This is the kind of garden design job I like best. Sure, I like doing complete designs from scratch and providing drawings for people, but I don't do the actual work myself so I never get to see the end result! Here is one of the borders of a client I will be working with over the summer. She has given me a budget of $50 for compost and $200 for perennials & shrubs for this border, and I will deliver the plants and place them in the garden for her, ready to be planted. This way I get to shop, pick the plants myself, and see them in their future home. Fun!
This border is on the south side of her backyard, and goes from shade on the left to sun on the right. There are a few shrubs and trees we can keep, and others that aren't doing so well. I stuck a fork in the soil and it went in fairly easily to a depth of about 30 cm, so we decided not to dig out and replace the soil, just to amend it. Here are the tasks I gave her to do before I bring the plants next week:
- Pull out the plastic edging in the middle of the garden bed. Plants will better serve the purpose of holding the soil in the sloped bed.
- Pull weeds. Watering the night before weeding will soften the soil and make this job easier. Be sure to completely remove any weeds with flowers or seeds on them, and toss in garbage. Any smaller seedlings can be composted.
- Turn the entire garden over with a fork, to a depth of 30 cm (or about the depth of the fork). Remove any large rocks. Do not dig too close to existing perennials or shrubs so as not to disturb roots.
Sounds like a fun project. I would love to see after photos when you're done!
Posted by: Amy | July 07, 2008 at 11:56 AM