DIE GARTEN TULLN “Nature in the Garden
City” Award Process
Case study, using Tulln an der Donau as an example
Thomas Uibel 01.10.2012
Case study of the “Nature in the Garden City” award process, using Tulln an der Donau as an example
Table of contents Introduction...... 2 History ...... 2 Garden expertise region...... 2 Selecting the region...... 3 Collecting data...... 4 Results ...... 6 Wording of the support scheme ...... 10 Green space criteria ...... 10 Communities’ accompanying measures...... 12 Support scheme...... 12 Overview of projects in the region...... 13 “Nature in the Garden City” Tulln Award Process...... 13 Green space criteria ...... 13 Town council resolution...... 15 Public relations...... 15 Participating institutions ...... 17 Follow-up projects developed based on the project requirements ...... 17 Garden show paths ...... 17 Perennial mixes ...... 18 Perennial reference gardens ...... 25 Rose study and practical guide to roses...... 25 Findings ...... 26 Lower Austrian garden hotline service centre ...... 26 “Nature in the Garden” services for communities (as of 2012)...... 26 Information for communities...... 27 Consulting process today ...... 27
DIE GARTEN TULLN – Thomas Uibel, December 2012 1 Case study of the “Nature in the Garden City” award process, using Tulln an der Donau as an example
Introduction This document describes the award process of the first community to use the “Nature in the Garden” criteria as the foundation for cultivating its green space.
The core criteria No pesticides No chemical or synthetic fertilisers No peat Natural garden elements Wild shrubs Wildflower meadows and meadow elements Wild growth permitted, wild corner Special locations, deciduous trees Flowers and flowering perennials Cultivation and kitchen garden Compost pile, dwellings for beneficial organisms Rainwater use, environmentally friendly material, mulches, vegetable beds and herbs Fruit orchard and berry bushes Mixed cultivation/crop rotation/cover crops
Source: “Willkommen im Garten!” brochure www.naturimgarten.at/Download
Based on the example of the town of Tulln an der Donau, the relevant conditions of Lower Austria’s “Nature in the Garden” campaign is described before, during and after this project in addition to the town’s process. The aim is to present a comprehensive illustration to facilitate similar plans for partner organisations in the “Hybrid Parks” INTERREG III project.
History When the “Nature in the Garden” campaign was being considered before it was established in 1999, public space was included in many deliberations even though the campaign was initially geared primarily to owners of home gardens. The idea was for communities’ green spaces to act as a model for citizens, encouraging them to design and maintain their own gardens in a more natural way. Initially, support schemes were used as tools to achieve this. These schemes were intended for communities, and projects deemed exemplary were awarded. The working group referred to internally as the “green space group” developed various projects over the years, including a “Green Space Survey” to take stock at the community level. The aim was to obtain specific and meaningful information about the use of plant protection agents, the size of communities’ own green spaces, the cost of green space maintenance and so on.
Garden expertise region For budget reasons, the green space survey was used for the first time in 2006 to test a region of 24 communities. Preparations for the 2008 Lower Austrian Tulln and Grafenegg Provincial Garden Show were used as the occasion. The first working title was therefore “Provincial Garden Show Region”. These regions were to be provided funding for presenting their traditional garden expertise to the public in the form of gardening and landscape design companies by developing green spaces to add ecological and design value. The two locations: * Tulln, home to DIE GARTEN TULLN, a new ecological model garden (www.diegartentulln.at)
DIE GARTEN TULLN – Thomas Uibel, December 2012 2 Case study of the “Nature in the Garden City” award process, using Tulln an der Donau as an example
* Grafenegg, home to a renewed landscape garden surrounding Castle Grafenegg (www.grafenegg.com )
The title was later changed to “Regional Garden Expertise” (Gartenkompetenz-Region); both titles are used here since the original documents were used.
