Grounding Woody Meadows: examining the application of horticultural research into landscape design

Abstract

This paper reviews the application and integration of Woody Meadow horticultural research into landscape design projects in Melbourne, Australia. Over the last seven years, the Woody Meadow research has trialled and demonstrated planting and maintenance strategies based on minimal labour and financial inputs while achieving urban plantings with high vegetation diversity, heat and drought resilience, and working exclusively with Australian native plants. While these trials have proven successful, the majority of applications are limited to prototypes or park upgrades rather than integrated design strategies as part of broader landscape design agendas. This research uses project analysis and comparisons in combination with researcher perspectives to highlight and discuss the gaps and barriers to applying this research to design projects. The study reveals that applying research into practice demands more than simple provision of knowledge but also extends to managing community and professional expectations alongside strategies for introducing new methods into established workflows and processes.