Types and methods of planting garden trees and shrubs...
Among all the garden plants, trees and shrubs are the backbone materials, playing the role of skeleton support in the greening of the city. Trees and shrubs have a long lifespan, unique ornamental value, economic production role and health protection function. Because of the variety of trees and shrubs, they can be planted alone or combined with other materials to form rich and varied garden landscapes. Therefore, they account for a large proportion of the garden green space, generally accounting for about half of the total planting area, and the remaining half is lawn and ground cover plants, so the planting type must be given priority consideration.
The planting types of garden plants and shrubs are usually the following:1. Solitary Planting:>>>>1. The role of solitary trees in garden landscaping:When a superior tree in a garden is planted alone, it is called a solitary tree. Trees planted alone are called solitary trees. Broadly speaking, solitary trees do not mean planting only one tree: sometimes, in order to create a composition and enhance the feeling of luxuriance, lushness, and majesty, two or three trees of the same species are often planted closely together to form a unit, which makes people feel like a large tree with many branches: such trees are also called solitary trees. The main function of solitary trees is to provide shade and serve as the main view for viewing, as well as the background and side view of buildings:> > > > 2. Conditions for a solitary tree:Solitary trees mainly show the individual beauty of trees. When selecting tree species, individual beauty must be highlighted, such as particularly large body, varied outlines, graceful posture, abundant flowers and fruits, bright colors, and strong fragrance. For example, cedar with straight and clear outlines, Podocarpus and Pinus pentaphyllum with rich postures, white pine and Trichosanthes with ornamental trunks, white magnolia and magnolia with large and beautiful flowers, and Yuanbaoqi and Jizhangqi with special ornamental leaf color. Plants selected for solitary trees should also be vigorous, long-lived, less pest-prone, and adaptable to local site conditions.> > > > 3. Location selection for solitary trees:The location for planting solitary trees should be relatively open, not only to ensure that the crown has enough space for growth, but also to have a relatively suitable viewing distance and viewing point. As far as possible, the solitary trees should be set off against a background with simple colors but certain contrast changes, such as the sky, water surface, lawn, and woods, to highlight the characteristics of the solitary trees in terms of tree body, posture, and color, and to enrich the changes in the landscape skyline. Generally, solitary trees can be considered for planting in open spaces, islands, peninsulas, banks, bridgeheads, bends, protruding parts of hillsides, rest squares, and open spaces in the woods in the garden.A solitary tree is not isolated in the garden composition, but is unified with the surrounding scenery in the overall composition of the garden.Solitary trees are few in number, but if used properly, they can play a finishing touch. They can serve as a backdrop to the surrounding landscape, and the surrounding landscape can also serve as its backdrop. They are the focus of the landscape. Solitary trees can also serve as a transitional landscape from a dense forest, a group of trees, or a grove of trees to another dense forest in the garden.> > > > 4. Selection of tree species for solitary tree planting:Tree species suitable for solitary planting include cedar, golden pine, masson pine, white pine, weeping pine, camphor, sassafras, sycamore, beech, oak, poplar, maple poplar, honeysuckle, Chinese magnolia, black cypress, magnolia, osmanthus, horse chestnut, ginkgo, crape myrtle, weeping crabapple, cherry, red-leaf plum, pomegranate, chinaberry, podocarpus, white magnolia, peach, tulip tree, magnolia, paulownia, mulberry, poplar, silk cotton tree, eucommia, hackberry, elm, toon, and wintersweet.
(ii) Planting:>>>>1. Effect on plants:Tree planting generally refers to two trees or two clumps of trees, which are planted symmetrically or balanced according to a certain axis relationship. They are mainly used in parks, in front of buildings, roads, and entrances and exits of squares to provide shade and decoration. In the composition, they form a background or sandwiched scenery, which serves as a foil and set off the main scenery.>>>>2. Methods and requirements for planting:Regular symmetry generally uses the same tree species and the same specifications, and is arranged symmetrically along the central axis of the entire landscape. It is generally used in gardens and green spaces with more buildings. Natural symmetry uses two different trees (tree bushes) that are different in shape and size. They are planted not symmetrically and equidistantly, but in a balanced position with the central axis of the main landscape as the fulcrum to show the natural changes of the trees: large trees are close to the axis, and small trees are far from the axis, and the tree posture and momentum are concentrated on the axis. Natural symmetry has greater changes, forming a more lively landscape.The selection of trees to be planted is not too strict. No matter whether it is a tree or a shrub, as long as the tree shape is neat and beautiful, it can be used. Rocks, flowers and plants can be arranged near the trees as needed. The size, height, posture and color of the trees to be planted should be consistent with the main scenery and environment.
