Indecent Exposure

I saw it again the other day--a landscape with far too much mulch and naked brick wall exposed, when luxuriant plant material would have created a far more pleasing scene.  It was there earlier, but no more.  Some plants had been completely removed, exposing hard architectural lines that had earlier been well-concealed by healthy plant material.  Tall shrubs planted behind short ones had been lowered to the height of the short ones in front of them.  The tall ones would have concealed other harsh lines in the building.  Sun-loving plants had been planted on the shady side of the building.  Pointy-shaped shrubs had been centered between windows--a phenomenon which Gus van der Hooven, former Kansas state horticulturist, decried both in person and in print by saying "Don't ever do that.  It looks like a nose between two eyes."  It appeared in the textbook used in our high school class on landscaping.

The whole idea of cutting something back just because it's there is repugnant to me.  Healthy luxurious growth is the whole point of planting and nurture.  If the plant has been selected wisely, its mature size has been taken into account, and the space allotted is adequate so that it does not obscure windows and obstruct walkways.  It's intended to gradually reduce the mulch needed, since the space will be filled in with plant material.  In some cases, a decision is made at planting time to use plant material that will eventually need pruning.  This is a trade-off made in favor of letting the space fill in faster in the meantime--partly so that less mulch and/or weeding is needed.

The natural texture, color, and form has also been considered if plants have been selected wisely.  Overly enthusiastic pruning diminishes the effect of each of these elements in the overall design.

Plants next to each other are expected to merge so that they eventually "read" as a single landscape element--not sliced apart, so that each stands off rigidly from its mates.  Natural shapes are somewhat irregular.  Shearing plants makes the "natural" plant expression problematic, setting up onerous maintenance chores for the duration of the plant's life.  Again, in a private landscape, if that's how people want to spend their time, far be it from me to protest.  The dynamics are different in a public space, because maintenance is usually a shared duty.

This morning, in an effort to learn the names of some of the delightful groundcover plants Linda M. gifted me with, I came across this paragraph from an article in Fine Gardening:

Every spring, crews spread thick piles of mulch around scattered shrubs, trees, and perennials. I think this practice creates landscapes bleaker than the Mojave Desert. I am not antimulch: On the contrary, I feel that organic, nutrient-balanced mulch is one key to a healthy and maintainable garden. I just don’t like to see it so exposed. A garden in which every square inch of ground is filled with plants is far more appealing than one dominated by chipped wood.

Read more: http://www.finegardening.com/tough-ground-covers#ixzz46NWBPIVG 

I couldn't have said it better myself.

I do know that a landscape can rightly be a very personal expression of one's own idea of beauty, just as is true of the interior of a person's residence.  In residential sites, I'm certainly in favor of granting anyone and everyone complete freedom to do exactly as they please.  

Different dynamics apply for public spaces.  For those areas, consulting experts in the field makes good sense, and operating by widely accepted principles can help avoid any pitfalls that imposition of an individual's personal style might expose.  

Note to self:  Make this distinction clear in the teaching of all future landscaping classes.  Do whatever pleases you in your own private landscape; consult and follow the advice of horticulture and landscape specialists in public spaces.  Hide the mulch and walls and harsh architectural lines with plant material if you can--always.

Second note to self:  Don't dwell unduly on landscaping sins.  It's better for your health and peace of mind.  

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Last fall I wrote a post with landscaping advice here.