10 uses for Lomandra – some practical and some fun!

Lomandra longifolia is an extremely popular, attractive and hardy tufted, strappy leaf plant native to eastern Australia. It has arching green leaf blades emerging from a central crown. The common species can range in height from 1 metre to 1.8 metres in ideal conditions. Flowers are dioecious ie male and female flowers grow on different plants. This is relevant as the female flowers are spikey and male flowers are not, enabling non spikey varieties to be selected for areas such as children’s play spaces or pedestrian pathways.

Many varieties and cultivars of Lomandra are available, with 8 propagated and sold here at Bluedale http://www.bluedale.com.au/our-selection/strappy-leaf-plants/lomandra-varieties . Bluedale’s Lomandra cultivars include ‘Shara’, ‘Tanika’, ‘Nyalla’, ‘Katrinus’, Katie Belles’ and ‘Tropic Belle’. Varieties that we propagate include Lomandra Longifolia and Lomandra hystrix. In the remainder of this article, this selection of 8 plants will be collectively referred to simply as Lomandra.

Lomandra border hedge

Listed below are Bluedale’s 10 top uses for Lomandra. These range from very practical applications, to the whimsical garden spaces many of us dream of. Useful links are available if more information is required.

Urban landscapes – Plants in public open spaces cop all kinds of mistreatment. They are regularly trampled or even pulled out and their growing environment is often less than ideal. Heat from pavements, buildings, roads etc combined with poor air quality and limited irrigation render the urban landscape one of the most difficult areas for growing plants. Lomandra has proven itself in the urban landscape for decades. Its toughness and adaptability to a wide variety of water and shade regimes, variety of soil type and tolerance of coastal aspects ensures Lomandra will continue to be found in most urban gardens spaces. Don’t underestimate their ability to look good – with a bit of creativity they can look amazing.

Road Corridors – Even more hostile than the urban landscape is the roadside environment. Non irrigated, north facing batters present the greatest challenge. Lomandra are proven performers on the verges and median strips of roads and freeways. With good soil preparation, correct pot sizes – viro-tubes or 140mm pots (see http://www.bluedale.com.au/about-us/latest-news/viro-tubes-or-potsnow-thats-question) and planting rates of 5 – 7 Viro-tubes per m2 – good results can be expected. Success can be improved by timing planting with seasons, irrigation (at least in early months) and adding an organic mulch.

‘Tanika’ in formal landscape

Formal Gardens – Lomandra certainly have a place in the palette of the formal garden. Too often it is assumed that these plants belong in rustic bush garden settings only. Many Lomandra have the regular form so vital in a formal planting. Used well they can provide another dimension of foliage contrast. Mass plant under specimen trees or large shrubs for great formal effect. Use as borders for pathways, garden edges and retaining walls. Repeat the same cultivar or variety Lomandra throughout the garden to create connectivity. Use Lomandra as specimen plants themselves by drawing attention to their fantastic symmetry. They look great around water features too. For more ideas check out Bluedale’s article ‘Native Grasess can be Formal too’ http://www.bluedale.com.au/about-us/latest-news/native-grasses-can-be-formal-too

Playgrounds – Increasingly, children’s playgrounds include natural play spaces, offering a blend of natural areas, environmental features and plants. Such a landscape may include plants, boulders, water and sand, quiet social areas, interesting pathways, musical instruments as well as structured play equipment. Plant choice is critical for success when creating a natural play space. Lomandra with male only flowers (ie non spikey) are well suited to natural playspaces. Lomandra ‘Shara’, ‘Tanika’, ‘Nyalla’, ‘Katie Belles’ and ‘Tropicbelle’ all have non spikey flowers and strappy foliage that can be woven into baskets, platted into rope or generally wrestled in, jumped on and attacked! One established they will regenerate from their dense crown after damage. As seen in the ‘Bush Foods’ discussion below, Lomandra are also non-toxic. For more on using Lomanda in children’s play spaces refer to Bluedale’s article ‘Australian Ornamental Grasses for Children’s Play Spaces’ http://www.bluedale.com.au/about-us/latest-news/australian-ornamental-grasses-children-s-play-spaces

Revegetation – Lomandra is regularly used in the revegetation of degraded bushland. This is due to many factors, namely: large distribution in a variety of habitats throughout SE Australia; ease of propagation; and general hardiness. It shades out weeds, provides habitat for lizards, frogs and small animals and can self-seed given suitable conditions. When planting in remnant bushland, consideration should be given to using plants of local provenance – that is plants produced from seed growing in the local area with the aim of preserving genetic differences/variability. Provenance plants are not readily available at specialist nurseries, including Bluedale. We can supply them, however depending on season and species required, will require a lead time of 6 – 12 months. Alternatively both Lomandra longifolia and Lomandra hystrix can be grown in bushland areas using direct seeding techniques. Lomandra hystrix is useful in the revegetation of gallery rainforests where it dominates the understorey, typically with a Tristaniopsis laurina canopy above.

