Peter Korn Lecture

 I attended a lecture at Bath University by Peter Korn this week, where he talked about his pioneering new way of creating naturalistic climate tough planting grown exclusively in sand.

He layers various types of sand and some recycled building aggregates on top of the existing substrates. Creating typographical forms for flow and drainage. He is greatly inspired by the plants of North America and the technique came about when trying to recreate the same conditions in Sweden. When adding plants that he hasn't grown in his sand nursery he will remove all soil and wash the roots before planting.

The technique allows for a greater diversity of planting as with the low nutrient sand there is little competition between the plants. He will add as much as 1,500 bulbs per square meter to create planting from spring through to the start of winter. He then leaves until the end of winter when everything is cutback or burned and all organic materials removed so as not to add nutrients. 
He has worked on parks, gardens, schools, roads and green roofs. Creating incredible planting schemes that require very little maintenance. He says that many weeds like being picked and trampled it makes them strong!