Where do I even start? How can I create a lush green space for less? Where should I shop for plants? Our garden expert Ivette Soler, a.k.a. The Germinatrix, dishes the dirt on your top three gardening questions.
starting from scratch
My yard is in a sorry state, and I don't even know where to start. How do I make my garden come alive in a way that's simple, tasteful, and not too much work?
Here are some tips that will help you shimmy, not toil, down your garden path.
Be a copy-cat. Don't try to be original. That's for people who want to dawdle endlessly in their gardens, collecting rare and fussy hybrids. Peruse garden magazines and books, go to botanical gardens, take walks in neighborhoods that are heavily gardened. When you see something you like, use it! Artists call this "appropriation." Designers call this..."designing."
Don't skimp on the big stuff. Most gardens need to be irrigated. A good system will probably be your biggest expense while creating your garden. Unless you want hours of handwatering while it is freshly planted, and all spring and summer long, do yourself a favor—bite the bullet and install an irrigation system.
Think foliage, not flowers. If you want a garden that isn't too much work, don't plant flowers. Many of the coolest plants have small or insignificant flowers, relying instead on dramatic foliage to provide interest. Wherever there is a showy flower, there is work. Instead, think form. Structure. Architecture.
Keep off the grass. Don't plant lawn! Not only are lawns water hogs, they need chemical fertilizers to look green and lush, and they require more care than anything else in a garden. Gardens with lawns need weekly maintenance, gardens without can get by with less than half that. Patios, paved areas, gravel, and tough plants that tolerate the weather extremes of your climate are superior choices.
Repeat yourself. This is so important for a cohesive planting. Don't use one of this plant, and one of another, and so on, unless you want your garden to look like a crazy quilt. Choose fewer plants, and use bigger quantities. Create rhythm by repeating plant clusters throughout the landscape.
Be odd. This trick of the trade is very simple—always plant in odd numbers. A grouping of four plants = dull. A grouping of five = dynamic!
Go pro. Consult a professional in your area. Unless you have a desire to putter in a garden and to devote your spare time and brain space to all things plant-related, the garden designing is often best left to the experts. If money is tight, try the local university—you might find a great talent in the making, waiting for that first client.
