successful, it\u2019s important to choose plants that have similar growth rates and habits so there is balance within the plant community. \u201cCombining plants with different seasonal growth is also useful,\u201d says Stefano, \u201cas this allows plants to flower and go dormant while others start showing new growth. And by doing this they hide the foliage of the plants going dormant.\u201d<\/p>\n
$\""Church\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The key to success is ensuring around 30-40 per cent of the plants used are grasses, as this will help blend the mix of perennials and bulbs in a naturalistic<\/a> way. This grass matrix should comprise clump-forming grasses that are ideally no taller than around 30-50cm, to avoid overwhelming the tall perennials. Grasses and perennials with narrow leaves are useful, so emerging plants don\u2019t get shaded out.<\/p>\n
Plant the perennials in groups of 10-12 minimum, and in long, weavy layouts rather than blocks. Self-seeders such as nigella, honesty and California poppies will help fill any gaps in newly planted schemes, rather than leaving them open to weeds.<\/p>\n
In this garden, Stefano has used the low-growing, clump-forming grass Sesleria autumnalis<\/em>, with a mix of annuals and perennials including Nigella damascena<\/em>, Gillenia trifoliata<\/em>, Amsonia hubrichtii,<\/em> Nepeta racemosa<\/em> \u2018Walker\u2019s Low\u2019 and Salvia<\/em><\/a> x sylvestris<\/em> \u2018Dear Anya\u2019.<\/p>\n
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USEFUL INFORMATION Find out more about Stefano\u2019s work at stefanomarinaz.com. <\/a>Join Stefano for a tour of Church Barn on 13 September and 18 November. Follow Stefano on Instagram (@stefano.marinaz)<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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