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Woodland Garden

Blake Hall Woodland Garden featuring shade perennialsThis woodland garden demonstrates deer resistant groundcover options for shade including ferns, coral bells, and hellebores. Their dense spacing helps trap rainwater and retain soil moisture while helping to prevent germination of invasive weeds. The create more shade in the future Rutgers dogwoods trees ‘Venus’ and ‘Scarlet Fire’ were also planted.

Design: Jason Cincotta & Alexis Lo, Rutgers Green Team and Landscape Architecture

Advisors: Christina Kaunzinger & Holly Nelson, Landscape Architecture; Jim Murphy, Center for Turf Grass Science

Installation 2019: Rutgers Green Team, Scarlet Day of Service volunteers, and Landscape Architecture Club

Maintenance: Rutgers Green Team and Facilities/Grounds

Under the canopy of Japanese Stewartia trees, the woodland garden at Blake Hall brightens the understory with a complimentary mixture ferns and shade perennials.

Pictured here are:

  • Autumn Bride Coral Bells
  • Pippa’s Purple Hellebore
  • Ostrich Fern (Native)

For the complete planting plan click here

The low mow fine fescue in front of Blake Hall

 

 

 

Part of the woodland garden is a demonstration of sustainable eco-mow lawn of fine fescues.  As it is only mowed once in spring, it requires less care and effort to maintain.  The result is a glade of wavy grass blades and tufts of soft florets.