GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE GARDEN
- The primary idea for garden design is nature itself.
- The presence of water (pools, ponds, fountains, etc.) in the garden helps to create a peaceful atmosphere.
- The various structures in the garden should be in harmony with the rhythm and colours of the house building.
- You can achieve very good sound and visual isolation of the house with suitable plants at the borders of the garden.
- The evergreen trees and shrubs you plant in the garden should not be more than 30% of the total number of plants.
- In small gardens you should plant small plants.
- Diffusion lamps are used to illuminate the garden, while spotlights are used to emphasise and highlight interesting parts of the plants (foliage, trunk, flowers, fruits, etc.).
- Paint colours in garden structures should be neutral and as natural as possible.
- CAUTION on using plants of foreign origin. These have problems of acclimatisation and disease resistance.
PLANTING
- The trees are mainly planted:
- By person (individually), to show their form
- In groups, to create textures and colours (usually in odd numbers)
- In rows, for the creation of plant hedges and rows of trees
- The bushes are planted:
- In small groups (usually in odd numbers) in the lawn, at the base of trees, etc.
- In large groups (small clusters) with shrubs of many species
- The pit in which the trees and shrubs are to be planted should be wide and deep, i.e:
- Small plants (with a stem up to 30 cm high), in a pit 30 cm wide and 35 cm deep
- Seedlings up to 3 metres, in a pit 40 cm wide and 50 cm deep
- Seedlings 3-7 metres, in a pit 40 cm wide and 80 cm deep (so that they are well supported).
- The subsoil of the pit should be well crushed and can be enriched with a little fertilizer, manure or peat.
- Although bulbous plants (plants in pots or plastic bags) can be planted in all seasons, the most suitable season is spring and autumn (frost-free days).
- If the plant is in a plastic bag, tear and remove the bag carefully and cut the root system (bottom) before placing it in the pit and cover it with soil which is pressed down well.
- If the plant is in a plastic pot, it is carefully turned over so that the plant comes out and the root system is cleaned, especially that which has grown circularly at the bottom (due to geotropism), before being placed in the pit and covered with soil which is well pressed.
- Large plants should be supported with wooden stakes (e.g. chestnut) at 2/3 of the height of the plant. Very large plants should be supported by specialist gardeners.
ΠΟΤΙΣΜΑ & ΠΕΡΙΠΟΙΗΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΚΗΠΟΥ
- All plants benefit from frequent watering, even if they can withstand drought.
- After planting, trees need watering for 1-3 years, while shrubs need watering continuously.
- Photophytic plant species need to receive plenty of sunlight.
- In shade species, shade can be increased with trees or trellises above them.
- When the garden soil is poor, we should fertilize or apply manure, leaf soil, chestnut soil, peat and other soil conditioners, according to the instructions of experts.
- Thermophilic plant species (especially at a young age) should be protected on frosty days by covering them with transparent thick plastic.
- Small insect, fungal or canker infestations on plants are removed by cutting off the affected branch or leaf. Larger infestations are treated by pressure washing with water. Pesticides are to be avoided and should always be used on the advice of a specialist.
- Pruning (cutting of branches) of plants should be done with care:
- Broadleaves up to 2/3 of the stem at most. The branches should be cut by dragging the stem.
- Conifers are generally not pruned, except in cases where a branch is obstructing e.g. passage etc.
- Trimming (pruning) of plants to reduce the foliage or to give shape is done on those plants that can be trimmed (such as: Touya, Itamos, Ligusto, Boxwood etc.) and not on all (e.g. Fir etc.)
PLANTS IN PLANT CONTAINERS (POTS)
- Potted plants need regular fertilization, soil changes (even every year), regular watering (when the top of the potting soil looks dry or dry), and saucers at the base for water storage.
- The most suitable pots (although fragile) are clay pots.
- The size of the pot should be proportional to the size of the plant.
- Potted plants grow better if small pots are used in the early stages of their life and then transplanted into larger and larger pots as the root system grows.
- The drainage of the pots is achieved when:
- In outdoor pots, the holes in the base are kept open by placing gravel or tiles under the pot (3-7 cm high).
- Στις γλάστρες εσωτερικών χώρων οι τρύπες στη βάση διατηρούνται ανοικτές, τοποθετώντας χαλίκια ή κεραμιδάκια κάτω στη γλάστρα ( ύψους 5-10 εκατοστά).