TOPOGRAGHY
Refers to the lay of the land. Many gardens are flat, but
others slope or have differing levels throughout the site. Working with the existing
topography is easier than trying to change it – one of the challenges of a good
garden design.
8).What is meant by the topography of a site?
Topography refers to the degree of slope, if any, as well as
mounds and hollows in the landscape. Gardens attached to newly built homes in
housing developments are often flat, although awkward sites are also sometimes
found. The topography and underlying soil type has a major bearing on the
garden design.
9).Should I attempt to alter the topography of a site?
It is usually difficult to alter the lay of the land in a
garden. Earth-moving equipment such as bulldozers are needed, and are expensive
to rent. Plus, you need to be sure that you can get the bulldozer on and off
the site easily. Excavations close to a house or other buildings can also
affect the foundations and possibly lead to sagging, sinking or even collapsing.
The best advice is to work with the site as it is and to keep any changes to a
minimum.
10). How do I deal with a sloping site?
A sloping site can lead itself to dramatic water features,
provided there is adequate room to build a large enough tank or pool the
required volume of water. A south facing, sloping garden can be terraced to
increase the sun-trapping qualities. This suits Mediterranean plants such as
rosemary, lavender, sage, brooms, as well as succulents such as agaves, aloes
and sempervivums.
To cover a bank, consider planting a climbing plant at the
top and allowing the stems to trail downwards. Pinning the stems down where
they touch the ground will cause them to root and form an impenetrable ground
cover. Clematis and climbing roses can be particularly spectacular grown in
this way. In shady sites, try ivies or Virginia creeper. If the garden slopes
sharply to one side, you can disguise this with a thick planting of mixed
shrubs at the bottom of the slope.
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