ABSTRACT

Small-scale planting includes a whole range of distinctive styles or schools, many of which can be heard vigorously competing in the gardening design literature to be recognized as the current, ‘new’ style. Planting at all scales can contribute greatly to biodiversity and wildlife habitat in urban and rural areas. Indeed, research has shown the potential value of domestic gardens and small neighbourhood spaces for both plant and animal biodiversity. The aim of diversity in urban planting should be to achieve maximum visual quality in public areas without sacrificing the dependability of the planting. Trees, shrubs, climbers, herbaceous plants, bulbs and groundcover can all be combined to create diverse ornamental planting associations in public and private landscape. Good groundcover in some form is therefore essential for ground-layer planting. Highlights of ornamental planting can be provided by a single, dramatic accent plant that has outstanding form or colour, or by its repetition through a planting area.