If you’ve just moved into a newly built house, the scene that greets you out front may be an expanse of sod, a front walk and the street. Out back, perhaps you have a clear view into your neighbours’ gardens and their kitchen windows. You’d be forgiven if you retreated indoors. Deciding what to do with a blank slate can be intimidating, even for experienced gardeners. For … [Read more...] about Create your dream garden from scratch
Design
Punctuation in the garden
Beguiling gardens tell a story, and what’s a meaningful narrative without punctuation? As an instructor at De Montfort University in England says, “Punctuation marks are like signposts; they guide us through language, reminding us when to pause and when to stop and are essential for clear…communication.” With some thought and careful parsing, you can use punctuation marks to … [Read more...] about Punctuation in the garden
Design a white garden
Think of the colour white and the image of a wedding dress, eggs or snow will likely spring to mind. But with a little stretch of your imagination, visualize instead a small corner bed or a border around a patio filled with white plants. Single-colour schemes are sometimes referred to as “monochromatic” — a term that takes the romance out of any flower arrangement — but be … [Read more...] about Design a white garden
8 plants for dry and shady gardens
Dry and shady gardens: a double whammy Most gardeners would agree that gardening in full shade presents certain difficulties, and I dare say that all would agree that gardening in dry, compacted soil is an even greater challenge; but combine the two, and you have a serious gardening hardship. Dry shade is almost always the result of mature trees with roots that run close to … [Read more...] about 8 plants for dry and shady gardens
16 plants for soggy soil
Some like it damp While some of you may regard a reliably soggy, slow-draining spot in your garden with dismay, I look on it as an opportunity to grow plants that don’t reach their full potential in the drier, well-drained conditions found in most herbaceous borders. And there’s no need to abandon petals either; a huge palette of flowering plants is ready and waiting to go. … [Read more...] about 16 plants for soggy soil