The luxuriant greenery that Singapore enjoys today is no accident of nature. Neither did our Garden City happen overnight. It took some 40 years of strong political will and the sweat and toil of many to sustain the effort.
Singapore's development into a Garden City started four decades ago with the establishment of the greening programme. The driving force behind this was the former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who identified a green Singapore as a key competitive factor in attracting foreign investments to the country. It was the then Prime Minister Lee who launched the Tree Planting Campaign in 1963. Some 40 years on, the Government is just as committed to the programme.
The Initial Years
In 1976, the Parks and Recreation Department under the Ministry of National Development was formed to take on the task of greening Singapore. As much of Singapore's streetscape and developments were devoid of greenery, the key focus was to green up the island in the shortest time possible. Fast-growing indigenous trees were thus selected with Angsana Trees taking the lead because they are shady, fast-growing, easily available and easy to maintain. Other species were the Rain Tree, Yellow Flame and Ketapang. Planting of free-flowering trees and shrubs such as the colourful Bougainvilleas then followed as part of our efforts to adorn the green landscape with swathes of colour.
At the same time, road codes were developed to ensure that adequate planting areas were provided along new roads. This ensured planting verges along major and minor roads. Not to be overlooked were paved areas such as car parks which were required to be planted with trees to attenuate the heat of the extensive asphalt surfaces. In addition, concrete structures such as flyovers, overhead bridges and retaining walls were covered with creepers such as Ficus pumila and climbers, and screened with shrubs and transplanted trees to provide visual relief from the built environment.
In the city, parks were developed to provide "green lungs" for people working in the urban commercial areas. Meanwhile, developers of residential areas were required to plant roadside trees and set aside land for open space. The island-wide park development programme was also accelerated to cater to the diverse recreational needs of the population. Under this programme, existing old parks were improved upon and many new ones were developed.
Enter The Garden City
The eighties saw Singapore enjoying the fruits of the Government's concerted efforts to green up the island. As Singapore made considerable progress on the economic front, so did its reputation as a Garden City. Meandering tree-lined roads interspersed with lush parks and gardens created a unique green ambience that drew accolades far and wide.
Not one to rest on its laurels, the Government then embarked on a programme to fine-tune the green programme for quality as well as ensure efficient management of resources in maintaining this tropical oasis.
As part of on-going efforts to enhance the island's green ambience, planting policies were focused on provision of shade along walkways and roadsides. To create a garden effect, fruit trees, flowering and fragrant plants were planted in parks, residential suburbs, schools and in the grounds of institutions such as hospitals, police stations and community centres.
Due to competing land uses for residential, industrial and commercial developments, creative urban planning came into play to ensure optimal usage of land. Park planning had to factor in elements such as location of population centres and accessibility. At the same time, park designs had to be innovative, stimulate creativity as well as capture the imagination of the community. Where natural assets existed, they were capitalised upon and enhanced. Where they were lacking, much effort was put into creating an identity to provide a point of differentiation that will appeal to a wide spectrum of the population. This included installation of sculptures, challenging playgrounds and creating habitats to attract wildlife such as birds to the parks.
Maintaining Our Garden City Today
Today, NParks is the agency spearheading the maintenance of the Garden City, managing 1,763 hectares of parks, connectors and open spaces, including some 300 parks and playgrounds. We also manage 3,326 ha of nature reserves, plus 4,278 ha of roadside greenery and vacant stateland. NParks is also the Singapore's scientific authority on nature conservation, and monitors and coordinates measures to ensure the health of designated nature areas. Despite competing land needs, the Government has set aside space for parks, trees and greenery. Under the Concept Plan 2001, 4400 ha of parkland will be set aside when Singapore's population reaches 5.5 million.
NParks continues to improve upon a quality urban environment. NParks is in the process of developing the Streetscape Greenery Master Plan aimed at accentuating and providing distinctive landmarks in our future landscape. To complement the lush streetscape greenery, NParks' greening approach is now moving upwards through the greening of rooftops and sides of high-rise buildings which helps to ensure optimal land use as well as improves the environment for quality living.
