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Creating a New Garden

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The best advice for creating a new garden is to live with the property for a year before you do anything. Observe the patterns of sun shade and wind, see how these patterns change throughout the year. Learn about any mico-climates on the property, a spot which seems well drained during the summer may be boggy in the spring. Notice where the frost first collects, you won't want to grow tender plants in that area. Walk the property as often as possible, if the ground is irregular, your feet will tell you where to create paths. Decide which views should be left open, and which need to be screened. Spend the first year learning about your property, then your garden will be a response to the environment where you live.

You may discover that your property is not well enough drained for most plants. You can accept this and grow plants which do well in poorly drained soil, or you can create raised beds or lay drainpipes. If you need to lay drainpipes, it is best to do this before you begin creating your garden. Before you dig ditches for drainpipes, you should find out where any underground utility lines and septic installations are located and how deeply they are buried.

My garden is on poorly drained clay soil, and the drainage problems dictated the design of my garden. I dealt with the drainage problems by laying drainpipes and creating raised beds. In the original part of my garden, the drainpipes lie under the straight gravel paths and the geometric planting beds are slightly raised above the level of the paths. When I expanded my garden, I used ponds and canals as a drainage system. In the part of my garden which is furthest from the house, I had to lay a drainpipe along the edge of a gravel driveway. At it's deepest point, this drainpipe has 4 feet of gravel over it, this the one spot in my garden where I can grow plants that prefer extremely well drained soil. My advice is to deal with drainage problems before choosing any plants.

While you are getting to know your property, you should be making decisions about how you want to use the property. If you have young children, play areas will probably be a high priority, it may be best to focus on planting trees and slow growing shrubs, leaving a perfect lawn bordered by flower beds as a dream for the future. If your are in your 60's, it might be best to create a garden of raised beds, so that as you age, you can sit on the edges of your beds while you tend your plants. The possibilities are endless, but you have a year to think and dream.

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