Today’s post is a’ before’ glimpse of the garden as a record to look back on once trees leaf up and roses bloom. Our street has interesting and attractive gardens that will no doubt be spectacular in the warmer months. Our garden though is looking bare in winter with almost all deciduous trees and shrubs except the natives.
The rejuvenation process started tentatively and carefully but, now, I’m wondering if I should have been bolder and flattened everything in the way one sees on “Dream Gardens” and the like. In reality, the interim barren landscape would be challenging to live with on the wait for Spring. So, softly softly is my preferred approach. The next stage of removal will be executed once the new trees and shrubs have arrived, and just like that transformation can occur quickly.
The joy of a garden is watching things grow and develop.”
John Sales
The councils decision to remove the eucalypt tree at the front has been completed as well as own removal of unsightly shrubs from the verge garden. During the clearing of these elements, the thought crossed my mind: how vastly different a ‘garden’ in town is compared to a rural garden. In the country, the garden is basically just yours with ample space, albeit with some restrictions because of the nature of rural life. The odd visitor may have an opinion about your garden but there are no neighbours or people passing by.
On the other hand, in town, everyone who lives nearby walks past or comes to help in varied capacities has their view of what one is doing and can be quite vocal in passing on their opinions. Don’t get me wrong, this is sometimes very beneficial, given that neighbours and others are more familiar with the local landscape and climate. Still, it is only possible to please some and many have a different point of view than mine, and are eager to inform me with many pointers and hints on tree and shrub removal. This has been interesting.
The Collins dictionary defines gardening as “the laying out and care of a plot of ground devoted partially or wholly to the growing of plants such as flowers, herbs, or vegetables.” Or To Garden is “the job or activity of working in a garden, growing and taking care of the plants, and keeping it attractive.” The word ‘care’ is key here.
“The garden reconciles human art and wild nature, hard work and deep pleasure, spiritual practice and the material world. It is a magical place because it is not divided.”
Thomas Moore
One of the best aspects of having a garden is the opportunity ‘to garden’. It is the doing that is so enjoyable not just the achieved finished garden. Although health is a motivating factor for wanting to garden this is a side effect. It is the sensory reasons, of pleasure and joy in watching things grow, and the opportunity to express oneself through a garden that is paramount. Gardening does bring a sense of balance into one’s life.
The more help a person has in his garden, the less it belongs to him.
W H Davies
The rural garden was bare for many months after digging up a large lawn area to plant roses. At one stage, after digging all the holes for the new roses, white plates were laid on the ground as markers for planting. The barren landscape of plates and sticks lay there for many months. I can’t imagine doing that in a street with so many opinions walking past daily.
“Gardening is full of mistakes, almost all of them pleasant and some of them actually instructive.”
Henry Mitchell
One standout difference in rural and town gardens is surely the impact of the weather. Extended hours of harsh sunlight and exposure to wind in rural environs impacts rural home gardens. And there are far more invaders and pests that dominate everyday life. The emphasis in a town garden is on creating havens for pollinators and insects, and increasing biodiversity. In complete contrast, on a rural property, the insects invade in prolific numbers and varieties, along with thousands of frogs, reptiles, animals, and birds. Gardening in rural life is abundant with diversity but it is not always easy to deal with having ant nests under one’s feet, massive numbers of wasps, and spiders. Then of course, ‘the snakes.’
“Gardening is not a rational activity.”
Margaret Atwood
A rural garden has the advantage of space and long vistas. However, the primary requisite is to beautify and create an oasis that will soften the environment and hide the eyesores from view because farms will always have fences, gates, ramps, trucks and structures for water pumps, and water tanks. Hence, many rural gardens can become wild in the hope of diverting the eye from all the necessities of rural life. Rural gardens do not need to be neat and manicured, although adding structure to the open rural space does help create a balanced garden. With the advantage of space nature can be left to do her thing to some degree, but a little structure helps contain a garden that may become too chaotic and overgrown quite quickly.
What’s important when swapping from the luxury of space to a smaller town garden is to draw on past experience. Instead of feeling frustration, I’m curious about how the changes of climate will affect the roses and looking forward to growing a range of cool climate plants. Apart from the usual garden practices I’m focusing on gaining strategic local knowledge and implementing new ideas.
“gardens are in fact highly contrived ecosystems which have to be sustained by constant adjustment towards a known ideal.
John Sales
Our garden has contrasting and unique microclimates, and then other areas are more typical: a walled area with full sun around a pool, a small lawn area with garden beds with eight fruit trees remaining that has sun areas and sun-dappled shade, a partial sun-filled protected courtyard, a driveway garden of shade and semi-shade from the surrounding tall trees and an open more exposed border in full sun visible from the street.
A fresh pair of eyes is so helpful in forming design strategies for creating a more cohesive space and I’ve been fortunate to have gained expert advice and valuable tips from several local landscapers. Although progress seems slow, given the winter weather, the garden is coming along. The vegetable boxes and other eyesores in the front garden have gone, the rocks have been dealt with, ten roses are planted out from pots, and all the holes dug for the anticipated standard roses. As far as design; decisions are forming and I’m almost ready to order the trees, shrubs and plants to begin the larger area along the fence.
Dicksonia Antartica – tree Ferns Wikimedia
The aim is to combine elements into a cohesive pleasing landscape that we can enjoy viewing from inside, working, and living in especially the front garden, courtyard and pool area. Some options are Hydrangeas, Buddleja ‘White Profusion’, Betula pendula ‘Upright Silver Birch’, Magnolia grandiflora Little Gem, Citrus japonica ‘Nagami’ Kumquats, Thuja ‘Smaragd’ Conifers, Hellebores, Ferns, and Dicksonia Antartica Tree Ferns. And of course roses; standards, climbing and shrubs.
It is always nice to have a dedicated wild corner of the garden where plants can be left somewhat overgrown and undisturbed. There is a perfect spot, thick with ground covers and a large conifer from next door, where all sorts of living things reside under the canopy of foliage. It’s a terrific haven for biodiversity, and a perfect place for tree ferns.
Ten Tips on Rejuvenating an Old Garden
- Leave the Garden as long as you can before doing anything to be aware of seasonal changes and to see what plants come up or how the garden changes. This is a challenge!
- Assess and be aware of the garden climate and take notes and observe the movement of the sun for where the shade is remembering this will be different in other seasons. Are there deciduous trees that will create more shade in summer? Are there differing microclimates in the Garden?
- Remove what is not wanted, diseased, or dangerous, and let the existing plants expand to create space without being encumbered. Keep the existing elements that you love.
- Prune and trim back what trees and shrubs are staying in the Garden. Making small changes to existing shrubs and trees by thinning-out branches at the base will let more light in, improve the shape and create space for other plants, such as ground covers, perennials, bulbs, or annuals.
- Move plants that are in the wrong position or pot them up.
- After weeding replenish the garden beds with a layer of compost or compost and aged manure, and if possible, wait a week or so before planting out.
- Remove or rejuvenate by pruning or cutting back any climbing plants. Add new structures for climbing plants to grow on if unsound. worn out, or unsafe.
- Select a range of plants well-suited to the local conditions and plant out. New plants always breathe new life into a Garden.
- Water and mulch to lessen weeds. Water with seaweed solutions regularly to boost growth and protect from frost and transplant shock.
- Allow time for the Garden to establish – it will take 2-3 seasons or longer.
“The garden year has no beginning and no end.”
Elizabeth Lawrence
Content Di Baker July 2024
Images Di Baker or as cited
Title quote John Sales
Bay Tree image wiki media.