Do you have a garden bed that causes you to wince as you pass by? Whether it’s filled with a tangle of overgrown weeds or simply dead plants, it can make you feel embarrassed or like a failed gardener. You’re not alone — every gardener has faced this at some point.
Fortunately, nature’s magic is immortal, and you can always start over. Here are some steps to give your garden a better chance at long-term beauty.
Looking Inward
Before you start a project to revive your garden, ask yourself how it got this way in the first place. If you inherited the garden from someone else, then you’ll need to think about the kind of care you’re willing to provide going forward.
If you planted the garden yourself, consider whether you’re expecting to care for the new plants any differently than the old ones. Using the same approach for this garden as the last one will deliver the same results and an eventual eyesore. Consider waiting a while until you’re able to give the project more of your energy and attention.
However, if you plan to do more research, spend more time and generally follow through more consistently with the new garden, you have cleared the first hurdle to becoming a successful gardener.
Assessing the Site
Before forming any firm opinions about your new garden bed, you’ll want to investigate the aspects you can’t change. Is it wet or dry most of the time? Does it receive very hot sun in the summer, or is it under cooling shade?
Next, I recommend you make a sketch of the bed and measure the edges with a tape measure. This will give you some rough square footage to work with. One plant per square foot will ensure a denser, weed-resistant garden. Also, if the center of your bed is 3 feet from the nearest edge, then you’ll want to choose plants of no more than 3 feet in height, with shorter plants as you approach the edge. Tall plants right along the edges of a garden can look messy to the passerby.
At this stage, I suggest you hold off on removing any weeds or dead plant material, as that is the only thing keeping your soil from eroding and growing fresh weeds.
Forming a Vision
The most important step is casting a vision. Looking at the space and your sketch, imagine how it might look and what would bring you the most joy. Do you want a prim, symmetrically arranged planting, or a vibrant patch of pollinator plants? How tall of a plant can you tolerate visually? Are you looking to incorporate native shrubs, most of which need at least 5 feet of elbow room?
Designing and Planting
Once you know the constraints of the space and have a vision, you can start designing. If you’re planning any new paths or hardscaping, work on those first so you know where all your edges are.
I recommend choosing plants that match your site conditions from the new Maryland Native Plant Guide, available for free on the University of Maryland Extension website. When in doubt, plant shorter plants, as they’ll be easier to manage.
If you feel too overwhelmed to choose plants, consider getting the help of a professional designer. I recommend finding someone who can not only design the space, but supply the plants and help you with installation.
If you relish the hunt for new plants, I suggest visiting a native plant nursery. The Maryland Department of Agriculture has a list of growers and retailers on the Maryland’s Best Native Plants website.
Only when you have your new plants will you want to clear the ground of dead or weedy plants. Invasive species will require hand-digging to make sure the roots are removed. Otherwise, weedy annuals can be gently ripped off at ground level.
In most cases, there’s no need to amend the soil with compost or fertilizer. Plant directly in the ground, keeping the soil level even with how it was in the nursery pot. Water thoroughly to help the roots take hold. Beyond digging your planting holes, try to avoid disturbing the soil or compacting the ground, as this will cause more weeds to germinate.
Maintaining Your Investment
New garden beds require time and money to establish, like any investment. For the first few weeks, I recommend you observe your garden closely each day and water every few days if it hasn’t rained recently. Pretty soon, you’ll start to see new growth and flowers. By staying in touch with your garden, you’ll know when invasive plants appear or more water is needed.
All of this may seem like a lot. If you follow through, learn from experts and put in the time, it will pay off. Few things offer a return on investment like a garden.
Jimmy Rogers is an avid gardener and the owner of Laurel-based Vibrant Gardening LLC. Send your native plant gardening questions to him at: nativegardenguy@gmail.com.