To Make The Importance of Repetition

The Importance of Repetition

When designing an area of planting one of my main aims is to produce a plan which has a strong sense of coherence and harmony. One of the ways in which this can be achieved is through the repetition of plant material.

For a scheme to be balanced only a limited number of plants may need to be repeated. When choosing these it is important to consider whether their visual merit lies in their form, foliage or flowers. The decision of what to repeat will also depend upon the client brief and intended style. Below is a brief discussion of some planting styles and how repetition has been used to achieve a pleasing scheme.

The mixed planting style of Gertrude Jekyll (b. 1843) had a cottage garden exuberance. This was achieved through her use of a variety of plant material, with the main emphasis being upon flowers. By repeating plants of the same flower colour and tone she avoided a disjointed effect that would have been particularly noticeable in the large scale borders for which she was renowned. It is not essential that just one colour of flower or foliage is adhered to, although this can be attractive (for instance the White Garden at Sissinghurst - pictured above), Jekyll gradually worked along borders by the use of material with complementary colours.

Further interest can be added through the use of plants with contrasting colour; this for instance may be done through using just one dramatic plant such as a spiky cream variegated Phormium surrounded by airy purple flowering Verbena.

Prairie planting is currently a popular gardening style and is characterised by the use of grasses and flowering herbaceous perennials. One of the reasons such schemes are visually pleasing is the repetition of grasses such as Pennisetum and Stipa; the harmonious effect that is created by repeating similar form and foliage supports the variety of perennials that are dispersed between them.

In contrast to the billowing prairie style is the restrained minimalism of planting such as that found in the Wolfgang and Heron show garden at the 2004 Westonbirt Festival of the Garden. (Pictured above)

A limited planting pallet of the grasses Stipa gigantea and Descampsia caespitose with Betula pendula trees gives the garden a simple restful feel. Such planting sophistication is effective at the Festival but may require adjustment for year round interest in a domestic situation.

There are many more planting styles that can be discussed and implemented in gardens. Gardeners should take time to research into these before making an informed decision about the style that appeals most. It is important that this choice is not based solely upon taste, also to be considered are: the site and conditions, the time available to maintain the planting and what the purpose of the planting is (for instance is it shelter, to attract wildlife or for attractive seasonal colour).

Picture credits - Picture top - The White Garden at Sissinghurst - courtesy of Stephen Robson and The National Trust. Pictured middle - The Kitchen Garden, courtesy of The Manor House, Upton Grey, Hampshire. A restoration of one of Gertrude Jekyll's 1908 Gardens for Charles Holme, (a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts movement.) For more information please access the Upton Grey Manor House web site. Picture above - Wolfgang and Heron show garden at the 2004 Westonbirt Festival of the Garden. Image taken by Mark Fenton.

Source : http://www.recklessgardener.co.uk/