NOTES FOR THE WORKSHOP ON EFFECTIVE PLANTINGS FOR CIVIC CONTAINERS

Thursday, March 23, 2006

STYLE – SCALE – SUSTAINABILITY

  1. DEFINING THE PLANTING STYLE FOR YOUR TOWN AND YOUR GARDEN CLUB

    • NOT MUNICIPAL PLANTING STYLE — Grand Style originating from great estate bedding out in the 19th century when newly discovered tender annuals could first be raised in greenhouses. This style perpetuated in Parks Departments because people love gaudy display and maintenance is easy — crews plant in spring, water and weed in summer, and yank out Oct. 1. Plants are low, do not move in wind, at best form pleasing patterns, at worst effect of plastic.
    • NOT COMMERCIAL PLANTING STYLE – sometimes wonderfully sophisticated and far out, showing the high style of the designer and the taste of the store which paid for the design, but targeted at specific group of clients.
    • BUT — LYNDEN MILLER’S VISION: PRIVATE GARDENS FOR PUBLIC PLACESMelding as closely as possible your town’s vision of itself with your garden club’s vision of itself: “branding,” finding your public face. Not pleasing just yourself or one client (where it’s safer to take risks!). Some errors and some successes

  2. SCALE: BIGGER IS ALMOST ALWAYS BETTER

    Streets are wide; buildings are tall; though sidewalks are narrow, the larger the container the more effective the display.

    • Scale of container:Choose big containers whenever possible
      • Some inadequate choices
      • Lucky communities with horse troughs
      • Mass big containers when possible, repeating or varying heights
      • Repeat masses of big containers when possible: Strong Lines
      • Scale of Design: For plantings to be seen from a distance, SIMPLIFY: no more than three kinds of plants one tall, one round, one dripping/foamy. Only one bold shape. Strong, simple colors. For plantings to be seen close up (window boxes, planters by stores), more detail is possible, but the over-all effect of the row must also be considered, which DOESN’T mean the plantings should be identical.

  3. SUSTAINABLITY: A DEAD PLANTING IN A CIVIC PLANTER IS MUCH MORE DEPRESSING THAN NO PLANTING AT ALL:

    It epitomizes failed good intentions, broken promises.

    • Just saying “no”: When not to put out planters:
      • The site is dangerous or unduly difficult to reach for maintenance.
      • The site is unimportant to the town and no one wants to care for it. Your group cannot guarantee maintenance throughout the season
    • Consider self watering containers to reduce hours spent watering.
    • If you are considering a four season planting, insulate the container with Styrofoam
    • Prepare your planter well:
      • Assure drainage (squashed plastic bottles wrapped in filter fabric or fiberglass screening (or recycled onion or bulb bags) in the bottom.
      • If theft is an issue, use concrete blocks instead of plastic bottles
      • When affordable, use purchased soil mix for containers, like Promix or Fafards or Jolly Farmer to reduce chance for soil borne diseases.
      • Consider adding some ‘soil moist’ preparation if not in the mix
      • Choose tough plants
      • See lists in packet from Jill Nooney and Sydney Eddison
      • Check out the “Tough Plants” lists and pictures (and other resources).

Remember: the Key Word for successful civic container plantings is MASS:

MASSIVE CONTAINERS

MASS CONTAINERS

MASS PLANTS IN CONTAINERS!

Resources for Civic Container Planters

Medfield GC ’s containers…

“came from a firm called Peterson of Denison, Iowa (1-800-832-7383) They offered a variety of shapes, colors and finishes. In 2001, we paid $2125 for two six foot diameter and one 30” diameter container. A substantial part of the price was shipping so I’m certain it’s considerably higher today. These replaced wooden barrels that were too small and too informal for the major intersections of town.

Recycled fiberglass barrels: made more authentic looking with metal strappings that rust. We paid $25 each and they have held up against weather and even the occasional run-in with a truck.”

Books/Periodicals I use myself:

Selected Internet Resources

Download Jill and Jacquelyn Nooney’s handout (2-page PDF)

Back to Civic Planting Resources page