Containers – Narrow leaved Lomandra look fabulous in containers. ‘Shara’ (400mm tall), ‘Tanika’ (500mm tall) and ‘Nyalla’ (700mm tall) all have narrow, arching foliage and are well suited to planting in containers. They look good in single pots as ‘specimens’, however if planted in clusters of pots with perhaps the pot size or height being the only variable, the effect can be remarkable. The accompanying picture offers a great example of Lomandra ‘Tanika’ in containers.

Vertical Gardens. According to the Australian Bureau of statistics (1), the average site area of new houses in Australian capital cities has decreased over the last 11 years. As urban densities increase and garden areas shrink, vertical gardens are becoming a popular and successful way to grow plants for food or ornamental value. What a great way to screen an unpleasant view or dress up a bare wall! Vertical gardens are basically irrigated growing medium such as hydro-felt or rockwool, mounted on a board made of marine ply, plastic board or expanded propylene sheeting. Sometimes the water reticulated through the medium contains fertiliser. Lomandra is well suited to vertical gardens as it copes well with drying out, can survive sun and shade and has tough leaves that rarely wilt. For a great introduction to vertical gardening with Lomandra ’Tanika’ and Dianella visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkVj6QN0MCY

Lomandra basket

Bush Food Gardens. Australian Native Bush Food Gardens have so much to offer. Thousands of years of Aboriginal Heritage can come alive, quite literally in a bush food garden, with the Noosa & District Landcare Group listing an astounding 45 “Bushtucker” species in their local area alone (2). Lomandra longifolia is a vital inclusion in bush food gardens. It has leaf bases that are edible, with a pea-like flavour (3). Flowers are also edible – watch out for the spines! (3). The Noosa and District Landcare Group also list Lomandra hystrix as having the same bush food properties as longifolia (2). The Botanic Gardens Trust advises that plants should not be eaten unless purchased from a recognised bush food supplier. The tasting or testing of native plants is not recommended by the Botanic Gardens Trust (3).

Basket Weaving. The strappy leaves of Lomandra make it suitable for basket weaving. In children’s play spaces I have seen the construction of Lomandra baskets. Lomandra longifolia was (and in some places still is!) used by Aboriginal people for basket weaving and the construction of eel traps (4). Imagine a basket woven from the plants growing in your garden!

Labyrinth

Labyrinth. Perhaps not the most conventional suggestion but surely a good one! Labyrinths, mazes and spirals have been used in gardens for centuries. According to the Labyrinth Society, the labyrinth itself is a single footpath used for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. Labyrinths are thought to enhance right brain activity. And they look fantastic! Imagine a Lomandra labyrinth planted with turf in between the rows. Or a maze of with waist high Lomandra ‘walls’. Now that would be something………….

References
(1) Australian Bureau of Statistics article 8731.0 – Building Approvals, Australia, Jul 2004
(2) Native Species Recommended for Planting as Bushtucker Noosa and District Landcare Group http://www.noosalandcare.org/support_documentation/BUSHTUCKER.pdf
(3) The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Website http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
(4) Aboriginal Plant use in SE Australia Australian National Botanic Gardens https://www.anbg.gov.au/aborig.s.e.aust/lomandra-longifolia.html

Australian Ornamental Grasses for Children’s Play Spaces

Ornamental grasses are a great addition to this whimsical play space.

Children’s playgrounds have come a long way since the lonely metal slides, swings and mown grass that many of us grew up with. Many modern playgrounds include areas that encourage various types of play. This may include: active; free; quiet; social; imaginative; creative; exploratory and natural play spaces.

Increasingly, children’s playgrounds include natural play spaces, offering a blend of natural areas, environmental features and plants. With good design, a variety of play activity can be catered for in an attractive, fun and living landscape. Such a landscape may include boulders, water and sand, gravel pits, quiet social areas, interesting pathways, musical instruments, bridges as well as structured play equipment.

Choice of plants is critical for success when creating a natural play space and the following should be considered:

• plants should suit the soil and climate of the site;
• the playground is a hectic environment and only hardy plants will survive. It follows that plants that are able to regenerate after damage will be useful;
• plants that can be touched, jumped over or occasionally jumped on will not only survive but be ‘well loved’;
• plants with a variety of different textures, scents, colours, forms and sounds will add to the play experience;
• plants with loose parts such as small logs, leaves, seed pods, fruits, cones etc readily available will be incorporated into play;
• plants of all sizes – trees, shrubs, grasses and ground covers can play a number of roles in a play space;
• avoid plants that have poisonous parts or cause allergic reactions; and likewise
• avoid plants with sharp or prickly parts.

