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| A Rented Garden? | |
| Close packed low maintenance shrubs should be the backbone of the rental garden. Perennial shrubs of a hardy character, (and that require at most only annual pruning), are of the right size to fit in with the scale of most yards. If the species are chosen carefully they will add colour and life as a bed of annuals might, but have that necessity of being able to look after themselves, since their 'owner' will be absent. Raised in solid bordered beds with a thick layer of permanent mulch such as pebbles, a shrubbery will (when established), out compete the weeds. This is essential if you will only be doing landscape maintenance a few times a year. Shrubs which are not planted close enough together, not of a sufficiently aggressive character, not protected from lawn runners by a solid raised border, not mulched permanently, or not high enough, will allow weeds to establish in your absence to the point where control becomes nearly impossible. | |
| These guidelines should be applied to each plant type being considered. For instance roses to some would seem a first choice in whatever garden they plant, since they are the (near) undisputed queen of flowers. In a rental garden however, nobody will be around to give them the regular pruning, de-heading, black spot spraying and fertilising that they require. Moreover, they are short and deciduous, and come winter, weeds will creep back into control. |
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Some of the many exotic shrubs suited to rental gardens include: |
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Dwarf date palm, Phoenix loureiri, small size. Hardy but with lush fronds |
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Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, medium size for many years. Hardy attractive tree/shrub with large silvery leaves and delicious/attractive yellow fruits. Not suitable for fruit fly areas. Grafted plants are recommended for early fruiting. |
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Buttercup tree, Cassia corymbosa, medium clusters of large yellow flowers. |
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Cannas, Canna indica, small. New colourful varieties are useful in adding interest to gardens in reasonable rainfall areas. |
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Brunfelsia, B. calycina, small. Multi-coloured fragrant warm season flowers. |
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Agave, A. americana, medium. Grows in poor soils. Dramatic accent plant. |
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New Zealand Christmas tree, Metrosiderois excelsa. Dense clusters of red flowers. Good for coastal gardens. |
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Ipomoea, I. fistulosa, small. Clambering branches, heart shaped leaves and pale purple flowers. |
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Yuccas, Y. filamentosa, medium. Desert plant that is the pinnacle of the low maintenance plant. Keep away from paths as its other names are Spanish bayonet, Spanish dagger or Adam's needle. |
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Firethorn, Pyracantha angustiflolia, medium. Great display of autumn berries. Good hedge. |
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Philodendron, P. selloum, small, needs dappled shade. Good for lush effect without too much water. |
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Malvas, M. moschata, small. Hibiscus relative. Great blue flower summer display. |
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Jasminum, Jasminium species, medium climber. Almost an essential for their enticing fragrance |
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