David and Bryan are busy people. They like to do things themselves, but don’t always have the time to get them done properly. So when they wanted to transform their back yard into a garden paradise, they called me in to be their “garden coach” and guide them through the process.
David went with me to make the plant selections for phases I and II.
Photo Credit: Eva Monheim
Bryan began planting along the fence in the first phase of the plan, and he picked out some special features to create a great focal area.
Photo Credit: Eva Monheim
With a few recommendations on plant height, width and durability, David completed the initial plant placement.
Photo Credit: Eva Monheim
David shows his imaginative side by creating a rock sculpture with a giant ant and variegated Solomon’s seal.
Photo Credit: Eva Monheim
David finishes Phase II. The triple-ground hardwood top dressing will be added later. The mulch will reduce the rain’s impact on the soil and keep the ground moist beneath if there are drier periods during summer.
Photo Credit: Eva Monheim
In Phase III, David and Bryan will rework this area into a lovely new seating space surrounded by blooming shrubs.
Photo Credit: Eva Monheim
And that’s exactly what I did. The first thing we needed to do was find out how they wanted the space to work for them. Here’s a quick checklist we came up with after talking about how they wanted to enjoy their space. Their garden needed to:
- Be beautiful year-round
- Control water runoff from neighboring properties
- Have small seating areas for intimate conversations
- Be constructed in stages so that each stage could be completed over a weekend for quick results (and to keep things tidy)
- Have focal point areas, as well as places to sit and watch animal activity through the seasons (which meant including bird feeders)
- Be dog-friendly
- Be used in the evening for relaxing or entertaining (which meant adding lighting)
- Camouflage the fence
- Have a place for a hot tub
- Have a great view from the upper deck
- Be more sustainable
- Have a pond created from runoff
- Feel like a retreat
Next, we took an inventory of the plants they already had in their existing garden, and we talked about the “right plant for the right place” concept. David and Bryan had some great selections – but these plants were in the wrong spots. Just by moving a few plants around, they’d see better growth and get more enjoyment from them. We also realized that many of their hostas could be moved to give greater coverage in the shady bare areas, and their spent spring bulbs could be divided and moved to other areas in the garden to increase coverage for more early spring color.
I recommended that David and Bryan plant their new garden in stages, so they wouldn’t feel overwhelmed with all the changes. They had already lined up an electrician to add outdoor lighting, so we didn’t need to worry about that. The next task was to focus on one major problem area first: the fairly bare spot in the corner of the yard under their beautiful saucer magnolia tree.
We did the fence border first (Phase I) because we could do it in one day. David and I went to the garden center together. I suggested nandina (Nandina domestica) for winter coverage to break the look of the wooden fencing and to provide bright red berries during the dullest part of winter. We also picked woodland poppies, epimediums, ferns, violets, Fothergilla and additional hostas. Once we arrived home, we laid out all the plants in the areas where they looked best, then Bryan planted them. With Phase I complete, David and Bryan agreed that the transformation they wanted had already begun.
Phase II involved continuing with the woodland feel throughout the bare shaded area. I recommended spring bulbs for the larger barren area (which wouldn’t be planted until fall). I reminded David and Bryan that the lighting would change dramatically with and without leaf cover, so the early spring bloomers would get plenty of sun. I also suggested successional blooming plants so there would be something colorful in their garden throughout the growing season. A few evergreen plants would provide some winter interest.
Before anything for Phase II could be planted, though, the soil had to be revitalized. So that week, David ordered a blend of mushroom soil and topsoil. The following Saturday, the duo finished reworking the soil and divided and moved perennials from other areas of their yard.
I arrived at their home on Sunday for another shopping trip. We picked some plants that would spread and cover the bare earth and some that spread and were durable enough to be walked on. We picked lots of textures, heights, shapes, colors and plant with various blooming times for lots of interest. David really went to town when he saw the plethora of plants available. The selection was amazing, and this made the work easy. But David smartly set a limit of two-wagons-worth of plants (because that was all that would fit in his car).
During this trip we purchased Jack-in-the-pulpits, trilliums, Lamium, Scotch moss, variegated Ajuga, columbines, sweet woodruff, epimediums, sweetshrub, a Knock Out® rosebush that tolerates partial shade and various other groundcovers.
Once we unloaded the plants and began putting them into different locations, we laid an outline for a path leading to another spot. This path would take garden visitors through the newly planted garden, eventually leading to another seating area. The destination point would be Phase III.
Since the initial planting, David and Bryan have been out in their garden every day, watching the growth and changes that their new retreat holds. They’ve hung bird feeders and are enjoying more activity in their garden. And as Bryan and David continue brainstorming, I’ll be there to help them paint their vision of paradise.
If you’re like David and Bryan – do-it-yourselfers who could use a little hands-on guidance – consider hiring your own garden coach. With a little help, it won’t be long before you’re basking in your own garden glory!