‘Lucia’ Dianella amoungst boulders.

Australian ornamental grasses are well suited to natural play spaces and fulfill many of the above requirements.

Dianella varieties are an excellent playground choice for their strappy, arching foliage, purple flowers and bright edible berries. Depending on the variety chosen, their height range of 400 – 700mm make them suitable for bordering play areas and pathways. Dianella’s spread via a rhizome and will therefore recover quickly following damage. Bluedale recommend Dianella ‘Little Jess’ http://www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au/shop/Ornamental-Grasses/Little-Jess/6/ or ‘Lucia’http://www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au/shop/Ornamental-Grasses/Lucia/3/ for playground borders, pathways and mass plantings.

Lomandra cultivars with male only flowers (ie non spikey) offer a taller alternative to Dianella and are well suited to natural playspaces. Lomandra ‘Tanika’, ‘Nyalla’, ‘Katie Belles’ and ‘Tropicbelle’ all have non spikey flowers and strappy foliage that can be woven into baskets, platted into rope or generally wrestled in, jumped on and attacked! For more information on Lomandra visit our wholesale website  http://www.bluedale.com.au/our-selection/strappy-leaf-plants/lomandra-varieties or buy online http://www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au

Ornamental grasses in the harsh play space environment.

Tussock grasses such as Poa and Pennisetum perform well the harsh conditions of any high use landscape. They have fine foliage and soft flowers. Poa poiformis ‘Kingsdale’ and Poa labillardieri ‘Eskdale’ are cool season grasses, looking at their best in Winter and well suited to cooler climates. Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Nafray’, ‘Purple Lea’ and ‘Cream Lea’ are all tall (900mm to 1.5m) warm season grasses. Wind blowing Poa and Pennisetum will add an element of movement to the natural playspace. For more on Bluedale’s ornamental grass selection visit http://www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au/shop/Ornamental-Grasses/

Australian native groundcovers such as Myoporum parvifolium ‘Yareena’ (10cm tall), Hardenbergia ‘Meema’ (30 – 45 cm tall), and Hibbertia scandens (40cm tall) are all well suited to play space areas. Although they will not tolerate pedestrian traffic, they will recover from damage, are not spikey and have attractive flowers. http://www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au/shop/Ground-Cover-Plants/

Carex fascicularis would work well in a water feature such as this.

In ponds and creekbeds with permanent water, the soft foliage of Carex fascicularis offers an alternative to other water plants, many of which have spiky or sharp foliage.

For further information on the plants recommended visit our website http://www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au/ and buy online.

Pennisetums ……. Friends and Foes

Pennisetums are warm season grasses that are native to many parts of the world, including Australia. Pennisetum range in form from grasses suitable for lawns ie kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) to medium/large tussocks that have been used in gardening. The Australian species is Pennisetum alopecuroides, and it is a tussock form. Bluedale grow and supply 4 cultivars of P. alopecuroides as well as the common form. We also sell one species from Africa. Let’s call these species Friends.

Now for the Foe. Pennisetum setaceum is from Africa and south western Asia. It is highly invasive and will germinate readily in gardens, bushland, even cracks in the footpath. Not the sort of plant you want to have around! P. setaceum has been declared a Class 5 weed in NSW (restricted weed which must not be sold, bought or knowingly distributed throughout the entire state) and Class 3 weed in Qld (environmental weed). It is yet to be classified in other states.

Native Pennisetums used in landscaping and supplied by Bluedale

The cultivars and common form of P. alopecuroides supplied by Bluedale are regularly used in the landscape industry and include:
• ‘Nafray’ Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘PA300’ http://www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au/shop/Ornamental-Grasses/Nafray/26/
• ‘Purple Lea’ Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘PAV400’ (see first picture) http://www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au/shop/Ornamental-Grasses/Purple-Lea/69/
• ‘Pennstripe’ Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘PAV300’
• ‘Cream Lea’ Pennisetum alopecuroides http://www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au/shop/Ornamental-Grasses/Cream-Lea/64/
• Pennisetum alopecuroides(common form)

‘Purple Lea’ in flower.

P. alopecuroides is known as Swamp Foxtail Grass. Its distribution ranges from tropical Queensland to the south of New South Wales mainly along the coast. P. alopecuroides naturally occurs in moist conditions and boggy areas. Importantly, Harden (1993) classifies P. alopecuroides as a native Australian species, however to confuse the issue, many sources indicate it may not be indigenous to Australia, having been transported here prior to European settlement.

