Last updated on May 26th, 2013
FIVE YEARS AGO, my Woodland Garden was not a garden at all. It was a jungle of wild sumac, aggressive vines, and thorny brambles. You couldn’t pass through the area without the aid of a machete and a can of bug spray. Read on, and I’ll show you how clearings were made, how paths were laid out to create a sense of mystery, and how the addition of a gurgling pond, comfortable seating, and colorful woodland plants all contributed to making this former eyesore a shady retreat. (And if you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll even show you my “Secret Garden,” which is hidden within the woodland one.)
Now, before this thicket could perform a Cinderella act, it had to be cleared of weeds and debris. By “debris,” I mean rusty hubcaps, old tires, beer cans, and other trash deposited there by the previous owner. I also removed about 80 wild sumac trees. Sumac, if you have never encountered it, is the weediest of all weed trees here in the Northeast. But it is soft-wooded and shallow rooted, and therefore not too difficult to cut or dig up.
What remained after cleaning were native shade trees, including maples, oaks, and catalpas. I let wild honeysuckle (above) remain, too, for it was useful for screening the woodland from the more formal parts of the property. Unfortunately the shrub is an exotic invasive, and I have been advised, by several readers, to get rid of it.
An air of mystery is essential to a woodland setting. For instance, paths should never be straight. They should be curved, and rather sharply, too. This invites a visitor to meander slowly through the garden, in order to discover what lies beyond each and every bend. My paths are framed with fallen branches (and cut-up sumac—at least it’s good for something), and paved with wood chips.
I’ll admit that I had help laying out these paths. Royal help, in fact. You see, Harold Brown, a former Footman to Queen Elizabeth, a former butler to Charles and Diana (and later, Princess Margaret), and now the owner of this drop-dead gorgeous Bed & Breakfast in Tumbridge Wells, happened to be visiting during my week of woodland-making. So now he can add “Master Path-Layer-Outer” to his already-exhaustive resume.
Can we agree that no garden is complete without a water feature? I made a little pond for my woodland by paying a brawny friend to dig a three-foot-deep, four-foot-wide hole. He lined the cavity with leftover roofing material I had on hand, and then filled it with water. A small pump keeps the water moving and well-aerated. Birds, frogs, chipmunks and about 25 goldfish and Koi enjoy the gurgling pond as much as I do. A pair of Adirondack-style chairs provide comfortable seating beside the pond.
Although a hammock seemed appropriate for this restful place, I failed to find one in an unobtrusive color. Consequently I settled for the next best thing — a slatted-wood swing. The swing is suspended between two strong maple trees. It overlooks a bed of New York ferns (Thelypteris noveboracensis), interplanted with pink and red Primula japonica.
Within the woodland, but completely disguised by maple saplings and wild honeysuckle, is the “secret garden.” To make this circular-shaped “room,” I simply cleared a patch of weeds, laid down wood chips for a floor, and then placed a table and six chairs there. In the summer, I like having dinner with friends in this dim, natural setting, while seated at a table that is laid with linen, candles, crystal goblets, and my best china and silver. That’s my idea of “dining in the rough.” Harold Brown would approve.
To provide the garden with three seasons of beauty, I planted the sides of paths with shade-tolerant perennials. That’s Campanula persicifolia ‘Takion Blue’ pictured above. This two-foot tall “bell flower” puts on a big violet-blue show in late May; flowers appear on and off again until frost. I have it in a bed that is edged with the colorful Hosta ‘Wide Brim.’ This is a hosta that deer don’t seem to like.
Indispensable in a woodland setting is the pink, red, or white Primula japonica. Here in zone 5b, its candelabras of bloom appear in mid-May, and sometimes continue through mid-July. The plant reseeds itself yearly, providing its soil isn’t disturbed.
For a touch of true blue, I relied on the common Forget-Me-Not. Yes, this Myosotis sylvatica can be invasive. But in a woodland garden, who cares?
Ferns are essential in a woodland setting, and you can have great fun selecting varieties. I planted large sweeps of the lacy-leaved, native New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis) and the somewhat-evergreen Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) as groundcover. Also nice to have is the ‘Ghost’ fern, pictured here. When viewed at night, this Athryium gleams with eerie iridescence.
