How To Design A Tropical Garden In Cooler Climates
Building a Tropical garden is something that's always been close to my heart. But I dont' live in a warm climate and this is why I have been hesitant in doing so. The thought of having a tropical garden desigjn in my own backyard and seeing all those big green tropical plants everytime I step out side the door has forced me to do a little research to see if it was possible. My two main concerns were which plants would survive and tropical plant care itself as I didn't really know how to look after them.
It didn't take me too long to realise that I needn't have worried. A great tropical garden design can be easily achieved in a moderate climate using certain ferns, rhododendrons, bamboo, and even some member of the palm family. To me, nothing screams tropical more than a big bold palm. Depending on your climate you may even be able to grow a banana tree successfully! There are however some things to be aware of.
Some tropical plants will need to be kept indoors during the winter months as they simply couldn't survive the freezing conditions that native plants can adapt to. When summer rolls around again you can simply replant outside and enjoy. One of the great things about tropical garden design is the low maintanance aspect. Not only are they suppose to look a little wild instead of being neat and pruned but allowing your plants to flourish and grow just a little out of control will make your tropical garden look and feel even more authentic. If done right you could sit outside and imagine you were in a rainforest or on a Carribean beach.
I was actually quite surprised to find that tropical plant care is usually fairly simple and caring for many your plants will often require no more than a watering can. If you are considering your own tropical garden design, buy yourself a book on the subject and / or speak with you local garden center when you go to buy your plants. They will be able to advise you what can grow in your area and the type of care or maintanance your selection will require. If you are considering buying a book then take a look at "Tropical Garden Design" written by Made Wijaya. It is packed with useful advice and incredibley well illustrated and includes clear photos and sketches of some inspiring designs. Another good read, especially for those in colder climates is "Exotic Garden" by Richard R. Iversen. This book gives specific advice on tropical plant care looks specifically at creating this type of environment in cooler climates. It also includes a glossary of 100 tropical plants.
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