Species sheetSelecting species and forms·4 min
Lagerstroemia indica: summer flowering, cultivars and use
Lagerstroemia indica offers summer flowers, decorative bark and autumn colour. Learn about cultivars, aspect and care.
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Diaplant · Blog · Page 4 of 7
What we know about trees.
159 articles written by the people who grow, plant and maintain mature trees — from choosing the species to the works and maintenance. Filter by topic or by type of content.
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73–96 of 159 articles · page 4 of 7
Showing articles 73 to 96 of 159. Page 4 of 7.
6 min
Large tree or mature tree: what is the difference?
A large tree can have size without the same maturity or preparation. We explain what separates size, age, training and nursery quality.
ReadLawn, meadow or living ground cover: how to choose the right solution for each area
There is no universal solution for replacing the lawn. The right choice depends on what happens in each area: movement, lingering, play, aspect.
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Biodiversity
Leaves, dead wood and bare soil: the elements maintenance tends to remove
Leaves, dead wood and small areas of bare soil are habitat components that conventional maintenance tends to remove.
ReadLiving ground cover or mulch: two different strategies for protecting the soil
Living ground cover and mulch protect the soil in different ways. Mulch reduces evaporation, rain impact and weeds through an organic layer.
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Seasonality and phenology
Long flowering or a succession of flowerings: which creates a more resilient garden?
Long flowering can give continuity, but a succession of flowerings offers greater diversity over time and reduces dependence on a single species.
ReadSelection pack
Low-water Mediterranean pack: structure, shade and ground cover
A low-water Mediterranean selection combines structure, shade and ground cover, but it only cuts water use once the plants are properly established.
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Species sheetSelecting species and forms·4 min
Magnolia × soulangeana: flowering, conditions and use in the garden
Magnolia × soulangeana offers early flowers and a broad crown, but it needs well-drained soil and care with its roots. Get to know the species.
ReadMatrix planting: how to combine a dominant species with seasonal plants
Matrix planting uses a dominant species to give continuity and a smaller set of plants to introduce flowering, texture or seasonal variation.
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Selection packUrban tree planting and climate
Narrow streets: 7 trees with a columnar or contained crown
In a narrow street, the crown has to coexist with façades, lighting, signage and traffic.
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Selection packNatives, cultivars and climate
Native Atlantic pack: trees and shrubs for the moist soils of northern Portugal
A native Atlantic base can give structure to projects on the moist soils of northern Portugal, but it should not be applied without a diagnosis.
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Natives, cultivars and climate
Native or exotic species? Why the answer should not be binary
The choice between native and exotic species should not be binary. Natives suited to the place are an important base for their ecological relationships and…
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Selecting species and forms·4 min
Natural, globe, columnar and pleached crowns: how they change the space
Crown form shapes shade, width, views and maintenance. Learn the differences between natural, globe, columnar and pleached crowns.
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Orchards, kitchen gardens, vineyards and olive groves within the landscape design
A productive area can be part of the garden design without being treated as a decorative element. It needs access, water, pruning, harvesting and soil…
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Organic mulch or aggregates: what changes in the soil and in maintenance
Woodchip, bark, gravel and other aggregates protect the soil in different ways. Compare water, temperature, weeds and maintenance.
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Natives, cultivars and climate
Origin, provenance and genetics: three different scales in plant selection
Origin, provenance and genetics describe different scales. Origin indicates whether or not a species is native to a territory; provenance identifies where the…
ReadOutdoor lighting and biodiversity: how to light without erasing the night
Lighting without erasing the night means using only the light that is needed, in the place and for the period it is needed.
ReadSelection pack
Pack for wet soils and drainage areas: species to compare
Wet soils, drainage areas and riverbanks do not correspond to the same regime.
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Species sheetSelecting species and forms·4 min
Parrotia persica: autumn colour, bark and use in the garden
Parrotia persica offers autumn colour, decorative bark and a broad crown. Get to know its forms, conditions and use.
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Paving, walls, steps and decks: how they fit into the garden
Built elements organise circulation, resolve levels and create places to spend time in. They should be thought through together with water, planting and the…
Read4 min
Planning and sequencing external works
Planning external works organises tasks that depend on one another. Spreading the work across weeks is not enough.
ReadPlanted permeable paving: when the joint is part of the garden too
Planted permeable paving uses joints, cells or open areas to let water soak in and to bring in vegetation.
ReadPlanted swales and bioswales: conveying, infiltrating and planting the water
Planted swales, or bioswales, convey water at the surface while they reduce its velocity, trap sediment and can encourage infiltration.
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Planting hole size: why there is no universal measurement
The hole depends on the rootball, the soil and the drainage. Learn the Diaplant rule and the difference between planting depth and prepared volume.
ReadLooking for a short answer?
100 frequently asked questions on selection, planting, transport, soil and maintenance, answered in a few lines.