Are you itching to get out and do some work in your garden? So are we! We’ve recently been discussing early spring garden and landscape maintenance tips from our resident gardening expert, Mary Palmer Dargan. Here are some more of her tips to give your green thumb some more exercise this week:
I love gardening in a raised bed as it improves drainage. Raised beds improve drainage because they raise the level of soil above the surrounding ground. Other benefits of raised beds include less soil compaction, easier weed control, warmer soil temperature in spring, ease of access, reduced soil erosion and beauty.
These raised beds at the Chicago Botanic Garden are featured in the “Gardening is Therapy” chapter of my book Lifelong Landscape Design.
I’m potting up my dahlias I pulled last winter and am rather appalled at how shriveled up the roots are… You walk a fine line on saving tubers and lots of unnecessary work if they are not viable. I’ll report on this later!
Plant asparagus crowns and radishes and transplant cold-season plants such as broccoli, cabbage and kale indoors. I have way too many baby plants, so I am juicing my leftovers and making microgreen salads. It is most nutritious!
Wait until six weeks before planting time for most vegetables to start them indoors… Otherwise they get very leggy and transplant poorly unless grown with bottom heat like forcing lights. Christmas tree lights are an excellent option for bottom heat! Just remember to be patient throughout the process – Your patience will be rewarded with a thriving garden this summer.
Lawns need fertilization if they are cool-season grasses. I am an organic gardener, so I highly recommend taking a soil sample and finding what your soil actually needs instead of just putting on the gas with fertilizer. You can obtain a soil sample for free from most local cooperative extension offices.
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Also, think twice about enjoying a mixed lawn and turn a blind eye to “weeds.” I think once mown, a green lawn is a green lawn no matter its tapestry makeup! Plus, you’ll save on buying weed killer.
What else are you doing in your garden now that we’re experiencing a few warmer days? Let us know by leaving a comment.
If you’re ready to discuss a master plan or tune up for your landscape, contact Dargan Landscape Architects. We can help you formulate a plan that will bring your dreams to life as we heal the Earth one garden at a time!
After months of bitter cold and snow this winter, spring is finally here and it’s time to show your garden some love. However, be sure you’re ready for a roller coaster of a season. One day the sap is rising and the next it falls for a quick drop below the freeze line, but you can still crank up your gardening chores.
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So, get out your mud boots, put on your gardening gloves and head outdoors to get to work. Bring with you these early spring garden and landscape maintenance tips straight from Mary Palmer Dargan, our resident gardening expert:
I like to cut back my hydrangeas, both the tardiva and limelight varieties, waiting until after the last frost to cut the blue macrocarpa varieties and grape vines. You’ll have beautiful blooms later this season!
Now is the time to plant nuts and berries, such as blueberries, strawberries and berries on canes. Just the thought of fresh picked berries from the garden is enough to keep you warm until summer! For established vines and fruit trees, it’s best to wait until the worst weather has passed before pruning. Fertilize fruit trees as soon as possible after the ground thaws.
Watch for seed starting opportunities and send off your orders. Spring planting will result in a bountiful harvest to enjoy this summer. Plan to grow at least one new vegetable this year! I am growing leafy Chinese types. What do you have in mind?
Hugh and I plant our vegetables in whiskey barrels at our Highcote home, as shown in this photo from Lifelong Landscape Design. We rotate what we plant in each barrel from year to year.
Break up garden beds and turn the cover crop. Be careful not to double dig as this disrupts the delicate mycorrhizae system that makes a healthy soil. Mycorrhizal fungi are valuable natural allies that assist with the biological processes of gardens, such as helping plants take up more phosphorous, as well as accumulating carbon in the soil and improving its clumping ability.
That should be enough to keep you busy this week, but be sure to watch for more of Mary Palmer’s early spring garden and landscape maintenance tips on our blog in the near future.
For help designing a master plan or tune-up for your garden or landscape, contact Dargan Landscape Architects.
The hub is not only an important part of your landscape’s master plan, but it’s also instrumental in creating a visual connection between your home and your surrounding property. As mentioned in the previous post, the hub is where activity originates on your land. This focal point is typically the home in most cases.
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With the home as the hub, you’ll want to be intentional about the design of your landscape on and around it. The first way to establish the home as the hub is to invest in the design of your approach and arrival sequence, which is where guests get the first glimpse of your home. Next, you’ll want to focus on hub identity and architectural composure, vistas and captured views.