Sweet woodruff, or Gallium odoratum, makes a particularly effective woodland groundcover. I have it in a small bed beneath a wild cherry tree. Its tiny white clusters of bloom appear in May.
Other flowering plants and shrubs in this garden include rhododendrons (above), hellebores, astilbes, and Spanish bluebells. All these thrive happily beneath the garden’s canopy of maple, oak, wild cherry, and catalpa trees.
And that’s the story of my Woodland Garden, a magical place that beckons when the weather turns hot and humid in summer. There, shady conditions, comfortable chairs, and a gurgling pond all contribute to a sense of cool comfort, whether one sits, strolls, or gently swings. If you have a wild patch on your property, perhaps you’ll consider transforming it into a shady oasis, too.
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Shera VanGoor says
Lovely woodland garden! Do you have much trouble with mosquitos there? My folks woodland area is difficult to do anything with, here in Michigan, because of the little buggers.
Any natural anti-mosquito tips for us?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Shera VanGoor – Nice to meet you. Yes, mosquitoes can be troublesome here. Not a single natural repellent I’ve tried has proven effective. Consequently I keep a can of “Deep Woods Off” hidden under a flower-pot in the Woodland Garden. No sense in letting mosquitoes ruin a fun evening, right?
Erica says
Great post Kevin! I just spent the day doing some clearing and planting my wetland area so this was particularly inspiring to me. No mosquitos yet, but I did break out the deep woods to deter ticks. How do you keep brush and bramble from growing back? If I don’t weed-wack at least once a month I get a jungle especially by the stream beds which are steep.
Suzanne says
I am so jealous as I sit in my 1-acre subdivision plot that six years ago was completely treeless. We’ve planted over 50 trees and we’re not done yet, but I grew up near the woods and miss having that cool, shady, natural, wild element nearby. Beautiful job.
Louise Brouillette says
Oh, what a beautiful garden, Kevin! Thank you so much for sharing.
Jenny deMars says
Absolutely lovely! I really like how natural the paths look. What a great way to utilize the wooded area of your property!
Brigid says
I love this Kevin. Tell me about the pond fountain. Every year I buy a new pond pump and every year I give up on it by late June. It won’t stand up straight, etc.
Theresa Jurevicius says
What talent Kevin!! Thank you again for all that you share with us!! Such inspiration….it makes me want to get outside immediately and begin digging up my property!!!!
Emily says
Gorgeous garden. Wow!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Erica – I let a fair amount of brush and bramble remain on the perimeter of the garden. These “scruffy” things help to screen the garden. They also keep my little “glen” from looking overly-manicured.
Suzanne – Good for you! All those trees you are planting will before too long provide the cool, shady, woodsy atmosphere you desire.
Louise – You are too kind. Thank you.
Jenny – Thank you. The shredded wood chips which pave the paths make a very cushy walking-surface!
Brigid — Pond pumps can be a pain, especially when the pond floor isn’t level. Last year, I set a flat piece of field-stone on the bottom of my pond, and placed the pump there.
Theresa – With a dream…and a shovel…all kinds of things are possible!
Emily — Thank you!
Pam says
That looks like a great space! I have a very small wooded area on my property that I dream about creating a new area in. Unfortunately, it is over run with poison ivy and I am very sensitive to it. I saw your vinegar for killing weeds idea on Pinterest. Do you think vinegar would work on poison ivy?
Terry says
Ah this would be my very favorite place
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Pam – The most sure-fire way to eradicate poison ivy is to pull it up. A lawn or garden service will do this for you. Or you and a helper can manage the job, providing you are willing to dress for the occasion!
I asked my lawn person to remove poison ivy that was growing in my rose garden. The vine is shallow-rooted, so he was able to get up every last trace of the root. The job took all of 5 minutes.
