notes and musings from a perennial gardener
How-to
Great gardens don’t invent themselves. In fact they can be a lot of work to create. Here are my suggestions for making the task of creating (or revitalizing) a perennial garden from scratch easier and more satisfying.
To begin, dedicate a small notebook to your gardening projects or use an app like Google Keep. Don’t rush the planning stage. Jot down the answers to these questions, and track your progress.
Got spots? Yellow, curled, prematurely dying leaves? If the plant is otherwise healthy looking, the culprit is probably leaf spot. Most leaf diseases are caused by fungi, although bacteria and nematodes can create foliar problems too.
Earlier this spring, conditions were ideal for fungal diseases to get a foothold in many gardens. First it was unusally warm, then turned quickly colder with temperatures remaining below normal for several weeks, followed by a period of no rain. Such conditions are optimal for leaf spot.
Here’s what to know and how to control this common, widespread nuisance.
All of us end up revamping our landscape or garden at some point, whether it’s because plants died and need replacing, we’re having hardscape installed, or a flowerbed has become overgrown and needs an overhaul.
Here’s where a written landscape plan is invaluable. If your needs involve significant hardscaping like laying pavers or excavating a retaining wall or pool, you will want to hire a professional. But for simpler garden makeovers, drawing up your own plan is easy, costs nothing and is exceedingly helpful.
This article covers two types of plans: A simple sketch that anyone can do, based on my own plan to refurbish my front bed. And a much more complex plan intended for large properties, or just for fun.