Plant Cultures in the Blue Mountains, in Sydney - Term Paper Example

Running Header: horticulture / nursery Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission: Plant Cultures Introduction There are many plants on the surface earth. They exhibit different cultures and characteristics that make them suitable for given purposes. This paper will look at this plant types with regard to their culture. Particularly, it would address the desirable characteristics they posses, the respective advantages and disadvantages of each plant form, the technique for planting, plant longetivity, their maintenance program and the climate in which they grow in. Features of the Climate in Blue Mountain, Sydney The climate of the Blue Mountain is more or less similar to that of Sydney. The temperature range in winter in the upper mountain is about 5°C whereas during summer the average temperature is estimated to be around 18°C. Much warmer climate is experienced in the lower Blue Mountains. An average of 1950mm per year of rainfall is witnessed in the upper Blue Mountain, whereas the lower Blue Mountain experiences an average of 850mm of rainfall every year. In addition, the Mountain is known for snow in winter. The upper Mountain is said to have about 5 snow days in a given year. It is unusual to see snow covering the ground in the morning. Plant Cultures Different plants exhibit different cultures with regard to their adaptation to the different environments, climates, the features in which they grow up with, and how they are maintained. All these are determining factors that one considers when one is choosing a suitable plant to be used in the garden or for other purposes. This paper looks at five plants that grow in the Blue Mountains, in Sydney. The plants include a shrub, tree, climber, soft wooded perennial or annual. They include LEIGHTON GREEN x cupressocyparis tree, Buxus Japonica shrub, Wisteria climber, Hymenocallis soft wood perennial and Dicksonia Antarctica. (i)Tree - LEIGHTON GREEN x cupressocyparis X.Cupressocyparis Leighton green is a genus hybrid between Chamaecyparis and Cupressus. This tree has a number of desirable features which includes its ability to grow fast as compared to other trees, it is slender meaning that the tree will take lesser space when grown; its pyramidal shape adds the aesthetic value of the tree. This tree is evergreen with scaly leaves held on branched sprays. The tree is also good due to its green foliage which adds value to the soil. In addition the tree has the ability to grow over 100 feet tall though often it grows to 80 feet tall so can be used to build a fence of a compound. In addition to the said features, the tree is flexible to a wide range of conditions in which it can be grown. Plant Longetivity/Culture: This tree being a columnar additionally is tolerable to drought, heat, pollution, humidity, wind and seashore. This makes it adapt to different conditions. The tree lives for a longer period due to its high adaptability abilities. The tree is evergreen and its green foliage adds fertility to the soil for its sustenance (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Australia 45). Maintenance Program for the x cupressocyparis Tree is relatively not time consuming due to its high adaptability and tolerance to drought, heat & wind, humidity, and pollution. However, it is important for fertilizing to be done after few years, 2-3 years span is encouraged. Depending on the water levels, a bit of watering can be done through creation of the water ring especially at the time the tree is planted. Soil check can also be periodically checked so that the nutrients that are deficient can additionally be added to the soil so that the tree can grow well. Important to note is that fertilizing should be done at the earliest period of the planting season so as to facilitate the tree to mature up with the required nutrients as opposed to fertilizing when the season is ending. The technique for planting this tree is quite simple because of being a seeding plant form. It involves selecting an area to plant, digging out 3-4 times the diameter of the root ball or container, while maintaining the depth of the container (Low 43). One may use a shovel to scarify the sides of the hole. If the tree is in a container, it may be gentle removed and lay on the sides, the roots on the edges may be loosened and without breaking the root ball, it is positioned at the centre of the hole, and the soil is filled. Watering and fertilizing may then follow. (ii)Shrub - Buxus Japonica: This shrub may be defined to be a common ornamental shrub that is used by many home owners to make hedges and lawn edges. The shrub comes with a wide variety of desirable characteristics including its wide variety of cativars that makes it aesthetically fit for home use. The shrub additionally can grow in many shapes and sizes which make it easily adapt to the different landscapes that it is grown. Gardeners also have high preference for this shrub due to its ability to add distinction and style to formal gardens. The shrub is also fit to be used to make hedges due to the evergreen border that it establishes. This kind of hedge is encouraged due to its privacy and flexibility to be trimmed to varied shapes and dimensions (Botanical Research Institute of Texas 41). Plant longetivity & Culture: Buxus Japonica shrub like other shrubs is able to grow and cover the walls of fences. Buxus Japonica and other shrubs such as roses and honeysuckle may build up on the sides of a wall, and thus take up more ground space. This is why they need to be pruned and shaped periodically (Corllet 56). Maintenance Program: The cost and burden of maintenance of shrubs are not high particularly if the maintenance program is embraced periodically. The most important requirement is that during dry season