gardens4u Archives

Although the calendar says early September, the summer weather (heat and humidity) is still going strong. That means many of the perennials blooming last month are still looking good…

Coming into their own this month are the seedheads of the fall grasses that look awesome in the garden or in containers on a deck or veranda…

…as well as another perennial called Turtlehead (I had never heard of it, but it looked promising at the nursery), and an annual vine called Cardinal Climber…

I have lots of roses thriving in Gardens4me, in many different varieties and colours. I love the roses because they bloom off and on all summer and well into the fall. They are also (believe it or not!) relatively low maintenance. Last month I posted a picture of one such rose just starting a second bloom. Here it is (first pic) this week with (just) a few more of its thorny cousins…

My two and a half year old granddaughter loves to play hide and seek in Gardens4me. Now that she has discovered the stepping stones leading into each corner and was taught how to gently move the plants out of the way, she runs from one corner to the next. She is still young enough to think that if she can’t see all of me I can’t see her. So precious!

One of my clients was disenchanted with the statues in his garden, (at least his wife was) so I brought them home and added them to mine knowing my grandkids would love them. The black bear is a favourite; this granddaughter likes to pet it and give it a bath with the hose while my three-and-a-half year old, bug-loving grandson searches for the bugs hiding underneath the bear!

The frog (a mothers day gift from my son years ago), the racoon family (from my father’s garden), and the heron are well loved too. The rabbit hiding in the hostas is pretty banged up now as this same granddaughter used to carry (and drop it) it around everywhere.

Coming into focus soon are the fall favourites such as sedum “Autumn Joy” and more grasses. Although this grass is an annual, I plant it in containers each year and am never disappointed with its pinky-purple plumes this time of year.

That’s it for early September blooms. Stay tuned for more pictures later this month!

Create a New Garden in the Fall

Fall is the perfect time to plan and start or restore a garden. If you do not yet have a garden or would like to modify the one you have, follow this back-ache-free method. I have not yet tried this method, but it appears reasonably easy and scientifically sound. I would be willing to help anyone wishing to give it a try…

Determine a Shape

First, decide the shape you want: do you like straight edges or do you prefer rounded, curved edges? An easy way to visualize the shape is to lay a garden hose on the grass where you want your garden to be, adjusting the hose around the perimeter until you arrive with a shape you like. A general rule of thumb is to have the garden’s width a minimum of one-third its length. In other words, a foot-wide garden around the perimeter of your yard will not be as visually appealing as a wider one. Remember though, it is your garden, use your artistic genius and go with the shape YOU like!

Smother the Grass with Layers

When the shape has been determined, cut the grass short within the designated area. You are going to be smothering this grass, so short is best. Next, lay non-glossy newspaper over the area, wetting each layer, until you have a 3 cm thick soggy mess! Sprinkle the newspaper layer with a dusting of blood meal for nitrogen. Then add a 4 cm layer of garden soil that has compost added. (not potting soil or topsoil) or composted manure. Your final layer should be 6 cm of organic, hardwood mulch to hold the other layers in place and to keep weeds from germinating. It must be organic to decompose and enrich the soil. Continue to water well between layers and after the mulch for the next few months; do not let your creation dry out!

Plant the Following Spring

In the spring, when the soil has warmed up, your garden will be ready to plant. You do not have to disturb your layers, simply dig out a “plug” of mulch a bit bigger than the size of your plant, add the plant, and replace the mulch. Remember, to prevent your plants from rotting, keep the mulch away from the crown of perennials as well as the stems or trunks of shrubs and trees…

While thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s garden, you can admire your own!