Gardening Know How covers an array of garden topics and styles of gardening. Everyone has their own gardening style – some prefer the aid of chemicals to help find success; some want a crisp, clean garden; and others, like myself, prefer to let nature dictate what happens. Still others grow specialty gardens filled with specific plants or even a particular theme. Regardless, our gardens are often a reflection of who we are and what we like.
So, what do some of us here at GKH like and how do our gardens grow? Just for fun, since we could all use a distraction right about now, me and a few of my coworkers are sharing the different ways we garden.
What’s Your Gardening Style?
Amy described her garden as ‘laid back,’ noting that she, too, is rather laid back. That being said, she views herself as having a fairly Type A personality when it comes to being neat. “Yes, I weed, edge my lawn, prune, and deadhead so things look tidy all the time.”
Her sister, Bonnie, is also extremely orderly in her garden. “I have tight bed edges and very even lawns. Not a weed or leaf out of place. It’s very neurotic and appeals to me. My “dirt farm” is where chaos reigns. It is our “experimental” site where we try odd things and is not at all organized.”
Becca’s garden varies from year to year but has found that as she gets older gardening tasks become more difficult. So, with this in mind, she has moved more into container or raised bed gardening convenient to the house. “These require less physical work.”
Stacey, who is no longer with us (we miss you, by the way), thinks of her garden as a little version of a cottage garden. “I was influenced by lovely European gardens in the pages of Victoria Magazine many years ago. A little greenhouse and garden fence surrounded by a picket fence contains my kitchen garden. Perennials surround my potting shed and garden pond. Loose gardens but not too messy.”
Liz is a utilitarian gardener – “My garden is pretty much all things I can eat. In my house I’m a little more experimental. I love seeing what I can propagate and get to grow. My prized plant is a six-year-old lemon tree I grew from a grocery store lemon. (Still no lemons, but I have hope).”
Heather said she didn’t know if she has an actual style of garden. “I like to grow things and I like the process of cultivating and shaping a bed or a plant into what I see in my head. Sometimes that can look very formal while at other times it can look like a mess until the vision suddenly comes together like it should.” (Gee, are you in my mind right now? That sounds just like me. LOL)
Mary Ellen gardens as naturally as possible, saying “I don’t overly worry about bugs or weeds. A little weeding here and there to keep things tidy, but everything does not have to be perfectly in order.”
And then there’s me – in what I can only aptly describe as “organized chaos.” With this gardening style, I envision something (like Heather) and then plan it out. But once I get to the actual planting and design, I find myself changing things up a bit, letting the specific area guide my choices. And, also like Mary Ellen, I try to keep everything as natural as I can – no chemicals, especially in the backyard wildlife area. I’m no neat freak either. I allow my garden to do as it pleases year round. It’s rather chaotic but in a pleasing way.
This is merely an example of the different ways we garden here at GKH. Remember, there’s never a one size fits all when it comes to gardening. We’re all different and that’s okay. Let your light shine in whatever different garden types you like!