Pennisetum varieties flower in late summer and autumn. Unfortunately, it follows that in areas with warm moist winters, such as tropical Qld and northern NSW, some cultivars, namely ‘Nafray’ and ‘Purple Lea’, can self-seed. Bluedale believe in responsible gardening and would not recommend growing either of these cultivars in such areas. To complicate things further, modern gardeners and landscapers will need to consider global warming and the resulting warmer winters some of us are already experiencing when using any plant that produces seed in abundance. The same can be said of gardens with warm winter micro-climates, coastal gardens and irrigated gardens.

When grown in other areas, an uncharacteristically warm and moist winter can see some self-seeding. In this case, we recommend thick, quality mulch and vigilance. Beware of coarse mulch such as pine bark as this leaves gaps and exposed soil suitable for seed germination. Seed heads can be removed before seed is set and unwanted seedlings spray very effectively with glyphosate.

In Bluedale’s experience, ‘Pennstripe’ is yet to produce viable seed. It is also the first variegated Australian native grass available. ‘Cream Lea’ has also proven to be non-invasive. There are no reports from Bluedale customers of ‘Cream Lea’ self-seeding.

Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’

Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’ is a commonly grown ornamental cultivar grown from the species Pennisetum advena native to Africa, the Middle East and East Asia. Both tall and dwarf forms are available. It is completely sterile and does not have a rhizome. ‘Rubrum’ will therefore not become a weed.

Pennisetum setaceum in flower.

Our Foe Pennisetum setaceum

The common name for P. setaceum is Fountain Grass (see second picture). In an ideal world P. setaceum would not be available for sale in Australia. Over the past few years Bluedale has however, seen projects where this weed has been supplied to unsuspecting landscapers as the native form. The take home message here is be sure you/your contractors source plants from a reliable supplier. If in doubt, ask. Beware of plants produced by ‘backyard growers’ and sold at places like local markets.

P. setaceum flowers most of the year and produces an abundance of viable seed, which is mainly dispersed by wind but can also be spread by vehicles, humans, livestock, water and possibly birds. Where the native form has 10 – 30% seed viability, P. setaceum has close on 100%. Notably seed has been reported to remain viable for at least 7 years. It was likely brought into Australia as an ornamental grass and has been living it up here ever since.

According to the NSW Department of Primary Industries, P. setaceum is difficult to eliminate. Control may need to be repeated several times a year. The long-lived seeds mean continued monitoring after treatment is essential. Control should initially be directed to outlying populations followed by treatment of the core area. Small infestations of fountain grass can be removed by uprooting and removing/destroying seed heads. Extensive infestations of fountain grass are probably best controlled with herbicides, combined with mechanical techniques.

Pennisetum setaceum diagram from Harden, 1993.

The invasive behaviour of P. setaceum is likely to be the first step in its identification. Other features include:
• upright tufted grass with very narrow leaves and flowering stems growing up to 1 m or more tall
• long spike-like seed -heads (6-30 cm long) are reddish, pinkish or purplish in colour
• flowers are always present
• P. setaceum has a hairy peduncle (flower stalk) compared with the hairless peduncle of P. alopecuroides (see drawings)
• seed-heads contain large numbers of densely packed stalk less flower spikelet clusters
• each flower spikelet cluster is surrounded by numerous feathery bristles (12-26 mm long) and one significantly larger bristle (16-40 mm long)
• its mature seed-heads turn straw-coloured or whitish and the seeds are shed with the feathery bristles still surrounding them.
If in doubt about identification, contact your local council or post a specimen to your nearest botanic gardens (most botanic gardens have a plant identification service that charges a small fee).

Pennisetum alopecuroides seed diagram from Harden, 1993

REFERENCES
Harden, G. J. (Ed) 1993 ‘Flora of New South Wales Volume 4’ Copywrite Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. Published by New South Wales University Press, Kensington, NSW Australia.
NSW Primary Industries Biosucurity (part of Department of Primary Industries) Weed Alert Brochure http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/profiles/fountain-grass

‘Tanika’ Lomandra longifolia LM300

‘Tanika’ is without a doubt, Bluedale’s best seller. We sell over 200,000 ‘Tanika’ annually. This is a reflection of the many positive attributes it brings to a wide variety of landscape situations. ‘Tanika’ retains its beautiful lush appearance in harsh environments such as urban landscapes. It follows that it looks magnificent when pampered in manicured residential gardens of the highest calibre.

From a design perspective it’s all about the foliage. ‘Tanika’ has slender, lime green foliage with an arching to weeping habit that develops with age. Possible applications are endless………..accentuate bright coloured foliage or flowers with ‘Tanika’ surrounds; make use of its regular form in a sculptural garden; mass plant to create a sea of green that flows in the breeze; use under eucalypts for a natural landscape; combine with hedging plants or use ‘Tanika’ to create a low hedge.

‘Tanika’ is a cultivar of Lomandra longifolia. It grows to 500 – 700mm in height and 500-600mm wide. Although grown for its magnificent foliage, ‘Tanika’ does have attractive, small yellow flowers during Spring and Summer. These flowers do not produce seed and are not spikey. ‘Tanika’ is very user friendly.