However, even as Singapore moves towards greater urbanisation, it is imperative that the green ambience that has played a significant role in the social and economic development of this island is preserved. The Heritage Trees Scheme is aimed at conserving the trees that have been maturing gracefully while the Heritage Roads Scheme seeks to preserve roadside landscapes with beautiful mature trees and greenery.
In tandem with the growing needs of an increasingly sophisticated population, NParks continues to develop new parks and upgrade existing ones to ensure that they remain relevant to park users. As part of our efforts to ensure that parks and open spaces are within easy reach of the community, a comprehensive network linking major parks and nature areas is currently being developed. When completed, the park network system of parks and park connectors will span some 360 km and enable the population to explore the island through one continuous green network.
Looking Ahead
Over the years, NParks' mission has evolved from realising a vision for a Garden City to creating A City in a Garden where the island's seamless green infrastructure of parks and streetscapes play an essential part of Singaporeans' lives, homes, workplaces and playgrounds. NParks is committed to building enduring partnerships with corporations and the community to initiate programmes and activities that will inspire a love for the environment. Moving forward, NParks aims to progress beyond providing green infrastructure to creating recreational experiences and lifestyles in our Garden where we live, work and play.
Skyrise Greenery
Singapore, like many other highly dense cities around the world, has begun to create a three-dimensional garden for our urban environment.
Like Chicago, Toronto, Tokyo and Germany, we have incorporated landscaped rooftop gardens and other forms of skyrise greenery in our urban landscapes. In recent years, both private and governmental projects have increasingly reflected these elements.
As the custodian responsible for providing and enhancing greenery of the Garden City, the National Parks Board (NParks) continues to improve upon a quality urban landscape.
In tandem with urban intensification, NParks has also stepped up greening efforts to maintain the greenery and lushness of the urban environment. NParks' greening approach has been moving upwards through the greening of rooftops and sides of high-rise buildings, which allows optimal land use, and improves the environment for quality living. Urban dwellers or pedestrians can thus still appreciate greenery at ground - level, or at rooftops, in spite of urban intensification.
What is Skyrise Greenery?
1) Rooftop gardens 2) Planting on parts of the building such as Podium gardens, Facade greenery, Balcony planting.
Do you know that…
Skyrise greenery beautifies the environment and enhances our Garden City image
Plants can improve indoor air quality and they provide an indefinable quality to indoor living that uplifts the spirit
Rooftop gardens can reduce the ambient air temperature by 4°C and surface temperature by up to 31°C. Rooftop gardens are used to combat the urban heat island effect in cities like Tokyo and Chicago
Rooftop gardens provide amenity space for users on underutilized space
Skyrise greenery adds identity and enhances the aesthetic appeal of a building, which indirectly increases the value and marketability of a property
NParks has produced the "Handbook on Skyrise Greening in Singapore". The contents of the book is available for downloading below.
"Skyrise Gardening in Highrise Homes", also produced by NParks, is available for purchase from major bookstores, and Botanic Garden Shop in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Starting Your Own Skyrise Garden In Your Home
Before you start your home garden, ask a few questions on where you are going to place your plants. Is the place windy? Is it away from the doors or windows? Will the plants get plenty of sunshine?
These questions are necessary as different plants favour different growing conditions. Let's look at some of these factors.
Light
Plants that require plenty of sunlight are suitable for balconies and rooftops. These include flowering plants such as Bougainvillea, African Violet, and plants with brightly coloured leaves such as the Coleus.
Plants that can grow in the shade such as ferns and Calatheas are more suitable for the indoor environment or for placement in any location that is away from direct sunlight.
Hint: When the light comes from a single source, plants should be rotated to face the source regularly. This ensures that its foliage receives even light and helps maintain balanced growth.
Humidity
Plants such as cacti and succulents do not thrive in damp atmospheres as they are usually found in dry and low humidity regions. It is best to site these plants where there will be good air circulation.
Plants such as Begonias and ferns require humid conditions as they are usually found under shade in the forest. For these plants, high humidity can be maintained by grouping several plants together, or by placing them near a water feature such as a pond.
