IS THERE HOPE for an aging garden? (If you’re anything like me, you just read that as “hope for an aging gardener.”)
Like gardeners, gardens are always changing and far from immortal. For some coping tips, I reached out to Sue Goetz (suegoetz.com), a local designer who helps clients evaluate their gardens with an eye toward sustainability; manageability; and, most important, beauty.
What are the signs that your garden needs help aging gracefully? Foundation shrubs that are blocking windows and pathways, surfacing tree roots that pose a tripping hazard, and a general decline in the health and appearance of plants are all clues that it’s time to intervene.
“Some plants, like heather, blue fescue, lavender, nandina and ceanothus, tend to not be long lived in an urban landscape,” Goetz observes. “It’s OK to replace them.” Balding conifers with dead spots from overpruning or crowding will not recover green in those places, and pruning won’t help. “Yews are one of the few needled evergreens that will take pruning and push out new green growth.” Ouch!
Whether your garden has gotten away from you — hey, life happens, or maybe you moved to a property with an overgrown or lackluster landscape — it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. When Goetz is called in on a renovation project, she begins by evaluating existing plants to determine whether they are complementing the landscape or overtaking their allotted space, blocking views or crowding other plants.
Often, it’s possible to rejuvenate overgrown shrubs, but you will need patience. Goetz recommends a two-to-three-year approach, pruning to remove dead growth and shape the plant to its natural growth habit. Recovery time will vary depending on the plant. “Let it go for a season, and see what happens,” the designer advises. “Then trim a little more if needed, and see what happens. If [the plant] isn’t responding well, then it’s probably done.”
Placement matters, too. If a plant is a focal point in the landscape, ask yourself how much time and money you are willing to invest. Goetz asks clients to weigh “how much ugly” they’re willing to abide, alongside factoring the cost of replacing an important plant in the landscape.
Having a lawn is a personal decision. Children and pets need room to romp, while others just want it gone. Goetz says it doesn’t have to be an either/or scenario; sometimes what’s needed is a lawn that’s easier to care for. “If after mowing you still need to get out a weed-whacker to finish the job, we can do better,” she says. “A beautiful, easy-care lawn with minimal human intervention is possible.” Start by installing a mowing strip and removing small patches of unnecessary turf, then identify awkward turns and places that require backing up the mower as you simplify managing your lawn.
I asked Goetz whether there is ever a time to just give up, like when a rockery is filled with weeds and needs to be rebuilt to correct the problem. Sometimes the answer can be hard to hear, especially when a project’s budget starts climbing. Goetz encourages clients to consider the future of the garden rather than settle for a quick fix. The designer explains, “If something needs to be repaired or removed and it will make life easier and the garden more sustainable and beautiful, then that’s a valuable discussion.”
