Some designs can be realised within weeks from conception. These are satisfying because you can quickly see the results of your hard work.

These fast achievers are typical of urban sections with plenty of hard landscaping, but what of the slow achievers. Could be a case of the hare and tortoise?

Landscapes that mature over decades or longer do so slowly, but when they come of age they are well worth the wait. I am currently working on a rural property where we have planted more than 2000 trees to create a forest garden.

These trees are small but in time the plantings should replicate a wild woodland similar to those found in the eastern states of the USA. The deciduous plantings are a mixture of oaks, maples, birches, sweet gums (liquid ambers), beech, ash and a few others.

The concept behind this large scale design is to create shelter for the property. A number of more typical trees, like pines or gums, could have been used but where is the fun in that as perhaps more important than the shelter aspect is the way it looks.

The deciduous species listed above will provide a great mix of fall colours that can be viewed from above and below. This hillside planting should in due course be visible from the plains for all to enjoy from a distance but the longer term plan for this private forest is to put in tracks and huts as well as a babbling brook.

These large scale projects need more time than money and more love than skill and as such they can be initiated relatively quickly without the need for a large budget. As more and more trees get removed for vineyard it is good to see more permanent trees being planted to help offset this.

With this project being located on such an exposed and windy site I needed to specify some hardy pioneering species, like the oaks, that would provide some shelter for the less hardy species like the maples. The oaks are planted on the ridges and the maples and birches and sweet gums are on the sheltered lower slopes where they have a chance to get established.

The trees have all been planted in the very fertile topsoil and loess substrate that forms the dry Wither Hills. The trees have been dug into the slope with a lipped hole to catch any rain and to stop water running off down the hill. All the trees have been fertilised with a quality slow release fertiliser, mulched with thick bean straw, staked and enclosed with tree guards.

In a few years the trees will be worth looking at but for now it is the excitement of knowing what they will become as time passes.

Here is a example of what I hope they will look like further down the track when they bring immense joy to their owners. If you want to create an area of immense natural beauty then give this a thought.

– The Marlborough Express

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Leucanthemum (little angel) performs well.

WITH many Australians thoroughly enjoying the warmer weather, at the same time as praying for some rain, many gardens are in need of some attention to promote healthy growth, avoid the many problems that can spoil that growth, and start new projects.

So, let’s start with some preventative ideas to keep everything looking good and growing well.

Keeping pests away

Citrus trees can do with a good clean up at this time, so spray with PestOil to rid them of any remaining leafminers, which will also clean up scale and aphids.

Sucking insects cause so much damage to our otherwise healthy plants, so let’s stop them before they start.

We have found Confidor, both liquid and tablet forms, very effective in keeping aphids, azalea lace bug, mealybug, greenhouse thrips, hibiscus flower beetle, soft scale, sap-sucking bugs, psyllids and many more in their right place – out of our garden.

This is an excellent spot treatment for those pests, and into the bargain is perfect for indoor plants or those on the veranda or patio – and the aerosol container can be turned upside down to treat under the leaves and other awkward spaces, which is an enormous help, and as it has low toxicity is not hard on the good insects like ladybirds.

Whatever you do, don’t overlook the tablet form.

These can be used to protect azaleas both in-ground or pots from azalea lace bug (up to six months), lillypillies from psyllids (four months), potted palms from mealybugs (six months), magnolias from scale (three months) and more.

Plant of the week

If you love daisies, the delightful leucanthemum (little angel) will fill a special sunny spot in your garden, producing hosts of its starry, golden centred white flowers from late winter through spring and summer.

Little Angel is a recent new improved form of the popular shasta daisy that we all enjoyed for so many years, due to their hardiness and easy growing.

They are perennials here, make excellent cut flowers, attract butterflies, love a sunny situation, make good borders, and grow very well in planter bowls that can be moved around the outdoor living areas.

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Posted: Saturday, September 29, 2012 12:00 am
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Updated: 10:01 pm, Fri Sep 28, 2012.

Around the House 09/29/12

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DECORATING NATURALLY: A class on decorating for fall and winter with natural materials found in your yard will be taught at 6 p.m. Thursday at The Potting Shed, 1717 Devney Drive, Altoona.

This free class will instruct participants on ways that garden and landscaping materials can be used in wreaths, door decorations and table centerpieces.

Call 715-831-4000 to register.

LEAVES IN LASAGNA: Phoenix Community Gardens is looking for bagged leaves for use in its efforts to begin a “lasagna garden” at the public garden site on Forest Street.

Small quantities of bagged leaves collected from your yard can be dropped off at the garden behind the white shed near the on-site composting area, garden organizers said. To donate large quantities of bagged leaves, call 920-680-5215 to make arrangements.

The garden group also is looking for a source of stray or hay.

A lasagna garden is created by layering hay, leaves, compost, cardboard and other organic materials to make a rich soil for planting.

SCARECROW DAYS: Down to Earth Garden Center, 6025 Arndt Lane, is providing straw for people who want to make their own scarecrow.

Straw will be available today, Oct. 6 and 13 at the garden center, south of Eau Claire off Highway 93, but attendees must bring their own clothes, boots and hats for their scarecrows.

Call 715-833-1234 for more details.

From staff reports

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Saturday, September 29, 2012 12:00 am.