Plant a Garden That Can Move With You
For those of you with a small outdoor space to plan for, there are many great design ideas and products that can allow you to design and create your own private dream garden that can move with you if required. That includes feature plants and pots, water features, screens, furniture and even garden walls. In fact, smaller courtyard spaces can be almost fully transportable apart from the floor surface and some larger, established trees.
Another thing to consider before we get started is that if you have a garden feature that you really love and are thinking of selling your property, make sure you specify taking it with you in your contract of sale and make it clear to all prospective buyers to ensure there are no arguments. Otherwise you could end up having to leave your prized garden feature behind.
So what garden pieces could you plan to take with you?
The number and arrangement of the pots is another way to add your own design flair — whether you use three of the same pots in a row or a cluster of different-sized pots.
No matter which way you go, adding a living green sculptural element will help enhance your movable garden.
When it comes time to move, you may have to trim some of the roots, and if you do, you will then need to trim the canopy of the plant by about one third. You should also keep the roots moist with a piece of burlap or some water crystals. Also remember to feed the plant with liquid seaweed or a similar fertilizer to minimize the transplant shock. There is definitely some risk with this process, and each plant variety will react differently, so please see your local nursery for plant-specific transplanting tips.
Some can simply sit on a deck or paving, as long as it is level. Others you can build into a deck or dig into the ground, and you may choose to take the feature with you and leave the mechanics and base pond behind.
Water walls are a great way to create a backdrop, and the sound of the water is soft, subtle and calming. I’d avoid loud, noisy water spouts in small spaces, as they can become a little overpowering and annoying.
The simplicity of a classical urn with water slowly spilling over into a bed of pebbles is another fantastic idea. It can sit in the corner, in the middle or at the focal-point axis. The variety of pots available means you can complement home styles ranging from traditional to contemporary. Garden artists are on the rise and are creating custom pieces of garden art where water is the focus. You can really put your personality into the garden by selecting an artistic, one-of-a-kind sculptural piece of water art.
Plants such as Sedum morganianum ‘Burrito’, Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ and pathos ferns really make a statement and look good all year round. Irrigation is critical, as is the strength of the mounting point, as you need to consider the long-term weight of the plant and pot.
So if you are renting, are not permanently settled or are temporarily away for work on a long-term basis and you love gardens, plenty of tools and design ideas can help you take your garden with you when you move. Get creative, have some fun and think mobile.