Terry – The woodland garden is my favorite place, too, especially when the weather turns hideously hot and humid. It’s always 5-10 degrees cooler there!
badger gardener says
It’s been a successful Winter for me thus far thanks to some good advice from this site. My poinsettia is thriving, and although I thought I’d be tired of looking at it, it does match some red in my kitchen cafe curtains, so I’ve become used to it. I’m going to follow your instructions for reblooming next Winter. I’ve had forsythia branches aplenty and my winter-sowing is well under way. What didn’t work out this year was attempting to bring indoors some rosemary and lavendar. The rosemary was in an outdoor pot, I cut it back severely and repotted. The lavendar was 1 or 2 yrs. old that sprouted up in an open garden. Should I have just taken cuttings? Any advice for next year?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
badger gardener – I actually responded to your comment right after you sent it. Seems it disappeared during the great web-host meltdown!
Next year, cut your rosemary back in August. This will give the plant a chance to start growing again under ideal conditions outdoors. Then, when you bring it indoors, give it really cool temperatures and plentiful humidity. You might have to place a clear plastic bag over the plant to give it the moist air it wants. It’s a fussy herb.
As for lavender…take tip-cuttings in July, and root them in 4-inch clay pots. This will give you fresh, young plants to bring indoors for winter. Older plants, uprooted from the garden, are warn out after their hard summer’s work.
Nancy says
I feel like a bit of a killjoy, but that honeysuckle looks like one of the invasive, exotic species that have naturalized in the region. There are many reasons to remove them if they’re one of the exotics. A hollow pith is characteristic of the exotic spp,. Obviously positive ID is the first step in determining if something seemingly weedy should or should not be extirpated from an area. I live in Ulster county, where there is lots of Lonicera tartarica, which looks like that, with both white and pink forms.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Nancy – Thanks for the heads-up! I will investigate this Lonicera further. If it is an exotic invasive, I’ll certainly admit that in this article.
Janet G. Metzger says
So there IS a place for honeysuckle! Thank you for the tips!
Janet
Liliana van Lawick says
Hello Kevin…
Your garden is indeed inspiring! I live on 5+ acres with a creek that backs to state forest land. As you can imagine, deer are daily visitors. I’d like to give some areas of the non wooded areas floral displays, and I’d like to try some fruit trees also. Do you have any thoughts on protecting young trees from deer without erecting iron cages around them? I know Burpee seeds, for instance, does reference some types of plants as being deer resistant, but where can I find out different methods of keeping deer at bay? I don’t want to become embroiled in a war with them! I’d appreciate your thoughts….
Desperately, Liliana
Heather Schlerf says
Kevin-
Are the Japanese primroses deer resistant ?? What other sucesses do you have over the deer in your shade garden ??
Jann says
I live in the Seattle area on a 1 acre lot and I am absolutely inspired. I can’t wait to get out and work on the development of my woodland garden.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Heather Schlerf – The primroses have proven deer-resistant for me. And thanks for the reminder — I really need to have a Deer-Resistant Plants feature on this site. Meanwhile, if you browse the “Perennials” category, you’ll find that I always mention in each plant’s profile whether it is deer-resistant.
Jann — So glad my Woodland Garden has inspired you to design one, too. And in your climate, just imagine the plants you can have there!
Kate says
Hi, Kevin, Again, I have thoroughly enjoyed a tour through an area of your garden! Thanks!
One more benefit of honeysuckle: the luscious scent will stop you dead in your tracks on a calm spring day!
Also, I see you grow Sweet Woodruff. Do you know how to use this to make May wine? It’s simple: take a few sprigs of sweet woodruff, poke them down into a jug of white wine (it changes the taste, so there’s no need to buy pricey wine; a gallon jug will do… at least for me and my friends) and let it steep for 48 hours or more. I steep it in the fridge. It has the most unusual, fresh taste! My friends and I look forward to celebrating May Day with May wine!
Thanks for all your good knowledge, photos, sharing, and advice!
Sandy says
Hi Kevin – LOVED looking at the photographs of your woodland garden. I’m interested in knowing how much space this garden takes up, and how long are your paths. Also, how long did the cultivation of this space take you? Thanks for all of the info you cove in your newsletters – I’m learning a lot!
