Qualification - Certificate in Plantsmanship

BECOME AN EXPERT PLANTSMAN

This course lays a foundation, sharpening your knowledge and skills for identifying plants; and then progresses to build the scope of plants you are able to identify.

At the end of this course you will be able to look at plants with greater focus, naturally seeing the characteristics that differentiate a plant from others, and placing it into a group (family or genus) which exhibits those characteristics. In doing so, you will find it easier to identify plants, and work out their classification, even if you do not know precisely what they are. This is achieved by undertaking two core modules focusing on plant physiology and taxonomy as well plant identification. Four specialised plant electives are then undertaken that further build your knowledge of select plant groups.

Modules

Note that each module in the Qualification - Certificate in Plantsmanship is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.

Tips for Growing a Garden Fast

We’re all on the fast track these days…we want fast cars, fast careers, and as any nurseryman would tell you…many of us want fast plants.  I suppose it’s just the way of the world, but there doesn’t seem to be time to wait for anything any more. Many people also move house frequently, so if they are to develop a garden, and enjoy what develops…they need it to quickly both establish, and to create something that fulfills their needs.

There are of course other reasons for choosing fast growing plants. If you can get a plant established quickly, you can provide protection both for yourself and for other plants. Whether you are after shade, a wind break, or a screen from the street or nosy neighbours, growing a fast plant is usually preferable to a slow growing one. You might also wish to establish a rainforest in your backyard and therefore need some fast growing trees to cast some light shade and protection, enabling you  to then plant more sensitive plants beneath.

How then do you get a fast plant
There are 2 things that make a plant fast growing:

1. Choosing a fast growing variety
2. Treating it well, by providing ideal conditions for its growth.

Choosing Fast Growing Varieties

When selecting fast growing plants be aware that some plants are fast in some climates, but may not be fast in others. For example, in the tropics mock orange (Murraya paniculata) is so fast that pruning is needed almost every month to keep a good hedge appearance; however when grown in Melbourne, this plant may only need pruning every 3 months (and only in the warmer seasons).

If you want a manageable final result, and still have fast growth, consider the likely height, width, and density of foliage of any plants you might be considering growing. Consider also their potential to become invasive, such as by self-seeding, suckering, or spreading by rhizomes (such as some bamboos).

For home owners who change home every 5 years or so, it is advisable to think not only about selecting plants that will reach a particular height in the 5 years they are there, but also about how tall it can POTENTIALLY grow. In 15 years it may be so big that it could cause root damage to infrastructure, pipes, etc. It is very possible that future home owners could hold you legally responsible for poor plant selection.

The life expectancy of the plant is also very important – some fast growers (such as many Acacias) may only have life spans of 7 – 15 years or so. They can be great plants for a quick result, but you will need to plan ahead for other slower growing or longer-lived plants to “take over” the space left as the short-lived plants die out.

 
Buying Large or Small Plants
The decision to buy a large plant specimen at a higher cost, as compared to the same plant, but smaller cheaper plant, is something that home owners commonly face. If the plant is known to be a slow grower and the plant desired as the centre piece of a garden design, then a higher priced purchase is the better option. If the plant is fast growing and is used as a space filler or boundary planting, then it may be better to buy a small plant.

There are many examples where home gardeners have opted to purchase larger and more expensive plant specimens of fast growing plants only to have cheaper versions of the same plant exceed the larger ones in growth rate within as little as 1 year.

In many commercial landscape jobs, it is usually a decision to have the design LOOK grown when the plants are installed that directs the designer/landscaper to plant only large specimens. If the final effect after planting is not to achieve an instant GROWN look, then installing smaller plants would be better (and cheaper).

It is paramount when planting either a mature plant specimen (expensive) or a small pot specimen (inexpensive) that the soil is correctly prepared and the site is suitable for the plant species.
It does not matter how expensive the plant is – if the soil is not prepared then the plant will suffer or even die.

Treating Plants to Maximise Growth Rates
The best way to ensure that any of your plants will grow at their fastest is to provide the right conditions. This will vary from plant to plant. Some plants do best in well drained, light soils, while others prefer moist, heavier soils. Some prefer full sun, others partial or even full shade. Some need regular additions of fertiliser or compost for best results, others need additional watering during dry periods. The important thing is to understand the needs of your plants and provide them as best you can.  Ask your local nurseryperson for advice on what the plants require, or refer to good quality gardening books.

“They said it was fast growing but it isn’t?”
There are many reasons why a reputedly fast growing plant doesn’t grow as fast as expected.
Firstly make sure it is actually is suited to your garden’s soil and climatic conditions.
Secondly, most home gardeners commonly don’t water or fertilise plants sufficiently to obtain the desired growth. Thirdly, the purchased plant may have had root damage or coiling thereby preventing the plant spreading its roots out into surrounding soils. Fourthly, the plant may actually be a unique specimen, that genetically differs from the typical plant species or cultivar.

“Buy herbs, almost all are fast”
Unfortunately, this comment is also not always correct. There are many herbs that are fast, but there are also many that are notoriously slow (e.g. bay tree (Laurus nobilis)).

“All natives are fast”
There is a belief in some countries that all natives are fast growing – this is not correct. There are always different soils and climates to consider; and even in a small country, weather conditions (and a plant's performance) can vary dramatically between a north facing slope and a south slope.  Some natives are definitely fast, however many are not. Careful selection of the right native for the right climate will achieve faster growth.

