Lately, I’ve been reading The New Low-Maintenance Garden by Valerie Easton. In the book, Easton makes a poetic case for gardens that are sensuous and enjoyable, ones that–as the title alludes–don’t require a lot of work. The book has caused me to take a closer look at my own gardening style.
I’ve looked at the above photo a lot. I really like it. I like this pot even more in person. It has an apple tree, garlic chives, and thai basil growing in it. It used to have terragon and nasturtiums growing in it too, but they died and I never got around to replacing them. Then I realized that I kind of like the natural/overgrown look of the basil after it had taken over the pot.
I used to have a much more formal style. I’m not sure “formal” is the right word, maybe “planned” or “traditional.” At least, as traditional as a container garden can be, I guess. Whatever the word, I chose plants that needed regular care. I liked doing lots of pruning and deadheading. I liked overplanting a pot for a really lush look and then didn’t mind when plants needed to be swaped out shortly thereafter.
My garden at my current apartment has had two different phases. The high-maintenance phase that, looking back, I realize I was transitioning away from this time last year. And the current phase, the low-maintenance/casual phase. Here are some photos of my old gardening philosophy (for a look at my garden now, check out “Where in the World is Life on the Balcony?”):
For whatever reason, I don’t want to garden like that anymore. I still think it produces beautiful results, but I don’t personally want to do all the work that gardens like that require. I like a more casual look and feel. I want to have more time to just sit among my plants. I want time to stop and smell the roses. Literally.
What’s your gardening philosophy?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
i love your new concept its very inspiring
I totally agree with you and I’ve gotten to a point where I just want to “sit among my plants” and enjoy them. Our east coast gardening season is very short compare to CA and the cleanup part at the end of the season is what I drag the most. I’m going to have a completely different plan next year and I always find so many inspirations from you!
I’m all about making my gardening life, as well as the rest of my life easier. Hot summer days, for me, are about sitting in a comfy chair in the garden, enjoying the colours, the fragrances and forms of the plants while sipping a cool drink and perhaps reading a book.
@LifeOnTheBlcny great philosophy, one to live by
This past year I realized that flowers are too much work. My philosophy for next year is to use lots plants with interesting foliage, as they seem to provide color and texture without the fuss of flowers. That said, there are some flowers (like my Casa Blanca lily) that i cannot do without. The idea will be to balance a few spectacular flowers against lots of low-maintenance foliage plants.
I use all sorts of things in pots. I find smaller ornamental grasses do well and are low maintenance for an easy permanent planting in the pot. I’ll add a perennial with a trailing habit (some of the tamer herbs are great for this) and then often add one or two more things that strike my fancy. I try to create new pots in the autumn, when bulbs are available and tuck small daffodils, jonquils, and grape hyacinths in when establishing the pots. These are the only bulbs that seem to be ok with being stuck in pots for years at a time and reliably return each spring for me here in the Bay Area (Sunset zone 14).
There is no such thing as fuss free container gardening; by its very nature this sort of gardening requires a lot of attention, regardless of what one chooses to plant. I have been avidly container gardening for 30+ years. The main trick is to group your plants together based upon growing requirements, especially light and water (this seems obvious but is so easy to forget as one wanders around the nursery, lusting after various plants). I’ve also found Osmocote to be a great fertilizer for pots because you can really control how much you give the plants, you don’t have to use much at all, and it lasts awhile.
“There is no such thing as fuss free container gardening”
Well, to be fair, there is no such thing as fuss free gardening either.
I like your idea of tucking in bulbs. I have a bunch of bulbs that need planting, I think I’m going to try your method of finding spots where they can stay for a couple of years.
I am especially fond of grape hyacinths in pots since the foliage dies back gracefully and is unobtrusive as the other plants start to grow vigorously. After a couple of years you will have enough to pick a small bunch for a wee vase to tuck somewhere where you can enjoy them indoors too and still your pots will look great.