(III) Cluster planting:The organization of a clump is usually composed of 2 or even 9 to 10 trees. If shrubs are added to the clump, there can be as many as 15 trees. Planting trees together in clumps is called clump planting.The combination of trees mainly considers the beauty of the group. There is a unified connection between them, but also their own changes. The primary and secondary configurations and positions complement each other. However, it is also necessary to consider that the unified composition expresses the individual beauty of the single tree. Therefore, when conceiving, you must first select a single tree. The conditions for selecting a single tree are similar to those for selecting a solitary tree.Cluster planting is similar to solitary planting in terms of garden functions and layout requirements, but the ornamental effect is more prominent than that of solitary planting. As a purely ornamental or induced cluster, two or more trees can be matched, or trees and shrubs can be mixed, and sometimes they can be combined with rocks and flowers. As a shade cluster, tall trees of the same species with spreading crowns should be used. Generally, they are not matched with shrubs, but natural landscape stones or seats can be placed under the trees for rest. Usually, garden paths should not pass through the cluster, so as not to destroy the integrity of the cluster. The elevation of the cluster should exceed the surrounding lawns or roads, which is not only conducive to drainage, but also more prominent in the composition.The main scenery is usually arranged at the entrance of the park or the intersection of the main road, the concave and convex part of the bend, on or around the lawn, by the water, on the slope and the edge of the mound, etc., to form a beautiful facade and waterscape. In places where people's sight is concentrated, the trees with special viewing effects can also be used as a panorama of the local composition: the trees at the bends and intersections can also serve as natural barriers, playing a very important role as a barrier and guide:As the background or background of buildings and sculptures, when single trees or pairs of trees are arranged next to some large buildings, they often appear uncoordinated or insufficient to set off the atmosphere of the building. In this case, bushes are often used as backgrounds. In order to highlight the effects of sculptures, monuments and other scenery, bushes are often used as backgrounds and foils to form a magnificent picture: but when choosing plants, attention should be paid to the contrast and coordination between the shape and color of the bushes and the main scenery.For relatively narrow and empty spaces or water surfaces, in order to increase the depth of field and layers, trees can be used as appropriate partitions to eliminate the monotony of the landscape and increase the spatial layers. If there are spectacular scenery in front of the line of sight, the trees can be distributed on both sides of the line of sight or in front to form a sandwiched scene, a framed scene, or a leaked scene.>>>>1. Combination of two plants:According to the principle of unity of opposites, when two trees are matched, they must be both harmonious and contrasting, and the two become a unity of opposites. Therefore, the two trees must first have common features, that is, they must be of the same tree species (or different tree species with very similar appearances) to make them the same; but they must also have special features, that is, the two trees should be different in posture and size, so that they can be contrasted and lively. Gong Xian, a painter in the Ming Dynasty, said: "Two trees in one cluster must have one leaning down and the other looking up, one leaning straight, one facing left, one facing right,..."This is true for painting trees, and it is also true for arranging trees in a garden. It must be pointed out here that the distance between two trees should be less than the diameter of the crown of a small tree. Otherwise, it will feel loose and separated, with the east and west separated, and it will not be a grove.
