Reworking and Editing a Garden

It seems that as my gardens mature the number one chore I wind up doing is reworking and editing gardens. I think reworking gardens is sometimes harder than making new gardens. At least with new gardens you don't have to struggle with removing perennials and deciding where to put the excess ones. I have such a hard time editing because I hate to get rid of plants. It is like they are old buddies so I keep them around for sentimental reasons. Not too smart. I am getting better at editing with practice and I've been getting a lot of practice lately.

The above garden is my Front Sidewalk garden and is in a prominent spot right out front. As such, it is generally one of the first gardens visitors will see when they visit Tiger Gardens. I want it to be a showstopper and to always be in bloom and dress right dress as we used to say in the Army. There really wasn't much wrong with this garden but it did need some attention-editing and cleaning up. I had some 'Homestead' verbena that had literally taken over. That is normally a good thing except that the verbena had died in some sections and rooted in others and was everywhere and smothering other plants. I also had some red hot pokers in this garden that never earned their keep. Out they came! I solved the dilemma of what to do with the verbena and red hots by potting them up for the Montgomery County Master Gardener sale, scheduled for May 15th. I will also take some some to the Middle Tennessee Plant Swap in May providing everything goes as planned.
After the red hots and verbena were removed I consolidated some daylilies, phlox, sedum, and veronica then dressed the whole bed with a good layer of compost. And you know what? Editing this bed by reworking it and removing plants was a really good thing for me. I don't miss the plants at all and think the whole bed is improved. Time to move on to other beds and perhaps even editing the house....

in the garden....

Any editing and reworking in your garden?

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Too Many Straight Bladed Plants-Time for a Redesign & Blue Star Memorial

From In the Garden

Too many straight bladed plants? Can you have too many? This is how my 'Rear Sidewalk Garden' looked in May of this year. It is not too bad really, but when you look at it now can you see the problem?

From In the Garden

You don't have to look too hard to see it, that's for sure. The issue is with all the straight bladed plants-too many of them so there is no contrast and interest in this garden and other plants are crowded. Back in May the straight bladed plants were well behaved and actually did not look half bad, but now they don't look so good. They've had a really good year and have grown beyond their bounds and are crowding one another and other plants in this garden. Believe it or not these are not all the same types of plants. Starting from the left next to the peony there is a mystery iris, then gladiolus, scads of 'Lucifer' crocosmia, and finally an ornamental plume grass. Too much straight blade overload for me so it was time for a rework. I will not even tell you the story of how this mess occurred but it had something to do with trying to plant the right plant in the right spot-namely a sunny area. I forgot about the surrounding plants being the same type:( Fortunately the situation can be fixed rather simply.

From In the Garden

I dug divided and replanted the irises a bit further away from the peony. I'll be posting on them Monday because I need some help identifying them. I completely removed the glads and the crocosmia. They have found homes in pots for the time being. I then added a catmint plant and stood back to look at my work. I like it so much more now that most of the straight bladed plants are gone. I did leave the ornamental plume grass as a focal point in the center of the bed as a divider. This garden looks completely different on the other side of it but we'll perhaps save that picture for another post.

From In the Garden

What you don't see are the pink lady bulbs under the soil. If you look in the first picture you can see the foliage that looks pretty nice in May. The picture above actually shows the pink lady bulbs in bloom in July. They are a bit crowded and lost aren't they? Yes, it was indeed time for a rework and redesign in this 'Rear Sidewalk Garden'. Now that the straight bladed plants have been removed all the remaining plants have some breathing room and room to shine....

in the garden....

Any gardening design issues you are working on this fall?

Remember when I posted on the Blue Star Memorial Marker in January? Monday marks the dedication of Clarksville's very own Blue Star Memorial Marker. All three garden clubs will be represented. The bugler and color guard from Fort Campbell will also be present. As a veteran of three wars and a member of one of these garden clubs (Beachaven) I am most proud this dedication has come to fruition. Many thanks to all who worked on the project in all three (Beachaven, Clarksville, and Les Candides) garden clubs. As a personal note I'd like to thank Peggy, Lola and Sandy for working on the project as part of the committee to plan the dedication. I'd also like to thank Lola's husband (Harold) for getting the bugler and color guard to participate. Hope to see you all there, Monday 10:30 at the Montgomery County Courthouse. Come show your support for the veterans AND the gardeners (us!) just in time for Veteran's Day.

Speaking of veterans, it is with great sadness we learn of the shootings at Fort Hood. I remember when this happened at Fort Bragg in 1995 (one killed and 20 wounded) and I can tell you it is a terrible thing for soldiers everywhere to think they can be targeted while on base and doing normal everyday activities. It is an especially horrific thing for these days in this time of war. Such a senseless loss for us all.