Hugelkulture.
This time of year I see lots of leaf bags filled with sticks, branches and leaves waiting to be picked up by the trash guy. Instead of that why not try hugelkulture? Hugelkulture, pronounced Hoo-gul-culture, means hill culture or hill mound. It’s a very simple method of gardening which involves layering logs, branches, leaves, grass clippings, cardboard, and compost and then topping with soil before planting. It’s the ultimate no-dig gardening.
There are many benefits to hugelkuture. For one the decaying logs provide long-term nutrients to the soil. In addition, the logs produce heat as they decompose, basically creating a warmer microclimate, which will allow you to garden longer into the season. Compaction is a problem that is avoided with hugelkulture because as the logs and branches break down they increase soil aeration. Decaying wood also acts like a sponge and means water is stored and released as needed. Less watering is a bonus as summers heat up and water bans are implemented. Because hugelkutlure creates a hill garden it is easier to harvest – no bending required. This is a benefit I am appreciating more and more as I get older!
I have a steep hill behind my garden that goes down to the street. In my own way I have been playing with hugelkulture (or at least trying to level things out). I threw some logs in at first then added branches, then various waste from client jobs (evergreen trimmings, pumpkins from fall, old plants, etc.) Threw in some grass clippings, chopped up leaves and then more plant waste. Once the area is level, I will add soil and plant.
If you try hugelkulture you will save so much money on leaf bags you can buy more plants!
Power Couples.
I have a presentation with the same name and in it I share perennials that work well together, not unlike the Power Couples seen in Hollywood and business. Fall is a great time of year to assess your garden and see where there might be areas that could use a little tweaking. The trick with matchmaking, in this case creating your own Power Couple, is to make sure individual plants will work well together. They must be enough alike – have the same light and moisture requirements, for example. But they should also have differences. It’s the differences that will provide the excitement. For instance, a daisy shaped flower contrasted with a spike, or a finely textured plant contrasted with a coarse texture.
In a successful Power Couple one member is not going to take over – each hold their own but bring something a little different to the table. If you are looking to create a fall Power Couple and you have sedum in your garden, why not introduce some maiden grass, Miscanthus? The complimentary colors and contrasting textures are beautiful. ‘Redhead’ is another wonderful ornamental grass that would be a great partner. If you have monkshood, Aconitum, in your garden consider pairing it with the yellow finely textured fall foliage of blue star, Amsonia hubrichtii.
I love playing matchmaker in the garden and I bet you will too.
Click on image below to see plant names
Seed Starting Hack.
This is the time of year where many of us gardeners find ourselves knee deep in seed catalogs. After all, who can resist the lure of growing your own (unusual) plant material? Not me.
There are some great seed catalogs out there. I especially love Annie’s Heirloom Seeds, Prairie Moon Nursery, Baker Creek, Select Seeds, Hudson Valley and Renee’s Garden Seeds. These beautiful catalogs are as irresistible to me as hosta are to deer. I spend hours drooling over the glorious pictures dreaming about what I will grow. However, I prefer to spend my money on the actual seeds and plants rather than all the paraphernalia that comes with growing them. Rather than buy the little grow kits with domed lids let me share a seed starting hack. It involves using something you already have – toilet paper. I assume you do use toilet paper?
Start by saving your empty rolls. Next make a series of 1 to 1 1/2-inch cuts around one end of the roll, approximately a half an inch apart, which you will then fold into the center of the roll to create your bottom. If they are wobbly you can put them in a hard-sided container, or simply tie the rolls together with twine for stability. Finally fill with seed starting mix and plant. Water according to planting instructions and when it is time to transplant into the garden you can drop the whole thing in! Just make sure none of the roll extends above the soil surface as it will wick water from the roots of the plants. The cardboard will break down so it has the benefits of peat pots but is more environmentally friendly.
If you prefer to start seeds in a reusable container K-cups (the coffee used in Keurig makers) are perfect. They are just the right size and even have a hole in the bottom for drainage.
By starting seeds with something you already have you have saved money. And with that $19.99 you can buy more seeds! You’re welcome.
Resilience
I am watching the snowdrops as they bravely lift their heads through the remnants of snow, and I am reminded about resilience. According to the internet it is “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness”. It’s one reason I chose the snowdrop for my logo. To me it represents beauty in the face of harsh circumstances. Resilience is such an important attribute and yet one that seems lacking today. We live in a society where expectations are high, and success must be immediate. We don’t seem to know how to get up when we have been knocked down. We no longer hear the expression “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
My garden is a great example of resilience. Look carefully at plants that have been browsed by deer that appear dead until a tender green shoot appears. See the container plants that never made it into the ground last fall and overwintered in a pile of leaves. Despite freezing temperatures they are coming back. The prized echinacea that I had to have (but that was over budget) is dead. But it has seeded in and its children continue. The evergreen that had its central leader damaged by snow has made a new one. Even the beautiful ‘Audrey’ ficus (pictured here) speaks of resilience. A client had these (very expensive) plants but didn’t want them. By the time I got to them they looked dead but I didn’t want to give up so I brought them in to the house and tended them. Eventually all the leaves fell off; people wondered why I would have dead plants taking up so much room in the house. I couldn’t give up – they were valuable. And look what happened. ‘Audrey’ was resilient and over time came back better than ever.
Thomas Edison made 1000 attempts to invent a light bulb. Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper because the editor said he “lacked imagination.” Robin Williams was voted “Least Likely to Succeed” in high school. At a modeling agency Marilyn Monroe was told she had better learn secretarial work or get married.
Whether in gardening or in life, resilience is a vital attribute. As Vince Lombardi said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.”