Making a home appear, well, at home in the landscape can be difficult given challenges that are often present with the topography, as well as environmental issues. However, landscaping solutions can make the most of these problems by creating balance and restoring order. Adding retaining walls to level out a sloped site, for example, is just one of the many tactics that can be used to create a more balanced look.
Here are some additional considerations for understanding the anatomy of the hub:
When it comes to hub identity, is the hub approached from the side or straight on? While straight-on is a more formal layout, it can present challenges on an uneven site.
Is the ground level across the front of the building or does it slope to the side? Sloping land requires retaining walls to make a flat area at the base of the house so that plantings don’t angle downhill.
Does high or low ground around the house cause drainage problems? Solutions for drainage problems are not always attractive, so if you have them, you may want to consult a landscape designer for a more aesthetically pleasing fix.
An example of using your home as a powerful hub can be seen in this house, designed by Norman Askins of Atlanta. It sits firmly on flat land and is enhanced by the simple curve of the drive and cherry trees. Foundation plantings are minimized to emphasize the sweep of house and lawn.
Home Designed by Norman Askins of Atlanta Photo via Timeless Landscape Design
As mentioned in previous posts, our four-part master plan is the foundation we use for creating timeless landscapes. The four components of the master plan include the approach and arrival sequence; the hub; the perimeter; and passages to destinations. When each part is thoughtfully approached, a memorable landscape is the end result.
Last month, we placed our attention on the approach and arrival sequence, and now we’re turning our focus to the hub portion of the four-part master plan of landscape design. Focusing on the hub helps build the visual connection in your landscape design. The hub is the main feature of your property, usually your home, as well as where the most activity originates. It is also one of the first things you notice when you approach your property.
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Optimizing the hub involves strengthening the connection between your home and its surrounding landscape, making the transition appear seamless. There are two major elements to consider when creating the perfect fit: hub identity and architectural composure and vistas and captured views. Hub identity and architectural composure addresses the environment and topography of the site, as well as the architectural style, size and mass of the house.
Hub identity involves the placement of the house on the site and how it’s situated on your property. Architectural composure refers to the style and size of the home, which is related to its placement on the site. Both of these factors should be considered when selecting plantings, trees, flowers, hardscapes and other landscaping elements for your home and property. For example, large scale plantings should be selected for grand homes.
Vistas and captured views also should be created and improved in your landscape. Vistas are scenic or panoramic views seen through a long, narrow opening between trees or buildings. Captured views refer to how your landscape looks from the windows and doors of your home. This can help build the connection between indoors and outdoors.
We’ll delve into the topics of hub identity and architectural composure and vistas and captured views later this month, so stay tuned for more information. You can also order Mary Palmer’s book “Timeless Landscape Design” for more information about building the visual connection in your landscape and the role of the hub in the four-part master plan.
If you’re ready to speak with a landscape architect about creating a four-part master plan for your own landscape, contact Dargan Landscape Architects.
Spring is right around the corner, and now is the time to get your landscapes and gardens ready not only for a new growing season, but for the best time of the year. The right landscape lighting lets you enjoy your yard even after the sun has set. Imagine being able to dine al fresco and entertain in your backyard amidst a beautiful garden backdrop or simply to peer out your window to find the most stunning aspects of your landscape lit up.
Landscape lighting that illuminates entrances, driveways, garages, steps and pathways adds security and safety to homes for optimum convenience and peace of mind. At the same time, this lighting can also add subtle style to increase the perceived value and curb appeal of your home.
Source: The Landscape Lighting Specialist via Houzz
Porches, decks, patios and other outdoor living areas require proper lighting in order to get the most out of these spaces during spring, summer and fall evenings.
Source: Casa Smith Designs, LLC via Houzz
A professional design that has a balance of task lighting and ambient lighting makes grilling, serving and dining areas not only functional, but also gorgeous and comfortable.
Source: Urban Landscape via Houzz
Landscaping lighting can also be thoughtfully designed as focal points to highlight the most striking elements of a garden or yard. Trees, fountains, pools and other architectural features, for example, can be turned into aesthetically pleasing centerpieces at night.
Source: Viewpoint Lighting via Houzz
Lighting techniques like uplighting, downlighting and directional lighting, can add drama and style to landscape designs. These techniques can also become an extension of your home’s character and beauty after dark. Seasonal color can even be accentuated and enjoyed at night with the right lighting.
Source: Hendricks Construction via Houzz
Dargan Landscape Architects can help you achieve a landscape that radiates with personality and character both day and night. From landscape lighting to outdoor living design, our team of landscape architects is ready to help you turn your yard into a work of art that lets both you and nature speak. Contact us online or call directly to schedule a consultation.