Amanda Webster says
Bookmarked! So pleased to have wandered over to your woodland garden. I followed a trail from your vinegar-as-weed-killer post to your herb garden to here. I’ve been perplexed for a while about what to put in to re-naturalize an area of my (Indiana) yard that has “secret garden” potential, but you just don’t see these types of plants at most garden stores and it’s hard to be sure what to consider. I’m dealing with dry shade from maples and elms combined with Buck-eye and lots of Black Walnut ( and it’s unfriendly toxin) I’ve put in a variety of wonderful hostas and 2 kinds of red bud. Tried 2 different dogwoods ( twice!) but they’re toxin sensitive…I grew up in Tennessee with mountain Laurel which I believe is in the rhododendron family and it has been my dream to put some in, but can’t tell if it would live here. Looking forward to trying the Forget-Me-Nots, Primula japonica and the Campanula persicifolia ‘Takion Blue’. Is it really possible that they bloom so beautifully with so little sun? Thanks so much for taking the loving care to create such an inspiring and informative web site.
Andi Bowen says
Kevin,
Your woodland paths and garden are lovely! I have tried to do something similar in the past but could not get past the poison ivy and oak that come up everywhere- even through my honeysuckle and azaleas. How can I kill it without killing my plantings, too? I sprayed everything before beginning to plant but the poisonous vines just keep coming back undeterred. I am in zone 8.
Andi
Dennis R says
our town has a 10′ tall pile of free wood chips. did you do anything to
“prep” the paths b4 putting down the chips? cardboard underlay?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Dennis R – After outlining my paths, I laid down landscaping fabric. But in truth I have been removing the fabric bit-by-bit each year. Why? Because as the paving-material (shredded wood) breaks down, the fabric becomes exposed. And it looks, I kid you not, like ugly underwear.
Cardboard might be difficult to work with. But thick layers of newspaper will act as a weed-barrier for a season or two. After you lay the newspaper down, spray it with water so it doesn’t blow away while you work.
Now, go grab those free wood chips!
Stevie says
I just love your garden and blog. I dream of One day having as much room as you do to have so many different types of gardens.
Great work. What a heaven on earth 🙂
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi, Stevie. So glad you like this place, and took the time to comment. There are times when the required work here feels like hell on earth. But just this morning, as I inspected the various gardens, the feeling was pure heaven!
Hope to “see” you soon again.
Corrina says
Just beautiful! My husband cleared out a substantial amount of brush in the 8 years here, and what an improvement. I have spread my gardeners wings and have learned so much, glad I found you! How do you power your fountain, and can One be battery operated?
Terry Hardwick says
Hi Kevin. I also joined your site following the vinegar weed killer link and am enjoying the other various posts thank you!
Your lovely woodland garden is very like my Australian bush garden which has mostly native plants but I am thinking of adding the shade-loving perennials you mention (if I can get them here) for some colour as our natives like sun and usually sandier soil than I’ve got. I also mulch regularly and use curved logs and branches as edges along bark paths. I started with an empty paddock 18 years ago and wanted to develop the garden as an extension of the bush along our creek, which is what has happened. It has evolved to a beautiful, natural-looking area, although the shade from the trees means I don’t get many flowers.
I also love your pond – I have made a rock-lined streambed to drain the garden and a very small dam which catches overflow when we get over an 1″ of rain but it doesn’t hold the water so your photo has inspired me to make it smaller to fit a liner as it would be great to have the water permanently. Don’t know what I would do for a pump though as it is a fair way from the house and too shady to use a solar panel to power it. Maybe just have plants in the pond to keep the water clean.
My worst weeds are Wandering Jew (Tradescantia Alba) and also our native Comelina which can tend to take over. Your problems with deer are different to ours – we have wallabies and possums who eat things and snakes that give you a fright sometimes!
Ash says
What is the plant in the first picture of this post planted all along the wood logs? I have these in my garden and wondered. They are hostas are they?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Ash – Hostas, yes. The variety is called ‘Wide Brim’.
Patty Hayes Murdock (The Overactive Groundmole) says
Although my city-lot “Memorial Woodland Garden” is on a much smaller scale, it shares a similar feeling and is a wonderful summer escape for me and its Shepherd/Husky mix resident…easily 10 degrees cooler than the other areas of my gardens. Thank you for additional planting and path ideas!