it is important to water it well in the first few years after they are planted. The shrubs that grow along the wall will require more watering for they have tendencies to receive less rainfall. It is advised that during spring time, it is important to apply high potassium fertilizer to this shrub alongside organic matter so as to promote healthy growth of the shrub (Croat 37). Planting Technique: Shrubs are planted more or less like trees however extra care is required in this case. Certain species of shrubs call for particular requirements. The most important thing to note in planting of shrubs is that it should be delayed to spring season. This particularly applies to the tender plants. (iii) Climber – Wisteria: This is a climber plant that is grown by many home owners for the purposes of covering the walls. Wisteria and other climbers have advantage of taking relatively lesser space as compared to other shrubs. They are excellent for smaller gardens. Essentially, the climbers portray more or less similar characteristics as compared to that of the shrubs (Schmitt 33). With regards to the plant cultures, they may be defined to be flexible to be used as hedges through giving them support or they can be solely grown to lean on the wall. They adapt easily to the environment, however they may require extra care through watering and fertilizing them so as to maintain the nutrient and high moisture levels that they require to be sustained. Maintenance Program; the climbers are easy to maintain for they just require constant watering during the seasons characterized by dryness. They may also need to be supported by a fence or wall, in which they will climb as they grow. Constant check may also be important so as to direct their pattern of growth to avoid unnecessary bushes around the hedges (Stacey & Hay 29). Planting technique; many climbers are planted using their stem cuttings which are cut and inserted on the ground. Digging a wider hole, watering the plant and application of fertilizer are also very important at the planting stage of the Wisteria Climber (Nurseries & Hillier 38). (iv)Soft wooded perennial –Hymenocallis This is one of the renowned soft wooded perennial plants that are grown in cold climates. The desirable characteristic that may characterize this plant is that it is flexible to different conditions, though has tendencies to do well in areas with soil moisture ranging from constant moisture to watering. It is flexible to grow in ordinary soil though it can do better in enriched as well as mildly alkaline to acidic soil. The plant culture of Hymenocallis may relate to its flowering seasons that range from early spring to late summer. The plant has tendencies to grow in cold environments, and does well under humid conditions. The plant also grows up fast, and this is an additional advantage to gardeners (Andrew 43). Maintenance may relate to ensuring that the moisture level of the soil is maintained. Once a while watering may also be important particularly at the time when it is planted. Application of fertilizers is also necessary for the proper growth of the plants. Ensuring that there is enough spacing from one plant to another should also be given careful considerations. The technique for planting this tree is simplified. It takes the person planting these plants to select an area to plant, digging out 3-4 times the diameter of the root ball or container, while maintaining the depth of the container. One may use a shovel to scarify the sides of the hole. The plant is laid in the hole at the centre position, and the soil is covered. Watering and application of fertilizers are then added (Cockayne 36). (v) Annual - Dicksonia Antarctica: This is said to be among the most common tree fern that has been grown in many colder climates. The fern is characteristic with regard to its elegant appearance that made it popular in the nineties as an icon plant in garden design. It was show cased to be a plant that gives ones garden a tropical edge. It’s a unique species in Australia through can be found also in New South Wales, as well as Victoria. This is a is a special plant with unique culture and structure because unlike a woody stem covered in a protective bark like a tree for instance, the trunks of this tree ferns are made of rhizomes that have modifications that make them grow vertically. The trunk has dense roots which allow moisture to be retained for longer periods. Conclusion All in all, it is important to understand the types of plants and their characteristics so that one can be able to make a choice of what fits the demand. Climbers may be good as wall coverings, trees may be good as hedges, and ferns and shrubs may be good in gardens. However all the decision can be made after one has an in-depth understanding of a given plant. References Andrew J. Plant biology, London: Taylor & Francis, 2005. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Australia), Botany in Australia, Australian journal of botany, Vol. 51, no. 3, pp.45 Nurseries, H. & Hillier, J. Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs, Canberra: David & Charles, 2004. Corlett, T. Tropical Rain Forests: An Ecological and Biogeographical Comparison, New York, John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Stacey, R. & Hay, A 2004, Herbarium, London: Cambridge University Press, 2004 Low, T. Feral future: the untold story of Australia's exotic invaders, New York: University of Chicago Press, 1999. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Bothalia, New York: Botanical Research Institute, Dept. of Agricultural Technical Services, 1995. Cockayne, L. The vegetation of New Zealand, Canberra: W. Engelmann, 1991. Schmitt, C. Montane rainforest, Canberra: Cuvillier Verlag, 2003. Croat, T. Flora of Barro Colorado Island, London: Stanford University Press, 1998. Read More