Longing to plant a garden but worried about a lack of space? Disney horticulturist Heather Will-Browne has an ideal solution: a miniature knot garden.
Plant designs that carpet the ground are often referred to as knot gardens. These are composed of low, level beds and ornamented with a pattern of intertwining lines made with dwarf hedges or clipped herbs. Basically, a miniature knot garden is one in a container that can fit in small spaces.
The container & soil:
- To create the garden, first decide on the design then choose a shallow container. Colored bowls, bonsai pots (which can be elaborate) and terracotta saucers are just a few options. Remember to drill drainage holes in the bottom of containers that don't have them.
- Next, fill the saucer with well-drained potting soil. A peat and perlite mixture is best since it will encourage drainage.
The plants & design:
- Choose plants that are easy to maintain in miniature size. For the circle, Heather chose yellow and green Joseph's coat (Alternanthera ficoidea). This plant can be purchased in plug form and simply planted side by side around the circle. Choose colors that contrast well.
- To recreate the design shown here, simply take a small bamboo stick attached to a string and anchor the stick in the soil in the center of the container. Then extend the string and draw the outer circle.
- The loops are actually easy to create. After the circle has been planted, place the stick in the middle again, attached to two strings this time. Place the strings in an "X" formation and simply plant around the string in a loop pattern. Heather chose to plant the loops with red Joseph's coat for strong contrast.
- To accent the design, Heather planted Santolina, an herb, between the loops and the circle. The gray and green shades round out the color scheme, and Heather also added pebbles to create a path effect.
The maintenance:
- The garden will need to be fertilized once a week with liquid fertilizer. Since the garden is shallow, it can't get many nutrients from the soil.
- The plants will also need to be trimmed with scissors once a week to maintain the consistent height level of the plants.
- In homes that have ample light exposure, the garden may be able to stay indoors. The best location, however, is usually a patio or terrace where it can get direct sunlight for at least half a day.
Guests Heather Will-Browne
Disney Horticulturist, Walt Disney World Nursery
PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000
Phone: 407-824-7205
Fax: 407-824-6719
Email:
heatherwill-brown@disney.com
URL:
www.disneyworld.com
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