Carol says
Hi Kevin,
Your gardens are beautiful. I happen to be in the process of creating my own woodland garden in addition to putting in raised beds so it was great to run across your site and get a bunch of great ideas. Love how you make everything seem very attainable. When the 100 degree heat breaks I will back out in my yard with fresh ideas.
Thank you!!
Mary Frances says
Kevin, I like the idea of a Hosta walk but am worried that as they descend into “mush” in winter and will be visible from every window at the rear of the house, are there any plants that could be co-planted to disguise their demise?
Donna says
Kevin:
Since you like campanulas, you might want to also bring in the Campanula poscharskyana – it’s a real beauty with tiny flowers and covers the ground beautifully. Am guessing you also have epimedium?
Enjoy your writing.
Donna
Sally says
Inspiring post. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas. I always enjoy your beautiful newsletter. Cheers!
Michael says
Even though I am semi-retired with abundant energy and good health, I can’t seem to get everything done that Id like to do. I eagerly await an article on how to accomplish a small part of what you do. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Debbiegh from Vancouver, WA says
Kevin I just love your natural look in your garden’s I am trying to do the same but I have all grass now and adding some very large growing tree’s like Maple and some Vine Maples that are common in the Pacific Northwest, just trying to do away with as much grass as I can. I have found away to kill the grass and weeds with out chemicals, I use newspaper and cardboard and then I put down Bark Dust and that takes care of unwanted weeds for many years but also adds to the soil and the trees and bushes have a wonderful time growing in my yard forever and the Blueberries love it.
Karen says
Kevin, love the pics. my problem are the deer and the rabbits!!! I live in an area that is just about all woods. have often thought about clearing up and making something like you did, but the deer and rabbits love all my plants. I have come to the conclusion that I need to fence in my patio and just do container gardening. it is very private and I love it here. any suggestions?
Marta says
Your woodland garden is wonderful! I would love to know how you keep your pond so clean underneath all the trees. It seems I’m continually scooping leaves out of mine.
Naomi Shelton says
Kevin, I love the Woodland Garden Tour. I am working on a “miniature” woodland garden which is only the extended mulched area under the maple tree on one side of my driveway. Very shady and so I am encouraging the violets that volunteer there and have planted a bleeding heart and some wild geranium that was growing nearby. I love violets and pansies, so they will be next. It’s really just a nod to a woodland garden, but I am enjoying planning other plants for it. One question in regard to your woodland area: do you have trouble with mosquitos or do you have a good way of warding them off? I am especially interested in ways of deterring them as I have developed a very severe allergy to their bits in recent years. (They leave deep scars.)
Keep doing what you are doing, as we all love reading about all of it.
Jeannie A says
What a savory treat each part of this deilcious email is! Kevin, you are such a gift! Funny, sensitive, and you must have a type AAAAAAA personality, to do so much.
I dream of even walking through such a wonderland as yours! Thanks for letting us all enjoy you and your wonderland.
Perhaps I and about 30 other people might begin to create something like you have shown us! And another couple of folks to take photos and write a blog! In your case, blog might mean “Blessed Leader Of Gardening!”
KimmieInIN says
Kevin, thank you for the timely post as I am scratching my poison ivy from last weekend’s work. Fall, winter and very early spring are the only times I can work in my woods due to the mosquitoes and deer flies. To the other poster from Indiana, I can say that I am having very good luck finding woodland plants on the Internet, yesterday’s planting was mayapple and hay-scented fern to go under the sumac – that I keep. In fact I am hoping to get some starts of Tiger-eye Sumac which is expensive due to being patented but also a prolific reproducer. The things that go from my bramble patch are poison ivy, virginia creeper, honeysuckle, wild rose and buckthorn. The things that get to stay are raspberry, a native dogwood that grows here, viburnum and the sumac. I am supplementing with dogwood trees and bushes, forsythia, redbud and I’m always looking for woodland perennials. And unfortunately, this winter I will be taking out all the ash trees to make room for replacements next spring, catalpa and tulip tree are on my list to add to the wild cherry, black walnut (redbud seems to not mind growing under it) various apple varieties and some things that I have not IDed yet. My theory is to remove the stuff I don’t want, encourage the things I do want and I hope to arrive at some kind of maintainable balance. Thanks as always for your interesting posts. Kim.
