Answers to Common Mass Planting Questions

Mass planting can be just the thing to produce drama and wallop in the garden . That said , found mass of the same eccentric of plant is n’t for everyone or every garden , and there are certain techniques that can make this design more successful . See some answer to common mass planting questions below , and read more about how to make a beautiful figure with aggregative plantings inGive Your Garden Mass Appeal .

Q: Is my garden too small for massing?

A : The ocular impact and reduced maintenance will be most noticeable in larger gardens , where you could make use of more than one species for variety when massing . In medium and small gardens , it ’s more important to restrict the amount of massing to keep things from looking too stable . A good world-wide principle is “ The smaller the prop , the few the people . ” And if you have way for only one muckle , it ’s best to choose a works that flower for a long time period of time , such as catnip , or Rozanne geranium ( Geranium‘Gerwat ’ , Zones 5–9 , pictured ) , or a plant that has super striking foliage , such as little bluestem grass or ‘ Brunette ’ Indian poke .

Q: Can you have too many masses?

A : mayhap . If you observe the purpose of massing in commercial-grade landscapes to be cold and strict , it might be because the concept is being used exclusively . There is no break for the eye to catch something peculiar or unexpected ; you are leave with large motionless sphere of sameness . Instead , poise large masses with other areas of smaller mathematical group of different plant , or fall apart things up occasionally with a strategical focal point .

Q: How do you avoid monotony?

A : Here are some simple-minded tips for avoiding excessive repetition in a landscape that rely on lots of masses .

1 . Vary the structure and grain

When it comes to plant choice , make certain you consider the size , social system , and grain of each plant type . Using slew of coneflower ( Echinacea ) , grim - eyed Susans ( Rudbeckia ) , and sneezeweed ( Helenium ) in a similar area may give your blooms color line , but they all portion out standardized anatomical structure and texture . If you commingle things up with strappy genus Allium , Russian sage , and/or billowy catmint , you will get height , shape , and textural contrast as well .

2 . scatter in some self - sowers

These annuals will bring an element of surprise . Opium poppies ( Papaver somniferum ) , bloom tobacco ( Nicotiana langsdorffii ) , borage ( Borago officinalis ) , dill ( Anethum graveolens ) , and several others are good choices that can be easily verify by hired hand pulling . Let them derive up in your quite a little planting here and there . Pull them out where you do n’t desire them . Remove them after they are no longer attractive , but expect until they have drop seed for next yr .

3 . program for a well - placed gaolbreak

locate a lowly Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or a couple of bush ( like the hydrangeas in the back ) between Mass or even in the midriff of a exclusive mass human action as a full stop for the eyes , and it visually breaks up a mass or acts as a modulation between two masses .

4 . Utilize the mix - and - mass construct

mix little plant life groupings ( three to five plant ) within a gravid mass ( five or more plant ) definitely works against monotony . take plants with a staggered flush time ( from the declamatory flock variety ) and color that work on well together .

Dean Wiegert is the pass gardener at Afterglow Farm in Wisconsin .

exposure : Danielle Sherry

For more on aggregate planting :

Give Your Garden Mass Appeal

Mass by Numbers

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