Fire Safe Gardening

Posted By Firefox on August 19, 2009

A few weeks back I posted the proposal for a garden on Dolores Street in Carmel.

Today the garden was finished and I wanted to talk about the transformation.

Originally, the garden, a 25 by 2o foot plot shaded by oaks and a massive pine, was spotted with a few ferns and some grasses.

The garden is mostly empty with a few struggling ferns scattered throughout.

The garden had been planted with azaleas and camellias, but they had failed due to shallow irrigation, poor fertility, and root competition.

The new scheme included a variety of shade and drought tolerant plants grouped to create a woodland effect.  They were irrigated with drippers to encourage deep rooting plus fed regularly to stimulate strong new growth.  The existing Western Sword Ferns were rescued along with some Mexican Feather Grass that were grouped together to create a drift around the base of the pine.

Among the improvements was a rough rock wall to create more room for the entry.  Tumbled grey flags interplanted with dymondia ground cover give more room for guests to gather at the entry.   A path of grey flags form an informal path through the center of the space to a rustic pine bench backed by Flowering Currents, Carpinteria, and Ceanothus.

Viewed from above, the path and rock wall give structure to the new, dynamic planting.

Near the street, a line of tired junipers was replaced with fragrant ‘Goodwin Creek’ lavenders and Blue Convolvulos creeper.

The plantings is more compatible with the native oaks and pines.

Learn more:

Gardening Under Oaks by

Las Pilitas Nursery

http://www.laspilitas.com/groups/oaks/Planting_under_oak_tree.html

Heucheras mix with ajuga, Pacific Coast Iris and Diascia.

Categories: fires and fire safety, organics and sustainability
Tags: big sur, garden designs, organic gardening, sustainable gardens