A Gardener’s View
February 17, 2010
Landscape Renewal
If your landscape was installed many years ago, chances are it is looking tired and dull. Some plants have died, some are overgrown or leggy. Bare spots may have developed in the lawn and the beds could be lacking in color and seasonal interest. Your lifestyle has changed.
A well designed landscape should not need extensive renovation for the first ten years. After ten years however, some plants will have reached the end of their useful life. Trees have grown so large that the once sunny locations are now opportunities for shade loving plants. New plant varieties have been introduced and your exposure to the plant kingdom has expanded. Your home has been updated, but your garden is outdated.
With expert help, your aging landscape can be rejuvenated without tearing out the whole landscape. Careful analysis of existing plantings can help determine the design process. Some plants can simply be pruned whereas some should simply be removed.
The addition of flowering perennials, bulbs and annuals can give your garden an updated look without to much renovation. Groundcovers can be used to fill in places where the lawn has died out. In some cases a flagstone path or seating area is called for to replace traffic-worn turf. A change in your lifestyle may warrant an outdoor ‘kitchen’ to replace underused turf areas.
Your home can be a place to enjoy inside and out with a new framework of fresh landscaping. Plantings selected by a designer improve property value by using a variety of colors, textures and forms. A well designed landscape accents or complements the home’s architecture and your chosen lifestyle. Chosen plantings also reflect the local geographical and environmental conditions.
A professional landscape designer translates your dreams into reality. Your involvement is crucial during the entire design process for the designer to be able to interpret your needs and desires. Consider hiring the garden designers with the best interest in your landscape, the professionals at Garden Thyme.
Tonya Dunn is a 1990 graduate from Colorado State University and holds a B.S. in Landscape Horticulture with a Concentration in Landscape Design and Construction
January 21, 2010
A Gardeners New Year’s Resolutions
I will use the right plant in the right place. There is a suitable plant for every spot in the garden. Not only are sun/shade and moist/dry essential considerations, but also size, form, adaptability and time/color of bloom and seasonal interest.
I will become a keen observer of my garden. Watching for beautiful blooms is just part of the experience. Recognizing nutritional needs, water, pruning benefits, pest problems, and plant combinations will increase the garden’s appeal.
I will emphasize timing of cultural practices. From good observation comes great timing; when to water when not to water, when to correct for nutrient deficiency, when to inspect for pests, when to deadhead and when to divide.
I will top dress my garden with aged manure in the late winter or early spring. There is no other cultural practice that will do more good for healthy perennials, shrubs, vines and trees.
I will remember that plants depend on healthy root systems. Compacted, nutrient deficient soils can cause decline in plants. The root structure is equivalent in mass and importance as the canopy of a tree.
I will be a good steward. Ironically, gardening can sometimes be an assault on the environment. Proper plant selection, siting, timely and efficient use of water, fertilizers, limited use of pesticides, composting and the attitude to work with nature and not against will achieve wonders.
I will not stray from good design principles. A garden can be fun, diverse, and eclectic, and still be well designed. Always consider plant materials for long term shape and form and how they interact with their neighbors and the desired outcome.
With sincerity from your gardeners…
Tonya, Ivan, Kelly, Meghan, Heather, Marion, Avana and Gus
Garden Thyme Inc