Selecting the region The area between Tulln an der Donau and the community of Grafenegg corresponds to the political district of Tulln with the addition of the neighbouring communities of Hausleiten, Grafenegg and Stetteldorf am Wagram.
The map shows locations that could be designated for potential nature-oriented projects in public areas; some were suitable as themed gardens with show garden character Red dot = public green space (68 projects) Yellow triangle = themed gardens (23 locations)
Prominent locations were also surveyed to enhance the feeling of community within the region: 3 green dots = regional symbol, e.g. three cherry trees (50 locations/150 trees) with marker
DIE GARTEN TULLN – Thomas Uibel, December 2012 3 Case study of the “Nature in the Garden City” award process, using Tulln an der Donau as an example
Collecting data Each of the following communities was visited for approximately five hours in March/April 2006.
Gemeinde: Homepage: Einwohner: Flächengröße:
Marktgemeinde Absdorf www.absdorf.at 1.605 15,96 km² Marktgemeinde Atzenbrugg www.atzenbrugg.at 2.497 25,94 km² Marktgemeinde Fels am Wagram www.fels-wagram.at 1.966 29,50 km² Marktgemeinde Grafenegg www.grafenegg.gv.at 2.830 28,58 km² Marktgemeinde Grafenwörth www.grafenwoerth.at 2.615 46,40 km² Gemeinde Großriedenthal www.grossriedenthal.at 984 18,83 km² Marktgemeinde Großweikersdorf www.grossweikersdorf.at 2.786 43,32 km² Marktgemeinde Hausleiten www.hausleiten.gv.at 2.967 61,03 km² Marktgemeinde Judenau - Baumgarten www.judenau-baumgarten.gv.at 2.075 14,35 km² Marktgemeinde Kirchberg am Wagram www.kirchberg-wagram.at 3.341 60,26 km² Marktgemeinde Königsbrunn am Wagram www.koenigsbrunn.at 1.270 28,57 km² Marktgemeinde Königstetten www.koenigstetten.gv.at 1.888 13,04 km² Marktgemeinde Langenrohr www.langenrohr.gv.at oder 1.974 22,57 km² Marktgemeinde Michelhausen www.michelhausen.at 2.524 32,03 km² Gemeinde Muckendorf - Wipfing www.muckendorf-wipfing.at 980 6,27 km² Marktgemeinde Sieghartskirchen www.sieghartskirchen.gv.at 6.674 61,59 km² Gemeinde Sitzenberg - Reidling www.sitzenberg-reidling.gv.at 1.922 22,15 km² Marktgemeinde St. Andrä - Wördern www.staw.at 6.436 39,33 km² Marktgemeinde Stetteldorf am Wagram www.stetteldorf-wagram.at 1.021 25,74 km² Marktgemeinde Tulbing www.tulbing.at 2.534 18,36 km² Stadtgemeinde Tulln an der Donau www.tulln.at 13.591 72,21 km² Marktgemeinde Würmla www.wuermla.at 1.258 20,40 km² Gemeinde Zeiselmauer - Wolfpassing www.zeiselmauer.at.gs 1.966 12,70 km² Marktgemeinde Zwentendorf an der Donau www.zwentendorf.at 3.714 53,85 km²
The survey involved four steps:
1. Self-guided drive through the community by the person responsible for the region 2. Political contacts and people in the administration were asked questions from the green space survey 3. Tour with the contacts and detailed visit of potential project sites 4. Documentation (questionnaire, photos and notes) for each community
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Green space survey
Results The following evaluation was used as a basis for providing productive support for communities for reorganisation following the award of a support project.
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Summary of the green space survey
Eighty-seven percent of the communities considered green space important to very important within the community. On average every community had three projects in the planning stage in conjunction with the 2008 Provincial Garden Show. Twenty-four of 71 projects related to roadside vegetation. The communities are willing to implement nature-oriented projects (according to the criteria of the “Nature in the Garden” campaign) if the relevant information is provided to the community representatives and public. One out of two communities would provide funding if provincial funding were offered.
