Densification

There is this strange balance with garden ecology. no its not strange, its undeniably normal and in constant use by the processes of nature. It is a  peculiar process that balances the growth of things.

Growing two plants of the same species with in its parameters of allotted or optimal sun. One plant each in two of the categories: full, partial (morning, mid, evening), and the variants of shade.

In this case lets take two plants of the same variety that thrive in full and partial sun and place one in full sun and one partial sun, morning and evening. The variety of plant flowers in early summer when grown in full sun. The plant in partial sun would then, (if given the same amount of water or no odd variables interact) flower in mid summer when the moisture/ heat variables are similar since the more shade the longer the moisture remains and the heat stays low. At the further extreme this same variety of plant placed in mostly shade will flower at the end of summer, or, as in many occasions shade and full sun the plant may flower in fall as would be the case the camellia (north side of building ) and Scotch broom (in full sun often flowers a second time but much less flowers). Likewise a plant which would die normally if planted in full/mostly shade will survive if given less water and a plant that would bolt (maybe die, i havent tried though) in full sun if given enough water will continue to stay in vegetative growth.

This becomes important if your garden is to have layers, which is a step towards dense bio-systems. When creating a dense garden one ought to be weary of water consumption, if you need to use a lot of water then the plants that are in it are not well balanced for the ecosystem. After all gardening attempts to be your opportunity to mold an ecosystem. Besides your ecologys' hydrologic system you should be aware of air flow. Sharing your crop with insects is one thing but mold is not very fun. This is important to remember if you've been mulching through out summer as mold is naturally going to be there as a part of a healthy ecosystem, dealing with decay and transformation.  Proper wind flow will help the plants that are susceptible. Wind flow will be based on a few variants; The wind outside of your small contained ecosystem, temperature of your area and physical shape of the area including the plants shape. It will be the warming of the cool air from shaded areas that rises until it hits the hotter air from the not shaded area that will drop that air before it warms up. Or when you water the garden the cold air will push across the surface (see anecdote about urban thicket and watering the balcony to bring cold air through the house).

The term forest floor gardening speaks volumes of the method of layering. Plants in the spaces up high, medium height and on the  ground. The next step towards densification is accounting for the root shapes. There are roots that are short and span a half circle these plants often need more water when in full sun as the top layer of ground dries first, if there is no upper layer to shade it i recommend mulching and not taking off any of the first leaves. Plants furthest reaching leaves are there to shade the roots, you can use the shading and the sun to minimize or encourage a plants growth. There are plants with tap roots which are thick and usually one or a few root branches. These usually will need less watering if left alone in full sun compared to the previous type and work well with the previous variety because they take different niches in the ecosystem. Another type of root is cylindrical and usually thin, such as morning glory roots and rhizomes. Each type of root has varieties of shapes branching type and other form related adaptations.

Hills and landscape construction elevations is another way to densify , both are methods of literally expanding the amount of growing space. As an example if you built a pergola and grew gords on it, or train a fruit tree along it, you now have the space underneath that is partially shade and still has room for plants in the ground reaching high medium and low. Hills make a bit of a difference also. consider a flat line, now make it a right angle triangle, the hypotenuse is longer. A pyramids hypotenuses are shorter then they would be if it was a right angle triangle but there is more of them and it adds up to a bit more. Pyramids are also better in that the sun crosses the sky and comes down at different angles. In the morning the east side of the pyramid and half of south and north are lit. In the evening the west and half of north half of south. Depending on longitude/ time of year mid day may light up south/ half east/half west or the entire pyramid. With hills one must keep in mind that the bottom of the hill will hold a lot more water then the top and should plant accordingly.


Some plants do not do well with other plants keeping their lower section shaded, i believe it is the moisture provided by the shade. Some plants do not do well with mulching, apple trees for example. Be weary that rot can happen with some plants, while roots in others, speed or inhibit growth.