Last updated on May 11th, 2016
At a cocktail party last weekend, I was introduced to a martini-wielding woman who wanted to know about my “gardening philosophy.” Since I was holding a martini too, the following words flew out of my mouth: “Learn from experience.”
And here, just for fun, are some of the things I’ve learned from designing, planting, and nurturing my own little corner of the world:
1. Always Put Off Until Tomorrow What You Could Do Today. In other words, avoid making rash decisions. Sure, the garden center’s half-priced magnolia tree might seem like a bargain. But don’t bring it home until you have pondered — very carefully — its realistic value in your garden.
2. Beware the “Free” Plant. From time to time, friends and neighbors will offer you perennials from their own gardens. More often than not, these “gifts” are limited to orange daylilies, or such invasive horrors as goose-neck loosestrife. Speaking from experience, few gardeners are willing to part with their choice treasures!
3. Do Your Digging on Paper. When planning a new border, work it out first on a sheet of graph paper, or, if you have a landscaping program installed on your computer, map it out there. Having a real plan — and sticking to it — will pay off in the long-run. Both your back and your wallet will thank me for this advice.
4. Practice Emphasis & Repetition. As you plan, strive for emphasis throughout the garden by repeating drifts of the same plants. Repetition gives the garden unity and strength. “One of everything” plantings always looks weak.
5. Consider a Water-Feature. Beverly Nichols once proclaimed that “A garden without a water feature is no garden at all.” Where money is scarce, and the garden is small and informal, a simple bucket sunk into a hole can count as a pond. Trust me — frogs and birds that gather there won’t complain. If money permits, consider a three-tiered fountain for a formal setting, or a moderately-sized, field stone-surrounded pond for a woodland garden.
6. Increase Your Space. If your propert is small, enlarge it. Plant a tall hedge of arborvitae bang in the middle of your yard, leaving, of course, a 4-foot-wide passage-way at its center. Visually, this will double your territory — and hence your pleasure.
7. Frame your Picture. When you enclose your property with a wooden fence or an evergreen hedge, you instantly produce an artist’s landscape, regardless of what grows within it. Like a framed painting, a framed yard is visually more appealing than an open, unrestrained one.
8. A Formal Garden Makes Light Work. Contrary to popular thinking, a formal garden with straight lines and definite curves is far easier to maintain than a “cottage”-type informal one. My boxwood garden — a series of geometric patterns framed with upright yews — requires nothing more than shearing once or twice each year to keep its looks. Meandering perennial gardens, although glorious to behold, require massive upkeep to look their best. Just ask anyone who has attempted to follow in Gertrude Jekyll’s footsteps.
Now…what about you? What lessons have you learned from your own gardening adventures?
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Gardenlady says
Kevin, are so right about “free” plants. When I moved into my house five years ago, a neighbor gave me perennial blue sage, thinned from her own garden. Now, I have this pretty but invasive plant popping up everywhere! It even grows in the cracks of my walkways! As they say…live and learn!
Carol says
My own experience has taught me to buy perennials not in the spring, but in the fall. They are always on sale then, and no matter how sad they might look, they spring back the following summer.
James says
Great points. A friend of mine lined his koi pond with rubber roofing. The stuff really does sag, and after only 2 years. It gives the pond a completely “unnatural” appearance.
How difficult is it to line a pond with concrete?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
James – I intend to line my frog pond with cement this summer. I'll let you know then how difficult the process is!
Katreader says
Great advice…except I love orange daylilies!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Katreader – I do, too…but like my martinis, only in mod-er-a-tion!!!
John says
Kevin, I don't think your list is abstract at all. Just good, sound advice. Thanks for sharing it!
Samantha says
Kevin, I love your words of wisdom. That's why I read this blog. Keep up the good work!
Judy says
This is actually a question about Hydrangeas (I know I spelled it wrong) I bought two nice healthy-looking cut hydrangeas and after putting them in a vase with water they drooped within a day! Was it the flowers or me??
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Judy – it's not you. Hydrangeas are droopers! If you look under the category “Flower-Arranging”, (“Categories” are listed on the right side of this blog). There, you will find there a post that shows how to make a scotch-tape grid for your vase. This grid will help your hydrangeas to keep their heads up!
S says
Oh Kevin, some of my free plants: Solomon's Seal (regular and dwarf), heuchera, gas plant(!), mayapple, cranesbill, lisymachia, ligularia, white bleeding heart, bloodroot, tiger lilies, peony and more. I use freecycle and a plant swap group and sometimes just resort to begging! Of course this puts me in that “one of everything” situation. This year is devoted to propagating so that I can achieve that rhythm and repetition that looks so much nicer. (One of my freebies is obedient plant but I SELL it to get rid of it!)
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
S – seems that you've been lucky in your free-plant-gleanings! Most that you have mentioned can be easily divided, thus providing you with even more free plants!
I'm jealous that you have a gas plant. I want one, too!
Marilyn says
What a great article. So glad I found your blog!
What would be the best variety of boxwood for the Orlando, Florida area. I tried to grow a formal hedge many years ago but they did not do well. They remained scrawny, seemed prone to disease and did not make a thick hedge. Probably my fault! I would love to try again. Many thanks,
Wickie says
Wonderful to see Beverley Nichols mentioned here. He is one of my favorites! As he did, I always pay a lot of attention to what The Eye does when looking at the garden. It can make all the difference.
Trudi says
Good advice! when folks ask me how i get things to grow i say ask the plant what it wants . If it does not like where you put it … move it don’t be afraid to experiment
Lucretia (Lucie) Pollard says
Thanks so much! I am planning many changes. Your blog is always an inspiration!