Wording of the support scheme
Green space criteria The “Nature in the Garden” criteria listed in the introduction were adapted as follows for use at the community level:
Core criteria (all 3 must be met, published in community newspaper/posted on bulletin boards ) Criteria Comments ☺☺☺ No pesticides Based on directives for ecological agriculture
☺☺☺ No easily soluble Based on directives for ecological agriculture mineral fertilisers
☺☺☺ No peat To protect peat bogs
Natural garden elements (note that the following items are incorporated into project development) Local seeds and plants (proof of origin) used for planting new wild native plants. ☺☺☺ Wild shrub plantings Hedges primarily of native shrubs or shrubs with ecological value ☺☺☺ Meadows, types of Proper maintenance by type natural lawns, meadow elements
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☺☺☺ Permitting wild growth/ Small-area and individual plants, in defined spaces (e.g., rare and endangered streets, building niches etc.) plants typical for the community ☺☺☺ Ecological retreats, Large-area, plant communities, wild diversity in areas wild corners and properties; causeways, embankments, abandoned areas ☺☺☺ Deciduous trees Native deciduous trees or deciduous trees with ecological value, including climbing plants ☺☺☺ Flowers and flowering Flowers and perennials with ecological value as an perennials in beds insect meadow ☺☺☺ Special sites West or dry, artificial ponds, swimming ponds and dry stone walls, window boxes ☺☺☺ Dwellings for beneficial Piles of plant trimmings or stones, decayed wood, logs organisms with holes, nesting boxes; “hotels” for beneficial organisms ☺☺☺ Public harvest Vegetable beds, herbs, fruit orchard, berry bushes ☺☺☺ Compost cycle Nutrient cycle in the community association: use of green waste and compost ☺☺☺ Cover crops Increase soil fertility ☺☺☺ Mulches Wood chips, grass clippings, flax mulch and residue-free bark mulch ☺☺☺ Rainwater use Delivery for recovery or infiltration (unsealed open spaces)
“Nature in the Garden” (NiG) community promoted by Lower Austria (must meet at least 3) ☺☺☺ ☺ 1/3 of the necessary Key: < 200 households at least 10 gardens with NiG hedgehog sign home garden signs < 600 households at least 20 gardens with NiG hedgehog sign 600 and more households at least 30 gardens with NiG hedgehog sign ☺☺☺ Location with “Nature in At least one location the Garden” community sign ☺☺☺ NiG individual projects A maximum of 3 individual projects will be taken into account
☺☺☺ Playgrounds with a Created elements: hills, shrub groups (native shrubs), nature-oriented design or balance beams made from natural logs, shade trees, nature-oriented space movable natural materials (wood, stones, etc.), water, used by children etc. Inherently nature-oriented areas
DIE GARTEN TULLN – Thomas Uibel, December 2012 11 Case study of the “Nature in the Garden City” award process, using Tulln an der Donau as an example
Communities’ accompanying measures Potential accompanying campaigns in the communities:
1) For increasing acceptance of nature in green spaces:
Visits, training – announce to the public and invite interested parties
2) Nature and art in the community:
Motivate regional artists, art pieces and have artists help design areas with natural garden elements, dwellings for beneficial organisms, wild plants, wild plant areas, etc.
3) Campaign – rare or endangered regional plant as a symbol on the coat of arms
Advertise, preserve and promote plants typical to the local conditions and not widespread. More information about providers of regional species is available at: www.rgv.co.at/PartnerBS.html web.utanet.at/szedalpe/Resources/Gehoelze.pdf www.wildblumensaatgut.at [email protected], www.arche-noah.at
Support scheme
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Overview of projects in the region
“Nature in the Garden City” Tulln Award Process
Green space criteria The “Nature in the Garden criteria for green spaces” list was coordinated with the nature-oriented activities of the town of Tulln an der Donau. The following table shows the status as of the end of 2007.