Peachey says
I live in the woods and moles eat a lot of my plants(roots) such as hosta. How to I get rid of them? Love your wooded garden.
Michelle says
I came across your website while looking for ideas for woodland retreats–lovely photos and congratulations on all your hard work!
Though it might not be warranted, I wanted to offer a few insights about invasive non-natives in the woods — as you probably know, our forests are supreme habitats for so many of our important plant and animal species, and good on you for clearing out brambles and muck and reclaiming your space! I’ll agree with whomever advised you to get rid of the honeysuckle, but I’ll go one further and suggest you also get rid of that lovely forget-me-not. Put it in a pot where it can’t escape!
Two alternatives for these (sadly, gorgeous and FRAGRANT! exotics — damn the luck) that are both native but also lovely — replace your Japanese honeysuckle with a native Lonicera sempervirens variety — some are fragrant, but most will bloom on and off for the entire summer and come in eye-popping shades of red, coral and yellow. Hummingbirds LOVE this stuff — mine was blooming on my fence even after it started freezing outside overnight.
Instead of the forget-me-nots, try native bluebells (Mertensia virginica) or Dutchmen’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria). These are both spring ephemerals but are so, so lovely in the early spring before the trees are fully leafed out. Trilliums are slow but gradually colonize and are truly breathtaking when they’ve become established.
For late spring to summer blooming interest, you could always plant a few native azaleas — tons of colors, butterfly magnets, and many are incredibly fragrant. Also, tall bellflower (Campanula americana) blooms in late summer and is a self-sowing biennial that wows with flowers in deep shade.
Good luck and keep up the great work! Thanks for the lovely descriptions and photographs.
Michelle Donahue
sue chiafullo says
As one lucky enough to be in close proximity of Kevin’s gardens,, I have seen first hand the evolution of the property from trash to treasure. Kevin’s design sense is extraordinary and his creativity has taken what was ordinary and overgrown to something absolutely magical. If you are in the area during the Land Conservancy Open Days, make a visit to the historic Nathan Wild House (Kevin and Will’s home) on the top of your list. It’s worth the trip!
Elizabeth Denise H. from the Cumberland Plateau says
hi! i love your garden ….I have the same idea for my property and have started on it-would love some advice !!!! I feel rather overwhelmed and don’t know where to start …. the paths or the sitting areas etc? I have about four acres mostly wooded and would like to know how you decided in which order to do things? After the cleanup of course…or does it matter? and I LOVE your idea of a secret garden and want to steal your idea -how to figure out the best place to put it? I am an intermediate gardener as far as my skill are concerned , have grown alot of roses and flowers …but the amount of shade is wonderful and a bit daunting from the viewpoint of planting-anyway thanks and really enjoy your site!
Mary in Iowa says
How do you power the pump in the pool? I assume you haven’t strung electricity clear into the woods, and woodlands don’t get enough sun to use solar pumps. Is anything available that runs on battery power? Curious minds want to know. DESPERATE minds want to know.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Elizabeth – The design for my Woodland was purely intuitive. No advance-design scheme whatsoever. That’s probably why the garden looks so…natural!
Hi Mary – The pond-pump is powered by a long (long!) extension cord. I buried the cord about 1 inch beneath the soil. Easy peazy.
Mary in Iowa says
Thanks, Kevin. i’ve done that for a fountain, but it was only about 40 ft. from the porch outlet. I don’t like the unnatural look of solar plates for the solar fountains.
On another note, re. the lonicera: I have a fellow city greenhouse volunteer buddy who spends Monday mornings clearing invasive species from a forested park. The lonicera is taken to the city zoo and used to feed the giraffes. Win-win. There are many native shrubs that do well in shade with which to replace the lonicera if you choose to do so. Or … you could just get a giraffe or two to take care of it. Think of the sensation it would make when you feature it. I want to sample the libation you’ll concoct to fortify hikers for that particular walk in the woods.
