Laying the Groundwork

Many of our gardens are created over time by adding new items as they strike our fancy or we hear about their benefits through reading or attending an educational presentation. Garden planning is not something we think about although it might avoid some catastrophes if we did.  In a perennial garden it is a good idea to have a diagram or photos to remind us of the locations in the spring. 

Planning on paper is best done to scale on graph paper. Many garden Youtubers have said that their channels started when they began recording tours of their gardens.  Gardeners can save the plant tags for new purchases in a safe place so they can refer to the information later.  Don't forget the rule of thumb for perennials: sleep, creep and leap.  The third year is when the plant will claim it's rightful place in the garden. There are many garden planning apps on line which will allow you to plan your garden out.  With a starting point on paper you will see what might need to be moved to create the design you want.

When planting fall bulbs you should have the nearby perennials in mind too.  Often emerging perennial growth will mask the bulbs dying foliage in the spring garden. For many gardeners planning is also done in January and February when seed catalogues are made available from retailers.  We have heard that the pandemic greatly increased seed sales in 2020 and suppliers sold out of many items. We will be monitoring this situation and will keep you informed of what is happening for 2021 in the world of seeds. It is sometimes hard to envision our dream garden. 

​Often inspiration can be found in magazines, during presentations, walking around your neighbourhood or on our garden tours.  It is amazing how people put all the elements of plants, hardscaping and decor to create a magical space.  With winter approaching it is a good time to spend some time thinking about your 2021 garden space.  Reflect on what went well and what was less than desirable.  Perhaps you found that some areas where lacking in colour or plants were not looking as robust as they should.  There are lots of resources available on line or at our local library that you might use to get an action plan for 2021 started. 

Below are some titles available at Waterloo Public Library that you may find helpful:
Garden Spaces: simple solutions for planning and design by George Carter
How to garden: planning your outside space by Peter McHoy
Gardening from a Hammock: Advice from garden expert on easy-care plants: how to create a low maintenance garden by Ellen Novack and Dan Cooper

---