>>>>2. Three-tree cluster arrangement:For a grove of three trees, the combination of tree species should not exceed two. It is best if they are both trees or shrubs. If it is a simple grove, the size and posture of the trees should be contrasted and different. If it is a mixed grove, avoid choosing the largest or smallest tree shape for a single tree. When planting, the three trees should not be in a straight line, and should not be in an equilateral triangle. The largest and the smallest of the three trees should be closer, and there should be a response in the momentum. The three trees should be in an unequal triangle. When choosing tree species, avoid too great a difference in size and too strong a contrast in posture, which will cause the composition to be inconsistent. For example, two small shrubs of red-leaf plum are planted under one large tree, or one small shrub of redbud is planted under two large trees of camphor. Due to the large difference in size, the contrast is too strong when planted together, and the composition effect is not unified. For example, one bald cypress and two locust trees are planted together. Because the shape and posture are too strong, the composition effect is not harmonious. Therefore, for a three-tree clump, it is best to choose trees of the same species but with different shapes and postures. If two tree species are used, it is best to choose similar species, such as bald cypress and metasequoia or pond cypress, camellia and osmanthus, peach and cherry, red leaf plum and photinia, etc.>>>>3. Arrangement of four tree clusters:The four trees can be of the same species or of two different species. If they are of the same species, the requirements for each tree are different in shape and posture. If they are of two different species, it is best to choose different species with similar appearances, but the appearances cannot be very different, otherwise it will be difficult to coordinate. There are two types of planes for the four trees to be matched: one is an unequal quadrilateral shape; the other is an unequal triangle, forming a 3:1 combination, and the largest of the four trees must be in a group of triangles. Among the four trees, no three of them can be arranged in a straight line.>>>>4. Arrangement of five tree clusters:The arrangement of five trees can be divided into two groups. The number of these two groups can be 3:2 or 4:1. In the 3:2 arrangement, it should be noted that the largest tree must be in a group of three trees. In the 4:1 arrangement, it should be noted that a single group cannot be the largest or the smallest. The distance between the two groups should not be too far. The tree species can be the same or 2 or 3 different tree species. If there are two tree species, one tree should be 3 and the other tree should be 2. There should be differences in shape and size. One tree cannot be 1 and the other tree cannot be 4. This is not suitable and easy to lose balance. In terms of planting methods, it can be divided into unequal triangles, quadrilaterals, and pentagons. In terms of specific layout, evergreen trees can form stable clumps, evergreen and deciduous trees can form semi-stable clumps, and deciduous trees can form unstable clumps. In the 3:2 or 4:1 arrangement, the same tree species cannot be placed in one group. This is not easy to echo, there is no change, and it is easy to create the feeling of two clumps.>>>>5. For more than six plants:The combination of six trees is generally composed of 2, 3, 4, 5 and other basic forms. For example, 2 and 4 make a combination of 6 trees; 5 and 2 make a combination of 7 trees, both of which form a grove of more than 6 trees. They are all complexes of several basic forms: therefore, although the number of trees increases, there are still rules to follow. As long as the basic form is mastered, the combination of seven, eight, nine or even more trees can be deduced by analogy. The key is to have contrast in harmony and stability in difference. When the number of trees is too large, the number of tree species can be increased, but it must be noted that the appearance cannot be too different. Generally speaking, when the total number of trees in a grove is less than seven, the number of tree species should not exceed three, and when the total number of trees is less than fifteen, the number of tree species should not exceed five.4. Group tree planting:Planting a large number of trees and shrubs (or ground cover plants) together to form a whole is called group planting. There are usually more than 20 shrubs in a tree group. Tree groups and clumps differ not only in size, color, and posture, but also in the content they express. Tree groups express the group beauty of the entire plant body, and its layers, outer edges, and canopy are appreciated.Tree groups are the backbone of a garden and are used to organize spatial levels and divide areas. Depending on needs, they can also form main or supporting scenery in a certain way to serve as isolation, barriers, etc.The planting of tree groups can be composed of simple tree groups or mixed tree groups, depending on the tree species. Mixed tree groups are the main form of tree groups in gardens. They use a large number of tree species, which can form different levels of forest edges and canopies. The composition of mixed tree groups can generally be divided into four layers. The highest layer is the tree layer, which is the main body of the canopy line and requires undulating changes; below the tree layer is the sub-tree layer, which requires the leaf shape and color to have a certain ornamental effect and form a color contrast with the tree layer; below the sub-tree layer is the shrub layer, which should be arranged in a sunny place close to people and is mainly composed of flowering shrubs; the bottom layer is the grass ground cover layer.The distance between