Jim in Arkansas says
You are bookmarked! What a glorious experience taking my “armchair” tour of your beautiful, serene garden. I just bought a beautiful home in a hilly wooded area here in Hot Springs Village. Only the space for my home and driveway was cleared. The rest is forest. I’m starting at the top and working my way down. I’ve removed all the garbage trees leaving me with a wonderful canopy above me. I’ve cleared out all the debris and just today I placed lots of boulders native to the area. I am finishing up planting the understory of trees. Then I’m calling a halt while I wander the property until a path starts forming in my mind. Once that is laid out I will continue with shrubs, perennials, ground covers, and finally bulbs. I’m stealing much inspiration from you, but I’ve got to tell you the first picture with the honeysuckle made me cringe. That’s about like planting kudzu here in the south. Keep up the good work. I hit on your site looking for a natural looking path material. Thank you for answering my question or “quest” you might say.
Jacquie says
Kevin, I love any woodland garden as I grew up just south of the Adirondack mountains. Beautiful pictures and inspiration just one question: Do you have any native woodland wildflowers?
Nancy says
Kevin—I see lots of plants here that are so lovely but are deer candy—do you have problems with deer? We have deer on our property and we’re in the process of planning gardens. LOVE your ideas but we don’t want to end up with a deer buffet!
Thanks!
Deb says
I would love to see your take on how to turn a manicured lawn into a garden. I bought a house with a meticulously manicured lawn in a park neighborhood in the inner city with many huge trees near a river. It’s a beautiful large corner lot. What I want is to turn it into a garden with walking paths, ground covers, shrubs, a gazebo here and there, bird baths, fountains, but NO GRASS except for a small bit in the backyard for my standard poodle. 🙂 Where should I start?
EQ says
Beautiful garden(s). Lovely paths, winding their way to deeper mysteries!
As with Deb’s request, I too would love to see how one would go from manicured lawn to paradise.
My lot had a bunch of very old pine trees threatening to topple at the next windstorm. Most were taken down, but they’re all on the North side. One big ol’ pine on the South side, but it doesn’t shade much at all. All that’s left is sparse grass over sandy soil. Even the weeds are hesitant to grow here.
I have hills leading down away from the house, heading eastward. The biggest hill closest to the house has a septic still in use. A big ol pine tree was right next to it, but I’m hesitant to plant any tree there. Maybe some tall bushes 20′ away.
I’d love to plant new trees & something ‘inbetween’ yet I’m at a loss where to actually start. I could deal with bushes & ground cover, that’s the semi-easy part. Should I just ‘cheat’ & go with all fast-growing maples? I’d love to get something looking nice, even if basic starting point, in 2 years.
I def don’t want to give in & build a garden that looks like everyone elses around here: Lilac, cypress, hostas & tiger lilies. It seems like nearly everyone in this area has that exact combo.
Zone 4-5 here in East Canada.
Thank you for any who read this, and doubly so for any who can offer me some advice/hope!
ErikainPA says
Hi Kevin! I stumbled onto your site today while looking for ideas for my woodland garden. I live in an old stone farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania and have several large woodland gardens that border several acres of uncleared woodland. Many of my “beds” have large natural boulders, and there are many varieties of groundcover that have filled in much of the space between other plants. However, I am overwhelmed by the amount of weeding I still need to do. I’m not picky about weeds here and there, and frankly encourage some pretty “weeds” like phlox, dame’s rocket, mayapple, etc, but the rest is truly too much for one person to maintain. Do you have any advice for how to keep the weeds down? I am hesitant to use any kind of leaf mulch lest I smother groundcover plants. What do you use? Thank you for your wonderful posts!
Jenn Golden says
We have a small woodland (1/2 acre) I’ve wanting to put a small foot path through and stumbled on your post through a search. I am particularly excited to hear of a hosta that deer seem to have an aversion to. We are over run with deer here and they seem to eat everything! Can’t wait to try this hosta… your woodland looks fantastic and I’m quite inspired!
