Comments on: Corten steel aesthetics: questionable http://www.historicalgardensblog.com/2010/06/14/corten-steel-aesthetics-questionable/ Unconnected Reports on Garden History | by Henk van der Eijk Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:00:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sorbus http://www.historicalgardensblog.com/2010/06/14/corten-steel-aesthetics-questionable/comment-page-1/#comment-462 Sorbus Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:10:11 +0000 http://www.historicalgardensblog.com/?p=2745#comment-462 In my opinion, in the Het Park image, the fact that the gravel is not raked level is as much of a visual deterrent as the metal edging. As the planting is still very young, compared to your other images, the edging stands out visually even more. The soil level looks like it can't be lowered because of the planting, so no lowering of the metalwork. I'd recommend one of two things: Raise the level of the gravel slightly (raked preferably) or wait for the hedges to develop in width and conceal the edging. In managing a garden, I could not justify the material choice or expense of corten steel only to sink it below ground level! Regarding the Het Loo image, Buxus regenerates and responds very well to hard pruning, will need this from time to time to keep the ever changing plants to the design intent, and for a hedge that size it has probably filled back by now. I'm restoring original C19 box hedging and have had to reduce its width by 30-50 cm in places. It's responding well and is almost completely back in shape in just a few years. Both issues could have been mitigated by some form of interpretative signage. If garden visitors understand what Het Park is intended to look like in ten years time, or how periodic, renovative pruning is required for established, older hedges, the temporary and subjective impact could be addressed. Where appropriate, using smaller plants (potentially propagated from historic material) or renovating what plants you have, is far more sustainable and helps retain horticultural skills that are vital to the long-term care of historic gardens. Admittedly, horticulturists could sometimes communicate this better and explain what they are trying to achieve and on what time-scale. This is especially necessary where public expectation is driven by Chelsea show gardens or mainstream garden media, using expensive, often imported mature plants (with the pest and disease risks associated with this) built to unrealistic time-scales. In my opinion, in the Het Park image, the fact that the gravel is not raked level is as much of a visual deterrent as the metal edging. As the planting is still very young, compared to your other images, the edging stands out visually even more. The soil level looks like it can’t be lowered because of the planting, so no lowering of the metalwork. I’d recommend one of two things: Raise the level of the gravel slightly (raked preferably) or wait for the hedges to develop in width and conceal the edging. In managing a garden, I could not justify the material choice or expense of corten steel only to sink it below ground level!

Regarding the Het Loo image, Buxus regenerates and responds very well to hard pruning, will need this from time to time to keep the ever changing plants to the design intent, and for a hedge that size it has probably filled back by now. I’m restoring original C19 box hedging and have had to reduce its width by 30-50 cm in places. It’s responding well and is almost completely back in shape in just a few years.

Both issues could have been mitigated by some form of interpretative signage. If garden visitors understand what Het Park is intended to look like in ten years time, or how periodic, renovative pruning is required for established, older hedges, the temporary and subjective impact could be addressed.

Where appropriate, using smaller plants (potentially propagated from historic material) or renovating what plants you have, is far more sustainable and helps retain horticultural skills that are vital to the long-term care of historic gardens. Admittedly, horticulturists could sometimes communicate this better and explain what they are trying to achieve and on what time-scale. This is especially necessary where public expectation is driven by Chelsea show gardens or mainstream garden media, using expensive, often imported mature plants (with the pest and disease risks associated with this) built to unrealistic time-scales.

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