Waste not, want not
CHARACTER: THERE IS A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN
Clever plant choices add to the effect of the three ‘Rs’ – recycling, re-using and repurposing – it is the last ‘r’ that offers the most possibilities for creative garden art.
If you don’t know what to do with old wheelbarrows, left over bricks or stones, suitcases that won’t survive another overseas trip or pots that have sprung a leak, there is a place for them in the garden. The result can be quirky and ingenious and bound to be a talking point.
A great example of this is the double-decker wheelbarrow installation, pictured, filled to overflowing with multi-coloured Calibrachoa Kabloom Paradise Island Mix. It was created by students from the Lifestyle College of Garden Design as the focus of their show garden, which formed part of the BallStraathof plant trials and open gardens earlier this year.
Everything in their garden was scavenged from the BallStraathof grounds, including old gumtree poles, gravel and discarded paving. Instead of just filling the wheelbarrows with flowers, they opted for the unexpected and built a steel frame with one wheelbarrow on top of the other.
Having had that great idea, they then selected plants that would show off the feature, and meet the need for edibles and flowers in one small space. This is how they did it: Attention was drawn to the two wheelbarrows by using plants that flower non-stop and with a mounded, yet slightly cascading growth habit.
They chose the Calibrachoa mix because it grows in full sun, is adaptable and specially selected to stand up to harsh conditions.
It has a controlled height and spread of 25 to 38cm and flowers even under low light conditions.
Having chosen yellow as the dominant colour, this was repeated in the planting around the wheelbarrow, using marigold Taishan, marigold Bonanza and more of the Calibrachoa.
Taishan was chosen as the main plant for its large double flowers that don’t mind overhead watering.
The plants are sturdy, growing up to 25cm high.
To balance the bright colours, lush greenery was introduced by planting vegetables, adding an edible dimension. Low-growing parsley, chillies, and lettuce, were planted in front, with tomatoes and brinjals behind the wheelbarrows.
Plants were placed according to their sun and shade requirements.
Although tomatoes and eggplant are sun-loving, they do like some afternoon shade, which is provided by the barrows.
Tomatoes can get untidy, but planting compact patio varieties like Little Napoli or Sweet and Neat, which do equally well in the ground, produces a neater bed that is easier to maintain.
Eggplant Patio Baby is a good companion.
What’s new
Marigold Strawberry Blonde introduces new colours into the marigold range, an aptly named mix of bicolour pastel pink, rose and yellow. When warmer, the flowers are yellow-pink and when it gets cooler the pink-plum tones kick in. Plants are rounded and bushy,