‘Tanika’ is hardy in many situations. It will grow in full sun and in up to 50% shade. It is suited to coastal conditions, although requires protection from fully exposed seaside aspects. ‘Tanika’ thrives in inland climates and will be evergreen in frost and low temperatures to –10 degrees. It grows best in sandy loam to free draining clay loams.

In humid coastal climates it is important to space ‘Tanika’ plantings to provide good air circulation around the plants. Attention to free draining mulch and soil is also recommended. Hardwood chip and non-organic gravel mulch have proven best in humid climates.

Maintenance is simple – trim foliage to 200mm above the ground to remove old growth every 3 to 5 years or when the plant looks untidy. Yes this feels very drastic – check out our online maintenance article if you need some reassurance! Fertilize with a slow release fertilizer once a year and after trimming to encourage fresh re-growth. Care should be taken when re-applying mulch and don’t over water.

Twizzler® Lepironia articulata ‘LA20’

It’s all about the unique sculptural foliage of this landscape sedge. Twizzler’s cylindrical stems are twisted, glaucous and like nothing you have encountered before. Twizzler caused much excitement here at Bluedale when it emerged among the tens of thousands of sedges we grow here. At the time we knew this Lepironia articulata cultivar was something special.

After extensive trialling at Bluedale’s nursery and Ozbreed’s demonstration gardens, Twizzler® Lepironia articluata ‘LA20’ is now a registered plant.

Twizzler is well suited to areas where its architectural element can be best appreciated. This includes:
• courtyard garden water pots
• landscape ponds
• drainage lines
• reed beds for waste water systems
• bog gardens
• rain gardens
• constructed wetlands.

Accentuate the properties of Twizzler by using it with bold colours, for example in pots with a brightly painted wall behind. Blue or grey themed gardens would benefit from its inclusion. Twizzler is a stand out in the formal garden.

Twizzler is smaller than its Lepironia articulata parent, growing up to 1.3 metres tall x 700mm wide. It grows well in freshwater from 100mm-500mm deep and in full sun to 70% shade. Twizzler has proven itself in protected coastal aspects as well as inland climates where it will remain evergreen to -5 degrees C.

A wide range of soil types will be tolerated by Twizzler, including sandy & clay loam, water logged soil and even heavy clays.
The foliage remains very ‘clean’ so trimming is minimal. Every 3-5 years in Spring, trim back foliage to 100mm above the ground. Flowers are not the reason to grow this plant, however 30-40mm conical seed heads which are present much of the year are quite attractive.

Bluedale sell Twizzler in Viro-tubes and 140mm Pots. We recommend planting rates of 5-7 individuals per square metre for mass planting and 1 to 3 plants per square metre for specimen planting.

Go on dare to be different……find a home for some Twizzler in your landscape.

 

Viro-tubes or Pots, now that’s a question!

The nursery industry sells plants in a huge variety of pot sizes. This is further confused by our habit of referring to pots using mm, inches or even Litres! To make matters even more interesting, a single plant may spend time in up to 4 pot sizes before it reaches you.
Let’s simplify this for you………………..at Bluedale we sell our grasses and strappy leafed foliage plants in 2 sizes only – Viro-tubes and 140mm pots. In the past Bluedale has sold plants in Viro-cells (also called plugtrays), however we found results to be frequently disappointing and we no longer recommend them for direct planting in landscapes.

So Viro-tubes or pots? Choice largely depends on factors such as character of the species itself, project goals, available aftercare and budget. Choosing correctly will improve the outcome of your planting project. Bluedale are obviously very happy to assist you when making choices on pot size, however a crash course in plant pot sizes will not do the discerning gardener, landscape designer, revegetation officer or contractor any harm!

Viro-tubes
These are 50x50x90mm tubes in trays of 50 and are without doubt, the best way to grow Grasses, Strappy Leafed Plants, Sedges and Wetlands Plants. The unique design of the Viro-tube works to prevent plants from becoming root bound by training downward root growth to an open base where roots are air pruned. Viro-tube grown plants establish quickly as their roots don’t have to fight their way out of their own root ball. In fact the roots are primed ready for fast establishment.

Viro-tubes are often preferred for revegetation projects. High planting densities can quickly result in thick swathes of grasses outcompeting weed species while perhaps fulfilling an ecological role.

Viro-tube planting rates vary with species, but generally for most mass planting applications rates of 5 to 7 plants per square metre are appropriate. At $1.00 – $1.20* per tube (PBR varieties $1:85 – $2.10*) this equates to $5.00 – $8.40* per square metre (PBR varieties $9.25 – $14.70*). This is substantially less expensive than purchasing 140mm pots. In addition, due to their relatively small size, Viro-tubes can be planted quickly. It is not uncommon for specialist contractors to plant 2 to 3 thousand Viro-tubes per day per person!