plants planted in a tree group should be varied to form an unequal triangle. They should not be planted in rows, lines or strips at equal distances. For evergreen, deciduous, foliage and flower trees, because their area is not large, they cannot be mixed in strips or sheets. Instead, they should be mixed in a combination of composite, small-block and dotted forms.In the selection of tree species, attention should be paid to the biological learning of various tree species that make up the tree group. Trees on the outer edge are greatly affected by the environment, while trees inside have a great influence on each other. Tree groups are planted before they are closed, and are dominated by external influences. According to this characteristic, positive trees that like light should not be planted in the group, let alone as understory trees, and negative trees should be planted in the tree group. The first layer of trees in the tree group should be positive trees, the second layer of sub-trees should be neutral trees, and the third layer of shrubs distributed on the outer edges of the east, south, and west sides can be positive, while shrubs distributed under the trees and on the north should be neutral trees or negative trees. Plants that like warmth should be planted on the south or southwest side.For the appearance of the tree group, attention should be paid to the seasonal changes of the plants so that the entire tree group can change with the four seasons. For example, a tree group with large trees such as Magnolia grandiflora, sub-trees such as Magnolia dasyphylla, Magnolia purpurogena or Maple, large shrubs such as Tripterygium wilfordii and Michelia foetida, and small shrubs such as Pyracantha fortuneana and Hydrangea foetida. Magnolia grandiflora is an evergreen broad-leaved tree, which can make the white flowers of Magnolia grandiflora particularly vivid as a background. Tripterygium wilfordii and Michelia foetida are evergreen neutral warm-loving shrubs, which can be used as understory trees. Pyracantha fortuneana is a small positive evergreen shrub, and Hydrangea foetida is a positive deciduous flower crown tree. In the Jiangnan region, camellia is the first to bloom in late February; white magnolia and purple magnolia bloom in early to mid-March, with white and purple alternating with the dark green magnolia as the background; in mid to late April, hydrangea blooms white flowers, forming a sharp contrast with the big red camellia, and then Michelia continues to bloom with a rich fragrance; in October, Pyracantha bears red fruits again, and the leaves of red maple turn red. This kind of planting takes into account the biological characteristics of various plants in the tree group, enriches the seasonal changes, and makes the entire tree group vibrant and prosperous.When the area and number of trees are large enough, it not only forms a forest landscape but also plays a special protective function. Such a large tree group is called a forest plantation or a forest. It is a kind of garden green space where trees and shrubs are planted in large numbers in large pieces. Forests are more commonly used in scenic areas with large garden green areas. Generally, they can be divided into dense forests and sparse forests. The canopy density of dense forests can reach 70%-95%, while the canopy density of sparse forests is about 40%-60%. Forests are divided into pure forests and mixed forests. Generally speaking, pure forests have a single tree species and a consistent growth rate, and the forest edge line formed is monotonous and dull, while mixed forests have a variety of tree species, and the seasonal changes of the forest edge line formed are complex, and the greening effect is also more vivid.
(V) Planting:Row planting refers to the planting of trees and shrubs in rows along certain straight lines or gently curved lines. The landscape formed by row planting is relatively simple and neat. It is a form widely used in planned gardens, squares, roads, factories, mines, residential areas, office buildings, etc. Row planting can be single row or multiple rows. The size of the row spacing is determined by the adult crown diameter of the tree crown. In order to achieve greening effects in the short term, the row spacing can be appropriately smaller and denser, and the trees can be cut down when they reach adulthood to solve the problem of overcrowding.For the tree species planted in rows, it is best to have a relatively neat crown shape, such as a round, oval, elliptical, or tower-shaped crown. Tree species with sparse branches and leaves and irregular crowns are not suitable. Since the location of row planting is generally greatly affected by the external environment and the site conditions are poor, when choosing tree species, try to use species that are strong, resistant to pruning, tall, and resistant to diseases and insect pests. When planting, the relationship with roads, buildings, and various underground and above-ground pipelines must be properly handled.When the range of row planting is expanded, forest belts can be formed. Forest belts are a large number of trees and shrubs, with tree species planted in strips. They are an extension of row planting. They are widely used in landscaping and can be used for shade, space division, sight barrier, windbreak, noise blocking and other purposes. As trees with shade function, tree species with umbrella-shaped crowns should be selected. Sub-trees and shrubs should be shade-tolerant and should not be used in large numbers. The difference between forest belts and row planting is that trees in forest belts cannot be planted in rows, rows, or at equal distances, and the skyline should have undulating changes. Forest belts can be composed of a variety of tree and shrub species, and the selection of tree species should be varied to form different seasonal landscapes.
