Editor’s note: This commentary is by Ron Krupp, who is the author of “The Woodchuck’s Guide to Gardening” and “The Woodchuck Returns to Gardening.” and is working on his third Vermont garden book called, “The Woodchuck’s Guide to Landscape Plants and Ornamentals.” The material in this commentary comes from his new book.
While staying home in these times of stress and anxiety, you have a lot of time to plan out your garden. I’ve been traveling to Vermont libraries around the state doing a workshop called “Planning and Designing Your Home Garden.” I begin by having folks do a sketch of their ideal garden with graph paper, pencils and lots of erasers. Upon completion, they share their plans with the group. Believe me, I’ve learned as much as the participants.
Here is a short introduction to guide you through the exercise. You can also participate. Let’s get started. I begin by asking the following questions:
What kind of plants do you want in your garden?
Do you just want a garden of ea-tin? Do you just wanna grow kale? Hmm!
Would you like to grow blueberries and raspberries, currants, other berries or small fruit trees?
Do you want a garden of contemplation filled with flowers in varied hues and scent?
Do you want a sun-filled garden with roses and dahlias or a shaded area with ferns and hostas or both?
Do you want to grow native pollinator plants?
Do you want to replace your lawn with trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, perennials, climbers, ground covers and a flowering crab-apple to boot?
Would you use containers to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers if you live in a condo or apartment?
Please remember that the heart of a garden is an extension of yourself.
Beware of CHAD – Compulsive Horticulture Acquisition Disorder.
This is a perennial problem, not to make a pun. Gardeners have a tendency after a long winter’s sojourn, to BUY, BEG and BORROW plants in spring. And then they are faced with the challenge of where to place all of the plants.
They may ask themselves the question — why did I buy all these perennials, shrubs, fruit trees and vegetable plants? Some impulse gardeners have good intentions but lack clarity and aesthetics. In other words, they have CHAD, which wastes money, time and effort. Don’t get me wrong. I have this problem as well. Perhaps I should form a support group for all the CHADDERS out there. That’s why it makes sense to have a plan. If we only listened to Goethe who said,” The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” In other words, a garden is more than a collection of plants.
One way of planning your garden is by looking at different periods and styles of garden design — there are four historical styles, involving curves and straight lines. Decide which one is best for you.
— English Cottage Garden – A scramble of wildflowers, herbs and vegetables, like an Impressionist painting of Monet. In my front yard I have a cottage garden – called “Gardening of My Stoop” where there are few straight lines and lots of curves.
— Victorian – This design period reflected a more formal, estate-type garden with straighter lines. The French have lots of estate gardens. There are some in Burlington in the upper high streets. They have lots of lawns, conifers and trees. More straight lines than curves.
— Modern – This is more the suburban garden with lawns, fewer plants and straight lines. It’s based on the architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright.
— The Green Garden – This is the newest style of garden with more curves. Lawns are removed and native pollinators are welcomed along with perennials, shrubs and trees. The idea is to cut your carbon footprint and create a more sustainable garden setting.