Tim Howard says
I am clearing about a half acre of green briar under pines and some assorted hardwoods in Maryland. What are options for slightly raised walkways. Chiggers and ticks are an issue in the summer and the only to walk the garden in summer is on a raised walk.
Linda says
Spraying your plants with a mix of milk and water will keep the deer at bay. I’ve had great success with it. Just remember to respray as new growth comes on.
Connie says
Oh my gosh, this is just awesome!! Beautiful and so inviting. I have wild blackberry bushes I need to hack out – guess I should go buy a machete.
Myrtle Miller says
Bats would be a deterrent to mosquitos.
Myrtle Miller says
You might consider adding four o’clocks (mirabilis jalapa) to your garden as well. They smell really good. Planting flowers bats like would also be a good idea if the plants do not pose an unacceptable risk to woodland ecology.
Myrtle Miller says
Another good idea for your woodland garden would be wild magnolias.
Jan says
Dear Kevin, Awhile ago I commented about your recommendation of the hosta “Frances Williams” for a shade garden. I complained about its propensity to “burn” (pale parts of the leaves turn brown in sun) but did say begrudgingly that it’s a strong grower. Well, this spring I divided my clump into thirds and moved the pieces to an area at the back of the yard where a shade garden would be welcome. That area is shaded in the morning by black walnuts and poisoned by their toxic juglone. Also, here in the Finger Lakes we are suffering through a “severe drought” with higher temperatures than usual, and I confess I’m a lazy waterer. In spite of adversities, these Frances Williams plants are going great guns and look spectacular from 100 feet away, growing fantastically while hardly getting toasted at all. “Strong grower” indeed! — eating a bit of crow here …
Christine says
This is so inspirational! I just bought a house in December with a wooded hillside for a yard. And I love looking at it, but also want to be able to experience it and have it be *slightly* less wild! Putting a path in will likely involve some terracing. I’m excited for the adventure though!
Lori says
I love the idea of a secret garden, Kevin. I have a hard to mow stretch between my little woodland garden known as Sydney’s Bed which was her science fair project 10 years ago. It turned into a pretty garden, so I left it there and added part of a split rail fence. At one time the riding lawn mower could fit between her bed and the edge of the woods. That is not the case now….after this new batch of snow that could arrive tonight into tomorrow, I’m going to walk out and see about creating a secret space….I think my secret garden is going to take a couple of years …..as I’m still in the remodel stage in the kitchen and I have 2 huge gardening projects that need to get done this year….it needs to be a Secret Garden bc I don’t think the Mister isn’t going to like the idea of me starting yet another garden project.
I just about fell of my chair when you reversed landscape fabric to ugly underwear….oh how you make me laugh!
Marilyn Mckinley says
My cousin to the north of my cabin in Kentucky custom builds Martin boxes
good enough to lure them in each summer. He takes care of the birds and they
take care of mosquitos … we have almost none and you can mark the day the
birds begin their migration back to Brazil sometime in August and the spray comes out!
Terry says
I live in London England. Resting a woodland garden in a area 15 feet by 8 feet.cram ed in with shade loving plants ,shrubs,acer trees,etc.any body can create.go for it.will send a photo when tidied up if you like.
Carmen Scalfaro says
I love that you had the intuition and vision to create a beautiful living area in an otherwise unusable space. I’m doing a bit of the same myself, though every property is unique! My backyard was overgrown with wild grapevines, honey locust trees (with massive thorns!), thick sprawling roots that popped in and out of the soil, and yes, exotic honeysuckle.
After several times trying to just walk through the overgrowth with a pair of loppers I decided to cut down the brush. I cut the honesuckle flush with the ground and sprayed RoundUp directly into the trunk. I hated to use a chemical but I was desperate and it works. I cut down all of the honey locust; again I hated to do it but I couldn’t use a space that dropped 6″ spikes. And I hired a company to level the ground and they also removed all the vines and ground growth.
Now I’m left with a flatland with large maple and basswood trees. Now that the demo is finished, I’m excited to start planting! Actually, I was searching “woodland flower bed” and this blog popped up!
Thanks for the post!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Carmen – So glad you found me. Good luck with your woodland project!