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Core criteria (all 3 must be met; published in community newspaper TULLN Criteria Comments Reference Action Exceptions ☺☺☺ Fighting chestnut leaf-miner moths by strengthening trees; harmful agents (Rubidox), Systemic and leaf fertiliser; Avenue trees along the Danube, Based on directives for No pesticides agents that do not require a permit to purchase planting primarily disease- Donaulände only in rose gardens environmental agriculture and agents that are not harmful to beneficial resistant varieties; copper and outdoor seating areas; moat organisms ☺☺☺ No easily soluble mineral Based on directives for Primarily only in intensive cultivation Mannakom, rock dust Rose gardens fertilisers environmental agriculture ☺☺☺ No peat To protect peat bogs Primarily only sewage sludge compost 1 sewage sludge : 6 Flower boxes and pots 2008 NiG attempt soil ☺☺☺ Inventory A detailed inventory of Entente Florale; green space with maintenance Competition; survey and Documents updated on an existing green space and plan; tree register largely in place; documentation ongoing basis cultivation must be submitted. Natural garden elements (note that the following items are incorporated into project development and are applied in substantial areas of the community) Local seeds and plants grown in the region (proof of origin) will be used for planting new wild native plants ☺☺☺ Wild shrub plantings Hedges primarily of native Alongside bicycle paths… according to “Nature in Plants from “Heckentag”, Ornamental shrubs in the centre shrubs or shrubs with the Garden” criteria, mix and maintenance types of field maple… ecological value ☺☺☺ Meadows, types of natural Proper maintenance by We have tried wildflower meadows, but the soil is 2 types of grass seed: hardy Areas with public appeal in the lawns, meadow elements type often too nutrient-rich! NO fertiliser! and for embankments centre ☺☺☺ Permitting wild growth/rare Small-area and individual Only on undeveloped areas, tried in infiltration Education about coat of arms Not yet accepted by residents and endangered plants plants, in defined spaces swales; Nitzing plants needed (including (“immigrants” to gardens) typical for the community (e.g., streets, building thistle). niches etc.) ☺☺☺ Ecological retreats, wild Large-area, plant Embankments on the Danube and Kleiner Tulln, Mow only once to a Areas with public appeal in the corners communities, wild noise control embankments, areas adjacent to the maximum of three times a centre diversity in areas and Aubad swimming area with steep embankments year with a flail mower, grass properties; causeways, to the sledge hill, windbreaks and wildlife clippings left behind embankments, protection belts (soil conservation facilities) abandoned areas ☺☺☺ Deciduous trees Native deciduous trees or Oaks, chestnuts, lindens, maple ,… on Native trees, forest plants Roadside areas with continuous deciduous trees with embankments; “green walls” with climbing plants leading shoots – 4.5 m clearance ecological value, including (nursery plants) climbing plants ☺☺☺ Flowers and flowering Flowers and perennials Coordinated with NiG criteria Catmint, coat of arms plants perennials in beds with ecological value as an insect meadow ☺☺☺ Special sites Wet or dry, artificial Exist naturally along “old branch” of the Danube, Maintain or revitalise ponds, swimming ponds Kl. Tulln and dry stone walls, window boxes ☺☺☺ Dwellings for beneficial Piles of plant trimmings or “Tree hotel” in the flood plain/ Provincial Garden Bringing to urban areas organisms stones, decayed wood, Show, wildlife conservation areas north bank of logs with holes, nesting Danube, nesting boxes on southern bank on boxes; “hotels” for Donaulände beneficial organisms ☺☺☺ Public harvest Vegetable beds, herbs, Vegetables beds, possible fruit tree project LWFS; possibly BOKU; in fruit orchard, berry bushes (cherry, walnut, apple) and mixed berry hedges nursery schools and on playgrounds ☺☺☺ Compost cycle Nutrient cycle in the Green waste collected and composted Flower markets via Sewage sludge compost from community association: Association of Local compost providers