The three-year research project, the Melbourne Arts Precinct Plant Trials, has been formed in partnership between The University of Melbourne (Burnley Campus), MAP Co, Development Victoria, design practice Hassell, plant practice Super Bloom and international horticulturalists James Hitchmough and Nigel Dunnett. The project will evaluate the plant species and mixes best suited to thrive in Laak Boorndap – the 18,000sqm urban garden being delivered as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.
The Melbourne Arts Precinct Plant Trials is testing a range of growing conditions, the impacts of an increasingly hot environment and aesthetic considerations – ensuring what goes into the ground at Laak Boorndap will flourish year-round, remain beautiful and everchanging, and continuously foster biodiversity.
The Plant Trials are being conducted at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus in harsh weather conditions. The plants are being tested on a rooftop in beds with shallow substrate and with minimal irrigation, to mimic the environment of Laak Boorndap. This thorough research into plant survivability will help the designers and team behind the garden understand what species are compatible with Melbourne’s future climate.
Over 1000 plants are being evaluated in the trials including more than 125 species. Imaging technologies, such as drone imagery and 3D point clouds, are tracking plant development, while sensors monitor site data like rainfall temperature, solar radiation, and soil moisture.
The plant trials are led by Associate Professor in Green Infrastructure, Claire Farrell and University of Melbourne Research Fellow in Green Infrastructure, Dr Dean Schrieke. Associate Professor Farrell and Dr Schrieke are applying the academic expertise of the University of Melbourne’s Green Infrastructure Group to the research, bolstering the project’s science-based outcomes.
Research outcomes will be periodically shared through public programs, conversations, and articles to help interested community members create climate-resilient gardens in urban settings including their own gardens, rooftops, balconies or nature strips.
A new Test Garden has also opened at Melbourne’s Fed Square, acting as a place that the community can meet and hear from the researchers on their findings. The pop-up Test Garden, open to the public 24/7, demonstrates the naturalistic planting style of Laak Boorndap and provides a test bed for programming, research, and conversations. Garden enthusiasts can visit the Test Garden and watch it change and grow, getting a glimpse into the future Laak Boorndap.
Follow @laak.boorndap and visit Test Garden for regular updates on programming and plants in season.
Acknowledgements
The Melbourne Arts Precinct Plant Trials is a partnership between The University of Melbourne (Burnley Campus), MAP Co, Development Victoria, Hassell, Super Bloom, James Hitchmough and Nigel Dunnett.
Images: Sarah Pannell
