What would we do without ornamental gardens, especially the public ones designed and created for the purpose of aesthetic pleasure of civic society? Ornamental garden layout dates back to ancient times as is evident in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon listed in the seven wonders of the ancient world and other famous pleasure gardens mentioned throughout history.
It is recognized as an essential requirement in urban planning to include ornamental gardens into the architecture.
In today鈥檚 context, where there is a scarcity of land around dwellings, the setting up of ornamental gardens often laid around public buildings, churches, devotional centers, public parks, and other public places are both visually stimulating and an asset to the environment. Their functions are many and a pleasure to use. Some of these gardens have incorporated spaces for walking, sports, sitting and even areas for conducting cultural performances and events such as cocktail parties, weddings, and other social gatherings, which are vastly popular due to the visual appeal it presents.
Depending on the climatic conditions and plants, the layout can be varied to suit the architecture of the area it has to complement. Some modern buildings may require more elegant and formal design for best view from a distance, while a more casual style is applied to a garden surrounding small dwellings and private homes.
Setting up an ornamental garden brings out the talent of the landscape designer not to mention the pleasure in creating them. Ornamental horticulture and decorative horticulture are both used in creating an ornamental garden. Trees, Shrubs, herbaceous perennials, rock gardens, bedding plants, lawns, garden features and containers form the basis in the layout of an ornamental garden.
Herbaceous perennials are best to provide vibrant color throughout early spring to the end of fall. Evergreens, ornamental grasses and shrubs that produce berries will add to interest in winter and attract bird life.
When planting wall shrubs, up to a building, make sure the level of soil is below the damp course level.
Restrict species requiring regular maintenance to lesser visibility areas, especially those that are prone to damage in stormy weather and the ones that shed copious quantities of fruit. These should be located away from vehicular and pedestrian movement. It is also very important to pay close attention when setting up areas located below overhead utilities. Be mindful in selecting species of trees that don鈥檛 grow over the requirements of local utility height and clearance, as compliance of this is essential for public safety.
Know what the ultimate size and pruning requirements of climbers before planting them as you may end up having it in the wrong place.
Hedges can be grown as both formal and informal features. Formal hedges generally do not flower as they are clipped at set times mainly to be kept neat and tidy. Informal hedges are pruned sparingly and allowed to flower.
The action of plants in the ornamental garden is two fold when it comes to keeping the air in the environment clean and regulating temperature. It is also home to wild species of birds, insects, butterflies and sometimes small animals.