in agriculture use of green waste and Authorities for Waste compost Management and Fee Collection (GVA) ☺☺☺ Cover crops Increase soil fertility Flail mower on embankments and boundary Not necessary for new areas Areas with public appeal in the areas centre ☺☺☺ Mulches Wood chips, cut grass, Bark mulch tested (linden), ground cover; flax mulch and residue- reforestation in the floodplain free bark mulch ☺☺☺ Rainwater use Delivery for recovery or Infiltration swales and grass pavers; watering with Used as often as possible; Small spaces infiltration (unsealed open rainwater potentially at nursery schools, spaces) schools NiG community “Nature in the Garden” community sponsored by Lower Austria (at least 3 must be met) ☺☺☺ 1/3 of the necessary home Key: < 200 households at > 30 signs; potentially also for nursery schools? More information for private garden signs least 10 gardens with NiG individuals from the “Nature hedgehog sign in the Garden” citizens’ < 600 households at least information service 20 gardens with NiG hedgehog sign < 600 households at least 30 gardens with NiG hedgehog sign ☺☺☺ Locations with “Nature in At least one location Not yet, possibly Nitzing with Anger and new the Garden” community playground sign ☺☺☺☺☺☺ NiG individual projects A maximum of 3 individual 2 roundabouts submitted and Am Anger in Nitzing To be carried out according projects will be taken into to submission. account ☺☺☺ Playgrounds with a nature- Created elements: hills, Submit public playgrounds? Check criteria oriented design or nature- shrub groups (native oriented space used by shrubs), balance beams children made from natural logs, shade trees, movable natural materials (wood, stones, etc.), water, etc. inherently nature-oriented areas Gießgang in Natura 2000 area north of the Danube and wildlife refuge hill in flood drainage basin Saved “Überländgraben” drainage way natural monument (green space network) near Langenrohr Wildlife passages, infiltration swales and ecological areas following building of high-performance rail line Soil conservation belts created with watering holes for dry periods filled with solar pumps
DIE GARTEN TULLN – Thomas Uibel, December 2012 14 Case study of the “Nature in the Garden City” award process, using Tulln an der Donau as an example
Town council resolution The following resolution was adopted by the Tulln town council in December 2007.
The Town of Tulln aspires to become the first community in Lower Austria to earn the distinction “Nature in the Garden City”. Doing so will improve the ecological quality of public green spaces. The following principles and measures should be adopted for most public green spaces:
• Closeness to nature is an important principle and will be achieved by applying the “Nature in the Garden – green space criteria” (see appendix) in design and maintenance.
• Beginning immediately, new plantings will be shifted to predominately location-appropriate plants that are typical for the region and thus have ecological value according to the “Nature in the Garden” publications of Lower Austria.
• No English lawns; conversion to herb lawns.
• Treatment for preventing leaf-miner moths in horse chestnuts expanded immediately using combination fertiliser treatment, which has proven successful in tests.
• Immediately planting nature-oriented public green spaces in parallel when creating new or revitalising estates.
• Additional measures will be developed in consultation with the “Nature in the Garden” consultants and implemented gradually through regulations.
The following timeline has been defined:
1. Once the measures described in the resolution have been successfully implemented and a detailed budget and schedule for achieving outstanding criteria have been determined (implementation in phase 2): awarding of the “Nature in the Garden City” distinction.
2. The full project is to be implemented by 2018.
Converting the cultivation of public green spaces will entail a shift in monetary expense and effort. The aim for the medium term is to compensate for the increase in effort and expense of environmental measures through savings from support, less maintenance and watering, and chemicals.