There are a few more things to consider before you select Viro-tubes. Appropriate before and after-care is vital for success. Soil preparation prior to planting is necessary to ensure the Viro-tube root ball does not find itself surrounded by air pockets or impenetrable clay – both of these scenarios will dramatically reduce success. Also regular and frequent watering is paramount. Viro-tubes only penetrate 90mm into the soil and as such get hot and dry very quickly-choose your planting season carefully to avoid a high watering burden. On a final note – bushland wildlife enjoy grazing on fresh plants brought to them direct from the nursery. Ducks, kangaroos, possums etc can easily pull Viro-tubes out of the ground. Perhaps a ‘trial’ small scale planting will determine how problematic predators on your site are likely to be.

140mm Pots
Also referred to as 6” or 2.5L pots, 140mm pots are ideal for landscaping projects, commercial applications and roadsides. They are 140mm deep with a 125mm diameter. Plants grown in these pots have a larger root ball than their Viro-tube cousins and in many ways this makes them more forgiving.

As for Viro-tubes, pot planting rates vary with species and application. For mass planting, rates of 3 to 5 plants per square metre are common. At $3.95 – $5.95* per pot this equates to $11.85 – $29.75* per square metre, over double the cost of Viro-tubes. They are also slower to plant, requiring a hole 190mm in depth (1/3 larger than actual pot size).

140mm pots are ideal for areas where an instant plant presence is required. Examples include domestic and commercial landscapes, public parks and gardens and roadsides. Plants are more established in 140mm pots and grasses grown in this size pot can be quite tall.

Watering requirements are less for 140mm pots and they can be easier to mulch around. Provided appropriate care is given, high survival rates can be expected.

Viro-cells
Although Bluedale does not recommend plants in Viro-cells for direct landscape planting, we use them in our production process. Other nurseries continue to supply them to landscape and revegetation contractors, as we have done in the past. We feel it is important that our clients be aware of the pitfalls associated with planting cells directly into the landscape.

Cells are 25×25 x45mm compartments in rigid trays of 162. Their root ball is 12% of the volume of Viro-tubes – now that’s small. Our experience with cells is that they dry out quickly, often on the way to site. Associated losses can be significant. Further, predation by birds, possums, rats or whoever wants a cheap feed can be significant as the cell is easily pulled out of the ground. Success requires exceptional soil preparation and a rigorous watering regime which is time consuming and more often than not, impractical.

*Prices are a guide only and vary with species, numbers purchased etc. Bulk discounts have not been applied to these prices.

Little Jess® Dianella caerulea DCMP01

Bluedale has sold Dianella cultivars since 2003 and has seen many come and go. Little Jess is one of 4 Dianella cultivars we now produce – a testimony to its proven performance in a variety of landscapes.

The secret to Little Jess’s success? Essentially the short spreading rhizome gives Little Jess the ability to fill in gaps for a total groundcover. Combine this with vibrant green strappy foliage, Spring to early Summer purple star flowers, purple berries and wide range of growing conditions and Little Jess is a winner. Growth is generally to 400mm tall and 500m wide.

Little Jess will grow in full sun, as well as 90% shade. This includes the dappled shade of many trees. Although the harshest of roadside environments proves too difficult to sustain Little Jess, it is suitable to exposed seaside planting and coastal humidity. Little Jess can handle inland light frosts to -3oC. Minor leaf burn may occur when frosted, however this will be replaced by new growth in Spring.

Applications to which Little Jess is well suited include:

• Continuous borders – along pathways, roadsides and garden edges. Plant at 5 plants per lineal metre.
• Mass plantings – in large garden beds under trees, as foliage contrast among structural plants or to enhance flowering perennials and shrubs. Plant viro-tubes at 5 to 7 per square metre or pots 3 to 5 per square metre.
• Specimen planting – as clumps between other grasses or garden plants, to introduce ‘cool’ landscape elements to gardens with an otherwise dry appearance or around garden features such as rocks and ponds. Plant 3 – 4 plants per square metre.
• Where fire is possible – this may include urban/bushland interfaces where open spaces are maintained as asset protection zones (APZs). After fire Little Jess will resprout from the rhizome. Plant viro-tubes at 5 to 7 per square metre or pots 3 to 5 per square metre.

Bluedale has seen Little Jess used with success on many commercial landscapes and housing estates. Recent large projects include:

• Woolworths Supermarket, Lake Munmorah.
• Masters Hardware, Heatherbrae.
• Seascape Housing Estate, Hallidays Point.

A proven performer, Little Jess can be adopted in a huge range of environments and can be readily invigorated with appropriate maintenance techniques.