READ MORE ABOUT OTHERS WHO DID NOT GIVE UP
Northwest Flower and Garden Show
I really miss garden shows – especially my hometown Boston Spring Flower and Garden Show. It’s one reason I was especially excited to be invited to speak at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show last month. It is the second largest show in the country and beloved by all who attend.
The Show did not disappoint and I now understand why so many attendees rave about it. I was very impressed by the displays – especially the smaller “front porch” vignettes as they showcased some great container gardens. One of the displays by Rooted in Landscape focused on biophilic design in the workspace. You may have remembered biophilic design from another of my newsletters. I think Smitha’s display was very well received as so many of us are working from home since COVID. Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by greenery and living walls?
I spoke on container gardening, as well as using more foliage in container designs. Both talks seemed well-received, and the best part was talking to attendees afterwards. Spending time with other plant nerds talking plants never gets old. I also participated in Container Wars and, I’m not going to lie, I was a bit nervous. After all, as Michael Jackson put it “I’m a lover, not a fighter.” But it was all in good fun as my opponent and I battled for the coveted blue ribbon. I won but might have had an unfair advantage as my challenger was an authority on roses, not a container gardener. I toyed with the idea of wearing my winning ribbon on the plane home in hopes that its FIRST PLACE message would get me out of coach (maybe someone would think I was coming from the Olympics). In the end I decided to settle in to my lilliputian-sized seat, accept the fact that I would lose feeling in my feet and legs and solace myself with the delicious teeny bag of goldfish.
Crazy for Coleus.
Fishnet Stockings, Dipt in Wine, Keystone Kopper, Marooned. Sounds like a night out gone bad, right? Actually these are all names of Coleus – a plant that is fast becoming one of the most popular with gardeners. Many of you already know it is one of my all-time favorite annuals to use. This is not your grandmother’s Coleus; this is one of the most versatile plants on the market. There are upright varieties, sprawling varieties, mounding varieties. Even sun-loving varieties.
Many of you also know that I am a huge fan of all-foliage containers and Coleus is one of the major players in those designs. It’s beautiful and plays nicely with so many other great foliage plants. Coleus is a relatively easy-going plant but there are a few tips to guarantee growing success, whether you are using it in containers or your gardens.
Coleus Tips
- First, and most important is to plant Coleus in good soil. It should not be heavy and needs to drain well as Coleus resents having wet feet and will let you know by rotting and dying.
- Coleus needs the right light and whether that is sun or shade really depends on the variety. Many of the deeper colored reds and oranges like a bit more sun. Those with the name ‘Florida’ or ‘Solar’ or ‘Red’ give you a hint as to their sun requirements. I have found that ‘Fishnet Stockings’ prefers more shade and will get crispy in too much sun.
- Coleus does not like wet feet, but it also does not like to dry out – consistent moisture is key. I feed my Coleus every few weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer. This is especially important in containers as much of your minerals leach out of the container with watering.
- While you might be reading this and thinking to rush right out and buy Coleus, wait. Coleus does NOT like cold. This foliage all-star will perform best when soil has warmed and evening temperatures are consistently in the 60’s. Here in New England we have at least two more months to wait. In the meantime you can drool over some beautiful varieties here.
- Finally, you can pinch out any flowers to conserve energy and control plant growth. Or you can leave the flowers for the bees and other pollinators. ‘Sedona’ has a particularly beautiful purplish flower that looks very attractive against its terra cotta-colored foliage.
Coleus Gallery
Team Member Spotlight – Zach
The Captured Garden has been blessed, over the years, to have great team members. Each one brings his/her own gifts and talents but I have to say my favorite employee is Zachariah.
Zach is definitely the strength of the team.
Zach is my son and I could not be more proud to have him on The Captured Garden team. We have so much fun together and I know that without his strength and willing heart The Captured Garden would not be where it is today.
Thanks, buddy.
Hello. Goodbye. Hello.
Business is good.
And over the years it has grown, not so much by advertising, but by word of mouth. My incredible clients refer their friends who, not coincidentally, are also incredible.
Every now and then, however, a client leaves. Sometimes it’s for budgetary reasons. Sometimes they have more free time and may want to try doing their own containers (I love this!). Maybe they move. And let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just not the right fit.
A few years back a very dear client moved. I was very sad to see her go; I had worked extensively in her gardens and we had become friends. She was just a few towns away but decided to give her local landscaper a try. I wished her the best and really hoped our paths would cross again.
Just a few weeks ago I got an email:
“Dear Deborah, I don’t know where to begin except to say I miss you and am hopeful that you might consider doing some work for me.”
The client went on to say that she was moving back to her original town.
I am so excited to renew our relationship and grateful that, this time, “goodbye” was really only “see you later.”
DIY Fun
I really love hosting workshops. It is always wonderful to see the creativity within a group, whether a garden club, young mothers group or fundraising event. I have conducted wreath workshops, terrarium workshops, container garden workshops, even succulent topped pumpkin workshops.
I provide a few easy instructions, lots of great and unique material and step back. I empower participants to use their own sense of design and color to create something that is uniquely them.
I even offer in-home workshops for smaller groups. These are great for a Girls’ Night Out, bridal shower, or birthday parties.
Click through our workshop photo gallery.
A Dream Project
I was recently invited to create some new container gardens for Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. What a thrill and an honor!
The Calderwood Courtyard is beautiful and the new planters are perfect for the spot.
I was asked to work with a simple green and white palette since there are so many weddings that take place there. There are mature birch trees in the courtyard so we mimicked them with birch poles at the center of our plantings. This also provided needed height.
The courtyard is a bit shady so we used white hydrangea, asparagus fern, lamium, and white muscari. With a nod to future wedding receptions, we incorporated daffodil ‘Bridal Crown’ – one of my favorites. It smells absolutely delicious. We even managed to squeeze in some white columbine.
The weather on that late April day was gorgeous and with a great crew to help it was an amazing project.
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