GO GREEN SITU'S WAY!

Situ Desai does not have a degree in landscape design, but the tale her garden tells is different. Her garden design speaks of ardent dedication and the love of nature that she has developed over the years. This is reflected by the fine handiwork that she has done by using the colours of the flora and fauna on the canvas of the earth. She is an artist with a flair for painting, who had her first tryst with gardening twenty years ago. This was when her dream haven christened ISP, located on Boat Club Road took shape, giving her 3000 square feet of land to develop to her taste. Her garden has been frequently undergoing changes. Situ has green fingers and a creative mind to boot. She gives credit to the various books she read before she planted a sapling. Read books on gardening, says Situ to all those who want to grow greenery around their houses and don’t want to spend money on the landscapist.

Situ's tips for people who dream of landscaped gardens:-

• The orientation of the garden must be correct, it must be on the south side or the plants will suffer due to lack of sunlight.

• The drainage of the garden must be in the right direction, as there should be no water logging. Water logging could disturb the growth of bulb plants.

• According to her, selection of plants is of primary importance. Each plant has its own requirement, some are shade loving, others could be seasonal or permanent.

• Pruning of the plants is necessary and must be done once a fortnight. Plants must be pruned, keeping the natural look of the plant in mind. The plant after pruning must not look like a plucked chicken.

• Weeding must be done at regular intervals, which will help cut down parasites. The use of the sickle will loosen up the soil and give the plants breathing space.

• Roses are a passé, as they require too much maintenance.

• If the garden is defined by mesh, then to keep nosy neighbours away, one must use the railway creeper, as it is a quick and lush green solution.

• If a person has less time on his hands, he should go in for the permanent type of bushes.

• Kitchen Gardens are utility areas but not a visual delight, so these gardens must be placed away from the main lawn. The kitchen garden must be screened with creepers or shrubs.

Jayanth Dharap is one of the city's most respected landscapist. A gold medalist in Masters of Landscape Architecture from the Delhi University, he has contributed substantially to the city's landscape. His enterprise, Forethought Design Consultants, has handled a variety of projects from residential complexes to sprawling resorts. He is actively involved in generating environmental awareness. Mr Dharap lays emphasis on the importance of landscaping and regards it as a vital part of a project's success story. Landscaping, he avers, is all about creating the right setting or environment and need not be restricted to construction activity. He is glad that Green Pune is getting greener with the Pune Municipal Corporation having taken a step in the right direction with asthetically designed and well maintained parks. For people who cannot get professional help for their garden and open land, but who wish to beautify them, his advice is to use one's instinct and follow one's heart.