Public relations In the context of awarding the distinction, residents in the community area were asked to design their home gardens according to the criteria of the “Nature in the Garden” campaign, to request consultation or to be awarded with the Lower Austria garden sign. (Source: www.tulln.at 2012)
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Tulln becomes a “Nature in the Garden” city
Nearly 100 friends of the garden in Tulln have already taken advantage of a “Nature in the Garden” consultation from the province of Lower Austria or are proud owners of a hedgehog sign. And one owner of a large estate in Tulln has already applied for the sign: the town itself.
Tulln was the first town in Lower Austria to commit to nature-oriented cultivation of 550,000 m² of public green space. The unanimous decision was taken by all parties in December 2007 to become the first “Nature in the Garden City”.
Municipal gardener Ewald Fellner: “Of course in nature you can’t switch from conventional treatment to ecological, nature-oriented green space maintenance from one day to the next. Our current task is to gradually lay the foundation for reaching our goal in three to five years: doing without sprays, mineral fertilisers and peat in large-scale green space maintenance.” Here are two examples.
Site-appropriate rose/perennial mix in the moat
The twenty-year-old rose gardens in the Tulln town garden have exceeded their life span. The depleted, compacted substrate was replaced with a water- permeable soil mix. By planting special, very hardy new rose varieties, we hope to be able to do without spraying in future. Plantings of site-appropriate, ecological shrub and perennial mixes in the immediate vicinity provide a habitat for beneficial organisms, which naturally keep many pests that target roses in check.
DIE GARTEN TULLN – Thomas Uibel, December 2012 16 Case study of the “Nature in the Garden City” award process, using Tulln an der Donau as an example
Creating natural wildflower meadows in municipal areas
The transition zones between the highly maintained Donaulände street and the naturally vegetated areas in the Tulln floodplain and Aubad swimming area are being allowed to return to their natural state. Natural wildflower meadows, which provide an ideal habitat for beneficial organisms, were created near the BMX track and the Water lilly bridge bayou.
Nature seeks out the garden
The “Nature in the Garden” hedgehog sign is a special award for gardens that are cultivated and designed with nature in mind. It is awarded to owners of natural gardens who have gone though a personal consultation. The first step is to stop using pesticides, easily soluble mineral fertilisers or peat to improve your soil.
If you have berry bushes, a vegetable garden or a compost pile, then you’ve earned the sign!
Call the Lower Austrian garden hotline at +43 (0) 2742 / 74 333. The much- loved hedgehog sign is awarded free of charge in 2008.
Participating institutions Office of the Lower Austrian Provincial Government, Land Use Planning, Environment, Transport Group, Environment and Energy Management Department, 3109 St.Pölten, Landhausplatz 1, Building 17 [email protected]
Follow-up projects developed based on the project requirements
Garden show paths Community representatives came up with the idea of working together to market bicycle and hiking paths in the region to use the new green space projects and blossoming garden expertise region for tourism. A letter to the mayor (left) accelerated creation of brochures on the bicycle and hiking paths from Grafenegg to Tulln (centre) and bicycle and hiking paths from the Vienna Woods to the Danube (right).
DIE GARTEN TULLN – Thomas Uibel, December 2012 17 Case study of the “Nature in the Garden City” award process, using Tulln an der Donau as an example
Perennial mixes Long-term implementation of the projects in the garden expertise region would not have been possible without the region’s gardening companies. Alexander Schmidhammer from Hameter, a perennial grower from Tullnerfeld, was contracted to develop site-appropriate mixed perennial plantings, which were made available to all communities and planners in an information sheet.
Four different mixes are available. The perennial mixes brochure (in German only) is available for download at http://www.naturimgarten.at/Download.
The focus was placed on practical information. Establishing a modular system, annual maintenance and the expected number of hours required were outlined in detail.
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English version:
Perennials bring a natural variety of colours and shapes to green spaces. Using them requires experience with planning, planting and care. The following plant concept will show you how to ensure your perennial plantings are a success:
PLANT COMPOSITIONS The plant mixes consist of perennials and bulbs, which can be supplemented with woody plants or seasonal plantings. Your perennial package will bloom in fascinating colours from spring to late autumn. Interesting structures and seed heads provide for variation even in winter. The combination of short-lived and long-lived perennials creates a dynamic that will last for years. The right mix for a particular location can be highly attractive without requiring a significant amount of care.