Hint: Occasional misting of the plants may also help to create the humid atmosphere.
Selecting your plants
When you are at the plant nursery, 1. Look for young healthy plants. 2. Handle your plants carefully when bringing them home. 3. Avoid plants with roots growing out of drainage holes. Hint: When you chose a flowering plant, choose one with many unopened flower buds instead of one with many opened blooms.
Plant Containers
Most plants can be grown in any container that holds the growing medium and can drain well. You will be spoilt for choice on the range of containers that are available commercially.
Containers with drainage holes must be in cachepots or dish trays to prevent leakage onto the floor and furnishings
Basic Tools
The basic tools you will need include: 1. A watering can with long and narrow spout. 2. A pair of secateurs. 3. A set of garden fork and spade. 4. A mister
Potting Mix
The potting medium is a critical factor for successful plant growth, regardless of the size of the container. Commercially packed potting mixes are readily available to suit a range of plant types.
Hint: There is no hard and fast rule for the potting mix ratio. They can be varied to suit specific needs. Some plants require a fast draining medium containing a high percentage of sand, while others need a medium such as peat moss which retains the water. Plants can also be grown in soil -less medium as in hydroponics.
Repotting
If the plant that you have brought back from the nursery is pot-bound (with roots growing through the drainage holes and over the surface of the growing medium), it may be necessary for you to pot the plant into a larger-sized pot.
Follow these simple steps:
1. Place a few stones or nylon mesh at the bottom of the pot. This covers the drainage holes and prevents the potting mix from being washed away. It also facilitates good drainage. Fill the pot with potting mix to a depth of about 1/3 of the pot.
2. Remove the plant from its plastic bag or pot. You may have to tease out any tightly packed roots with your fingers so that they can spread into the planting medium more easily.
3. Stand the plant in the pot and gradually fill around the root ball with potting mix. Use your thumbs to firm down the potting mix. Cover all visible roots with the potting mix. There should be a gap between the top of the potting mix and the top of the pot.
4. Water the plant and allow it to drain well.
Basic watering
There's no strict rule on when a plant should be watered.
Most foliage houseplants should be watered thoroughly and frequently. With most flowering houseplants, the potting mixtures should be kept moist (but not wet) at all times.
Hint: To do the dampness test for foilage plants, push your finger into the potting mix to the full depth of your fingernail; if your fingertip remains dry on removal, the plant needs watering. For flowering plants, test the surface of the mixture with your finger and water if it feels dry.
Pruning
Pruning is a necessary maintenance procedure. Plants are pruned to keep growth in control; to give them a better shape and to keep them healthy by removing dead or diseased branches and shoots.
Some people find it therapeutic to groom a plant
Feeding your plants
Your plants will depend on you for their nutrients, so remember to feed them regularly. The golden rule is "little and often".
There is a range of fertilisers to suit different types of plants; solid or liquid forms, organic or inorganic. The form of the fertiliser does not matter as long as the plants are fed regularly with the correct quantity. Always read the labels for the correct quantity.
If you are using solid fertilisers, spread the fertilizer granules evenly in the pot away from the stem and exposed roots. Make sure that the granules are not caught on leaves.
Hint: The feeding frequency is dependent on the plant. Quick growing plants and plants with showy flowers require more feeding than the slow growing plants.
Common plants and diseases
Your plants will be subjected to attacks from pests and diseases. Common pests and diseases include mealy bugs, scales and sooty mould (fungus).
The plants can be treated when you clean the pests and mould off them with a soft cloth and soapy water (made with toilet soap, not with washing up liquid or laundry detergent).
In the relative confined spaces of the highrise home environment, use pesticides as a last resort. Go for the environmentally friendlier ones, they are available from plant nurseries.
Hint: Regular care, feeding, watering and hygiene practices build up the immunity level of the plants.
Skills in caring for the plants increase with experience. So don't despair if your plants are not doing well. Keep trying and you will eventually enjoy your garden in the sky.
Enter The Garden City
Skyrise Greenery
Light
