The Grass Tree
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Episode: 26 (3rd November 2007)
For some time the Garden Gurus design team have been working on a very special project. They have designed and constructed a series of entry gardens for the West Australian Water Corporation.
One of the gardens is a contemporary display garden called the ‘Swirl Garden’ and the centerpiece has an inspirational story behind it.
The central feature of the garden is a spectacular, Balga, or Grass Tree as they are better known as. It is absolutely stunning and estimated to be over a thousand years old. It was saved from a freeway extension and it has made a spectacular centerpiece to the garden.
The tree has the unique structure, being multi-branched, with over thirty different heads branching out from the crown of the tree which is two metres above the ground. It was identified and used for its purpose ahead of traditional features for several different reasons.
These reasons include the fact that it has been saved from destruction through land clearance, it is representative of the adaptation and survival of endemic species in a climate and environment that is too harsh for many plants, and it uses no supplementary water in summer.
The Grass Tree has to be one of the ultimate in water wise plants and it is a classic example of what you can achieve with architectural style Australian plants.
The Grass Tree was first identified for salvage in the year 2000 and the transplants team dug it from the ground carefully before loading it onto a truck using a large crane. It was then moved to a temporary home in Wattle Grove. The tree was transplanted into a new garden bed comprised mainly of a sand structure and it has subsequently been treated for borers to reduce the risk of further shock. After 24 months of care it was transplanted to its permanent home as the centerpiece of the ‘Swirl Garden’.
Featured Plant:
Grass Tree or Balga (Xanthorroea preissii)
Episode: 26 (3rd November 2007)
For some time the Garden Gurus design team have been working on a very special project. They have designed and constructed a series of entry gardens for the West Australian Water Corporation.
One of the gardens is a contemporary display garden called the ‘Swirl Garden’ and the centerpiece has an inspirational story behind it.
The central feature of the garden is a spectacular, Balga, or Grass Tree as they are better known as. It is absolutely stunning and estimated to be over a thousand years old. It was saved from a freeway extension and it has made a spectacular centerpiece to the garden.
The tree has the unique structure, being multi-branched, with over thirty different heads branching out from the crown of the tree which is two metres above the ground. It was identified and used for its purpose ahead of traditional features for several different reasons.
These reasons include the fact that it has been saved from destruction through land clearance, it is representative of the adaptation and survival of endemic species in a climate and environment that is too harsh for many plants, and it uses no supplementary water in summer.
The Grass Tree has to be one of the ultimate in water wise plants and it is a classic example of what you can achieve with architectural style Australian plants.
The Grass Tree was first identified for salvage in the year 2000 and the transplants team dug it from the ground carefully before loading it onto a truck using a large crane. It was then moved to a temporary home in Wattle Grove. The tree was transplanted into a new garden bed comprised mainly of a sand structure and it has subsequently been treated for borers to reduce the risk of further shock. After 24 months of care it was transplanted to its permanent home as the centerpiece of the ‘Swirl Garden’.
Featured Plant:
Grass Tree or Balga (Xanthorroea preissii)
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