“For a quick splash of colour use annuals and perennials”
There are many annuals that are very fast to flower once planted (e.g. Allysum, lobelia, marigolds, salvias, Tagetes, etc) but there is also a very large range of annuals that take time to mature before they flower (e.g. Foxgloves). As many perennials tend to have a growing and flowering phase, home gardeners need to be aware that they tend also to have a dormant phase where growth either stops or slows down considerably.

Caution with Fast Growing Plants
Some fast growing plants can get out of hand, becoming serious weeds. Lantana, for example, grows very fast in the tropics, and hence needs pruning frequently. Some gardeners deposit their clippings on nearby bush verges resulting in what could be regarded as ‘environmental negligence’. Not only will the seed be spread by birds, or germinate where it falls, the plants will often reshoot from these clippings.

A note of caution should be raised about growing some plants too quickly. They may produce lush, soft growth that can be more prone to attack from pests and diseases, or may not be “hardened off “ when harsh conditions arrive, such as when you are away and not able to water them, or water restrictions are applied. Some fast growing trees grow so fast that not enough time is given to deposit lignin into the cells (this product gives strength to trucks and cells). In strong winds, such limbs can break and trunks snap easily.

Suggested Fast Growing Plants
Some plants will grow quickly in most places; others only grow fast in certain climates.

Fast Trees in most places…. Albizia lophantha, most Acacias, Paulownia tomentosa, Virgilia oroboides, Chamaecytisus proliferus (Tree Lucerne), Melaleuca armillaris, M. ericifolia, M. linariifolia, Hymenosporum flavum, Dodonaea viscosa, Myoporum insulare, Allocasuarina spp., Grevillea robusta, Lophostemon confertus.

Fast Trees in Sub Tropics …Schizolobium parahybum, Bauhinia blakeana, Erythrina x hybrida, Hibiscus tileaceus, Schefflera actinophylla, Lophostemon confertus, Callistemon sp., Backhousia citriodora, Inga edulis, Melicope elleryana, Alphitonia excelsa, Schefflera actinophylla

Fast Trees in Temperate Areas …Salix spp.(need plenty of room, have invasive roots), Prostanthera lasianthos, Schinus molle, Hakea laurina, Ceratopetalum gummiferum, Melaleuca  stypheloides, Corymbia calophylla, Angophora floribunda

Fast Growing Shrubs in Subtropical areas
Acalypha wilkesiana, Syzygium (most cultivars), Cestrum nocturnum, Calliandra pulcherrima, Grevillea ‘Honey Gem’, Murraya paniculata, Duranta erecta (syn D. Repens), Alternanthera dentata, Cuphea hyssopifolia, Orthosiphon aristatus, Eranthemum pulchellum, Tecoma capensis, Lantana cultivars, Melaleuca armillaris.

Fast Growing Shrubs in Temperate Climates
Hardenbergia violacea (shrubby forms), Hydrangea macrophylla, Leptospermum (most species & cultivars), Alyogyne huegelii, Baeckea linifolia, Callistemon (most species & cultivars), Beaufortia spp., Crowea spp., Hakea salicifolia,  Agonis juniperina, Westringia fruticosa, Buddleia (most species & cultivars), Indigofera australis, Lonicera nitida, L. sempervirens, Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula angustfolia (larger cultivars), Roses (shrub types), Artemisia absinthium, A. vulgaris, Teucrium fruticans (Germander), Prostanthera ovalifolia, Myoporum floribundum..

Other herbaceous plants in the tropics and subtropics
Canna lilies, Gingers (Zingiber spp. and Hedychium spp.), Heliconia spp, Costus spp., Zephranthes candida, Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, Lomandra longifolia, Agapathus spp.,
Liriope ‘Evergreen Giant’, Ophiopogon japonicus, Begonia spp., Cymbopogon citratus (lemon Grass).

Other herbaceous plants in the temperate climates (mainly small to medium shrubs)
Salvia leucantha, Salvia sclarea, Osteospermum ecklonis, Phlomis fruticosus, Erigeron karvinskianus, Angelica archangelica (Angelica), Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm), Monarda didyma (Bee Balm), Agapanthus, Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel), Mentha (Mints) larger types, Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium), Achillea millefolium (Milfoil, Yarrow), Argyranthemum cultivars, Canna cultivars.

Climbers known to be fast (in warm climates)
Clerodendron splendens, Clytostoma callistegioides, Cobaea scandens, Jasminum polyanthum
Lonicera japonica, Solanum jasminoides, Passiflora edulis, P. mollissima, Ipomoea horsfalliae
Thunbergia grandiflora, T. mysorensis, Pyrostegia venusta, Cissus antarctica, Pandorea jasminoides, Mandevilla laxa, Solanum jasminoides, Antigonon leptosus.

Climbers known to be fast in cooler districts
Actinidia chinensis (Kiwi fruit), Clematis aristata, C. glycinoides, Hardenbergia violacea (climbing forms), Jasminum polyanthum, J. officinale, Kennedya nigricans, K, rubicunda
Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Pandorea pandorana, P. jasminoides, Passiflora edulis, Solanum jasminoides, Wisteria floribunda, W. sinensis, Pelargonium peltatum, Roses (climbing types),
Lathyrus odorata.

Ground covers/Mat forming
Evolvulus pilosis, Viola betonicifolia, Dichondra repens, Viola hederacea, Pratia pedunculata, Mentha pulegium (Pennyroyal)