MAINTENANCE OF WARM SEASON GRASSES, COOL SEASON GRASSES AND STRAPPY LEAFED PLANTS

While the maintenance requirements of native grasses and ‘Strappy Leafed Plants’ (SLPs) are minimal, they are like all landscape plants and some management is necessary to keep them looking at their best. Trimming is the primary maintenance requirement of these plants, however, fertilizing, mulching and some watering are others.

Plant profiles available on the Bluedale websites www.bluedale and www.bluedaleplantsonline.com.au detail the maintenance requirements of each plant in our selection. Maintenance descriptions have been based on 3 levels of trimming frequency – Level 1, 2 and 3.

Trimming
Too often the assumption is made that native grasses and SLPs are somehow self-caring. In the natural environment these plants have both adapted to, and even depend upon grazing and fire. Such processes can be easily mimicked in the landscape by regular trimming. Well timed trimming removes last season’s foliage, including spent seed heads; encourages fresh regrowth during the plants ‘display’ season; promotes flowering and in the case of some Dianellas, makes room for new foliage from the basal clump.

So, how often is trimming required?

Maintenance Level 1 plants require trimming on an annual basis and include all the grasses in our selection. ‘Warm Season Grasses’ (WSG), such as cultivars of Themeda, Imperata and Pennisetum from are best trimmed in early Spring. This removes the growth of the last season and encourages fresh new growth in the warm months when these plants look their best. ‘Cool Season Grasses’ (CSG) in our selection include Poa cultivars. Their best foliage displays occurring in Winter and Autumn. They are therefore best trimmed annually in April.

Maintenance Level 2 and 3 plants include all of our SLP’s. Maintenance Level 2 plants perform best if they are trimmed every 2 to 3 years. This includes 3 out of the 4 Dianella cultivars in our selection as well as some of the landscaping sedges. Maintenance Level 3 plants respond well to trimming every 3 to 5 years. This includes Little Jess (TM) Dianella caerulea ‘DCMP01’ PBR and most of our Lomandra cultivars. Timing of trimming for Maintenance Level 2 and 3 plants from Bluedale’s selection is less imperative than our Maintenance Level 1 plants. The decision to trim should be based on plant appearance, soil moisture and seasonal conditions. For example it would be beneficial to prune a mature Lomandra longifolia ‘Katrinus’ showing signs of heat damage following the hot dry months, particularly if rain has occurred or a watering regime was introduced. In some cases where foliage remains fresh and healthy and the plant continues to flower, trimming may be unnecessary.

How much to trim
For both WSGs and CSGs a good rule of thumb is to remove 1/3 to 2/3’s of the leaf height. So if the plant is 600mm high you would cut it back by 200 to 400mm, leaving a good healthy base from where the new growth will emerge.
The pruning of SLPs differs according to their habit. If the plants are rhizomatous cut the foliage back to between 100 and 200mm from the ground as new growth will spring from the rhizome. Rhizomatous SLP’s in our selection include Little Jess (TM) Dianella caerulea ‘DCMP01’ PBR and Lucia (TM) Dianella caerulea ‘DC 101’ PBR. If the SLP has a clumping habit pruning is the same as for grasses. Cut back the foliage by 1/3 to 2/3’s the height of the plant. Clumping SLP’s in our collection include Aranda (TM) Dianella caerulea ‘DC 150’ PBR, all our lomandra cultivars and some of our landscaping sedges as specified.

Yes trimming in this manner can seem very dramatic. Particularly when trimming our grasses and SLPs for the first time. Be assured that provided the specifications in the plant profiles on our website are followed, you can be confidant of a great result. A few things to consider and avoid include:

• do not trim grasses and SLPs too low as this may expose the crown to damage. 100mm from the ground should always be the minimum. As with a lawn, if you scalp the grass it will take longer to recover;
• avoid pruning in hot weather or if the plant is under stress. This applies to most landscape plants;
• in frost prone areas, take care to protect basal clumps by retaining last years’ growth until the frost period has passed. This is particularly so for WSGs as these are pruned in early Spring when frost may still be about;
• when designing a landscape, avoid using a high proportion of grasses and SLP’s that will require pruning at the same time. An unfortunate result of making this mistake will be a periodically denuded environment;
• avoid carting large volumes of trimmings. These can be used as mulch on site, preferably under existing mulch or “top-up” mulch, or disposed of in compost heaps. Trimmings add carbon to the compost environment which is beneficial to most household compost heaps where nitrogen is commonly too high for efficient composting.

Why, when and how to fertilize
Generally fertilizing should be undertaken after trimming with a slow release fertilize to encourage new growth. Native fertilisers are suitable for grasses and SLPs, however their use is not essential. Unlike many native plants, grasses and SLPs in our selection respond well to nitrogen, therefore use of general garden fertilizers is suitable. Fertilizers with very high nitrogen levels, such as fresh manures are best avoided.

