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Designing with Nature:
The Art of Matrix Gardening
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The Matrix landscaping trend has been sweeping the garden world recently, inspiring a new paradigm in low-maintence design. Matrix gardening has nothing to do with dodging bullets in slow motion or fighting Agent Smith. Instead, it's all about creating a harmonious and natural-looking landscape.
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Popularized by Piet Oudolf, the renowned Dutch garden designer, the matrix gardening approach matches groups of plants with the same needs and knits them together into a repeating "matrix" using low-growing grasses or sedges, creating a planned landscape with a natural look.
Pictured left is Lurie Garden in Chicago, an extremely large matrix planting. In this design, specific plant combos were repeated again and again to fill in a very large space. But the same idea scales down to small landscapes, as well.
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Matrix gardens are great for that awkward spot between the sidewalk and the street, or a driveway strip, or a steep slope that you'd rather not mow. This week we'll dive into the basics of matrix garden design and see how you can transform your outdoor space into a thriving and beautiful haven.
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Choosing Matrix Garden Plants:
A Step-by-Step Guide
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Clockwise from top: Dwarf Fountain Grass interplanted with Echinacea, Blue Grama Grass, Evergold Varigated Sedge, Undaunted Muhly Grass, Japanese Hakone Grass.
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Grasses and grass-like plants are the "glue" that holds the matrix garden together, crowding out weeds and eliminating the long-term need for mulch. To choose the best plants for the job, consider your site, and match a low-growing grassy plant to the conditions there. Here's a quick cheat sheet:
For sunny spots with regular water, use Dwarf Fountain Grass
For sunny spots with moderate water, use Blue Grama Grass, Muhly Grass or Prairie Dropseed
For shady spots with regular water, use Sedges or Japanese Forest Grass
For shady spots with moderate water, use Creeping Lily Turf. Some sedges also tolerate moderate water.
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When choosing flowering plants to fill in your matrix planting, pick 1-3 of them, and look for a few specific traits:
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- Choose tough plants that will thrive in the spot where you want to put them
- All the plants in the design should be okay with being cut down yearly
- The plants should be taller than the surrounding grasses, but not taller than hip-height (around 3 1/2 feet. This keeps the landscape looking open.)
- Incorporate plenty of natives. Our local natives are mostly adapted to prairie type culture, holding their own alongside grasses
- Choose flowers that bloom at different times so that the landscape looks interesting all season long
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For example, a moist, lakeside garden with partial shade could incorporate sedges together with Japanese Iris (spring to early summer blooming,) Swamp Milkweed (summer blooming,) and Cardinal Flower (midsummer to fall blooming.)
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Adding height here and there makes the garden more interesting to look at. The ideal accent plants can be cut to the ground and re-grow each season. Here are some examples:
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Once you've selected a 'module' of plants that complement each other, you can replicate it across a large area for a cohesive look or mix different modules for added contrast. You might alternate them in a checkerboard pattern, use shorter plants around the bed's edges and taller ones toward the back, or experiment with vibrant color combinations. The possibilities are endless! The charm of a matrix garden lies in its versatility, allowing you to truly make it your own.
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Maintaining your Matrix Garden
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Once your matrix garden is planted, maintaining it is relatively straightforward. Here are the steps to keep your garden thriving:
1. Initial Establishment (First Year)
- Watering: Ensure the garden receives adequate water, especially during dry spells. This will help the plants establish a strong root system.
- Weeding: Regularly pull weeds as they appear. As the plants fill in over time, there will be less opportunity for weeds to establish themselves.
- Mulching: If the plants are not densely planted, consider using mulch temporarily to help keep weeds down. Straw or leaf mulch is perferable to hardwood mulch here, as it will break down faster.
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2. Seasonal Maintenance & Ongoing Care
- Cutting Back: In late winter, cut back all the plants. This helps maintain the garden's structure and promotes new growth. You can leave the trimmings on the ground if desired, to act as a natural, lightweight mulch and enrich the soil.
- Monitoring and Tweaking: Regularly assess the garden's performance throughout the season. Move plants around if necessary to get the look you want.
- Thinning Out: Occasionally thin out any plants that are dominating the area to keep the planting diverse.
- Supplimental Watering: During periods of drought, providing water will help to keep the landscape healthy.
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To inspire your matrix gardening journey, we’ve gathered a virtual tour of public natural gardens from across America. Exploring these beautiful spaces will help you to envision how you can create your own matrix garden at home.
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Lurie Garden, Chicago
Harkin Institute, Drake University, OH
Midwest Groundcovers, St. Charles IL
Hellstrip Planting, Des Moines Art Center
Kingwood Center Gardens | Mansfield OH
The Oudolf Garden, Detroit
The Bailey Nurseries Test Garden, St. Paul, Minnesota
The High Line Gardens, New York
The Meadow at Delaware Botanic Gardens
Blank Performing Arts Center, Des Moines Iowa
The Friendship Garden at the National Arboretum, Washington DC
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Remember, if you need help picking the right plants, we're always here for you.
Happy gardening!
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Hardy Bucks redemption runs through August 15th. Use them to cover up to half the cost of all retail merchandise!
The best part is that they're valid at both the Garden Center and StoneMarket, with no expiration date.
Mark your calendars, and come visit us soon!
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No matter the season, a Hoerr Nursery gift card is the perfect gift for the green thumb in your life. We have a selection of designs for all tastes. Add a personalized message for the gift that keeps on growing! Shipping with card available.
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