CHARACTERISTICS Plant mix : > Perennials, bulbs, seeds > 6 plants per m² > Required care: approximately 8 minutes per m² per year
Possibilities : > Multi-family housing sites > public green spaces
PLANTING The ideal time to plant perennials is from the end of March to mid-May and from mid-September to the end of October. They should not be planting in freezing or hot weather. Nor should they be planted in wet soil. Bulbs are planted in frost-free soil from mid-September to the end of November.
There are three steps to planting:
1. Preparing the soil thoroughly The soil must be free of all weeds. Perennial weeds such as ground elder must be removed before planting. Regular care is needed, especially while the plants are taking root. Loosen compacted soil well. Improve very heavy soil with sand or fine gravel. Overall fertilisation using organic materials such as compost or horn meal is only recommended for nutrient-poor soil.
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2. Arranging the perennials The following guide describes how to arrange plants. Perennials are laid out in the following order depending on their function. Start with architectural perennials: Architectural perennials : Distribute individual plants in a pattern over the entire planting area, spacing plants approximately 60 cm apart and avoiding the edges of the bed Perennial groups : Arrange plants in groups of 3 to 10 across the entire bed, spacing plants approximately 45 cm apart Ground cover : Arrange plants along the border or in bands extending into the bed, spacing plants approximately 30 cm apart Scattered plants : Distribute individual plants throughout the entire bed, filling in gaps
3. Planting the perennials Once you have distributed all the perennials, it is time to plant them. Follow these instructions to ensure optimal growth: • Remove the top layer of the root ball if weeds are present. • If the root ball is dry, dip it in water before planting.
4. Planting bulbs Bulbs: Plant bulbs between perennials in loose groups of 10 to 100 at a depth of two to three times the height of the bulb.
5. Watering Water plants thoroughly once they are in the ground. In dry weather, water repeatedly while the plants are taking root.
CARE Each planting requires a minimum of care! If your soil is well prepared, beds only needs to be maintained four to six times, or a total of roughly eight minutes per m², per year (not including setup and travel time). We recommend just a few minutes of regular maintenance. Longer periods of less frequent maintenance increases pressure from weeds.
1. Watering Once plants have been planted and taken root, they only need to be watered during long hot, dry periods. One deep watering is better than frequent shallow watering.
2. Weeding The danger that beds will become infested with weeds is greatest immediately after planting. Perennial weeds must be removed as soon as possible. It is best to remove then when the soil is damp. Use a spade to dig out weeds with deep roots and a weeder to pull out weeds that form taproots. Weeds that form seeds must be removed before they go to seed. Do not use a hoe as this will destroy bulb growth.
3. Pruning With a few exceptions (grasses), perennials are cut back to one hand length above the ground at the end of November. Use pruning shears to cut back plants. Leave bulb foliage until it turns brown. Only cut back scattered plants once they go to seed.
4. Fertilising Nutrient-rich soil does not need to be fertilised in the first few years. Later, you can compensate for a nutrient deficiency by adding horn meal or compost in the spring. Perennials are largely winter-hardy and do not need to be protected in the winter.
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5. Tying Perennials do not need to be staked or tied.
6. Mulch Mulch is not recommended if you want the different scattered plants to reseed. However, this means more maintenance while the plants take root. You can use mineral materials (gravel, bricks, etc.) or organic materials (bark, etc.) as mulch. If you use organic mulch, we recommend applying fertiliser first.
All four mixes were planted for observation near the Water lilly bridge, which was built following the 2008 Lower Austrian Provincial Garden Show on the high-traffic Donaulände street in the centre of Tulln. This is a visible sign of town gardeners’ sustainable understanding of green space.
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