Mulching

Mulching retains soil moisture, inhibits growth of weeds and reduces soil temperatures. Such benefits are particularly important in the harsh environments in which Bluedale’s grasses and SLPs frequently find themselves. Choice of mulch can be largely based on personal preference. One exception to this is in areas experiencing high humidity and rainfall in late summer where an open mulch is preferable to avoid issues with fungal attack of plants. Gravel or course wood chip are examples of open mulches. As with application of mulch to any garden plant, to avoid collar burn, mulch should not be piled up around the base of the grasses and SLP’s in our selection.

Watering
All plants require water at some time and Bluedale’s grasses and SLPs are no exception. Yes their requirements are minimal, however upon planting and during establishment watering will improve survival rates. Watering before mulching is always good practice. Also watering during particularly hot and dry periods can be necessary to avoid replanting, preferably before plants show signs of severe stress.

In short Bluedale’s WSGs, GSGs and SLPs have low maintenance requirements however are not maintenance free. Follow the tips above and the specifications given on our website and you will enjoy a fantastic result.

Bluedale Wholesale Nursery has had a Facelift

In November 2012, Bluedale engaged Visual Edge, a graphic design company in Port Macquarie, to modernise our company logo. The result is a modern and funky logo of a germinating seed that we believe represents Bluedale’s values as a modern, growing business.

Bluedale’s new logo is now featured on our wholesale website www.bluedale.com.au.

Landscapers, developers, civil contractors and Local Government will find a wealth of information on this wholesale site. Plant descriptions, technical information and photo galleries focus on commercial and domestic projects, subdivisions, constructed wetlands, rain gardens, detention basins, erosion control, revegetation, street scapes and roadside landscapes.

Key features of the website;

• Plant selection details:  As well as Native Grasses and Wetland Plants, the Bluedale range has now been extended to include Native Trees and Shrubs. Each plant in our selection is beautifully photographed and extensively profiled to assist you in making the best choice for your project.
• Bluedale Catalogue: a 48 page publication with detailed plant descriptions, cultivation requirements, planting rates and a description of uses, render this catalogue a useful reference tool as well as an annual buying guide.
• Picture Gallery: Here you will find over 100 photographs, showing projects for which we have supplied plants as well as other projects where plants have been used to great effect. These images will further your understanding of the many facets, design possibilities and uses of our plants.
• Useful Articles: Bluedale takes pride in keeping up to date with the latest developments as it monitors the application of its plant products to the landscape. Regular articles are posted to inform customers of new plant releases, profile plants in our selection, developments at the nursery itself and case study projects where our plants have been utilised.
• Currently Availably List: Updated regularly this list largely includes plants available as Viro-tubes (50X50X90mm), 140mm pots. It is designed to give customers an idea of the plant numbers we have available, however we encourage you to contact us if you wish to discuss a large volume order.

For enquires call today 02 6586 0100 or visit www.bluedale.com.au and use the email link.

Groundcover Plants on The Bluedale Plants Online Show, Episode #19

Groundcover Plants on The Bluedale Plants Online Show, Episode #19

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been discussing designer grasses and we’ve pretty much covered most of those so from here on in over the next couple of weeks we’re going top be looking at ground cover plants. Now the range of ground cover plants that we have on the Bluedale Plants Online website are all native varieties and they come in a range of different formats, flower colours, we have yellows and whites and purples and a range of different climate types that they’d be suited to as well.

So the whole idea of the ground cover range that we’ve put together is to choose plants that are reasonably quick growing reasonably low maintenance, they can actually cover the ground in your garden to cover large areas and add a splash of colour through out the season.

Ground covers are great if you you have say, a retaining wall and you wanted to get something trailing over it to soften the edges of it or if you have a rockery garden and you have rocks set with in the garden and the ground covers can either sprawl around the rocks or sprawl over the rocks and I’ve seen them used in sloping gardens on bato where as the plants grow they almost look like a water fall of water coming down the bato and they really add interest, a different textured foliage to the garden. Something just a little bit different than an upright plant or a tussocky type plant like some of the grasses are.

So the ground covers have that ability to really soften hard edges, add interest, give a little bit of different dynamics. You can create really interesting effects, for instance if you have a raised garden or a mounded garden you can have the plants coming out of the top and around the mound so it looks like a bit of a hump in the ground with this plant sprawling down it.

Some of the other situations you can use the ground cover plants are in coastal aspects and one of the plants we’ll look in to next week when we’re looking at them is one called Aussie Rambler which is a fantastic plant for the coast but I’ll talk a little bit more about that next week.

For more information on our Ground Cover Plants click here