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Leaving Behind your Planting Mistakes - Rental Style

© Jojo Sigurgeirson

One of the best things about moving is leaving behind all the trash that filled your life for however many years. Come the end of the month, it all gets flung onto the lawn in complete disarray, and some heavy decisions have to be made.

Fortunately, moving the garden does not have the same negative connotations. Upon arrival at the new abode, keen gardeners can be seen setting up compost when they should really be inside sorting through their cutlery and clothes. Of course, what they are really doing is making an excuse to be out there, so they can dream and plan and just generally hang out.

Moving to a new garden also means that you can leave behind your old planting mistakes. Afterall, it's a learning process, and if you know you made a mistake there, at least you can learn from it, and hopefully not repeat it in a similar fashion in your new garden.

Here is a list of the planting mistakes I leave behind...

• Buddleia planted directly under clothes line
• Tree Peony planted too close to pavement
• California Lilac planted too close to bedroom window, inviting bees inside
• Red-flowering currant planted very close to above
• Corydalis planted and allowed to go wild
• Bridal Veil Spirea planted in low light area; the shrub looks healthy, but does not flower
• Too many clematis on one fence; difficult to prune
• Bulbs planted on top of more bulbs
• And much, much more...

I can learn from these mistakes easily. A clear vision of how the yard works as a part of the house will help me in my new place. I can also say now I know how big a tree peony really grows now. As well, over-crowding of plants is a common problem. Sometimes plants mingle nicely together, through patterns in foliage and flowers, but other times they can hinder the performance and ornamentality of each other. Corydalis is a weed. Now I know. Luckily, I have just the place for such a weed in my new place. Shrubs that like sun should be given ample, else, what is the point? Clematis, schlematis, that's what I always say. If bulbs come up I will be happy, but I'm not planting any yet.

Many people ask, if I rent, why do I plant? Part of the reason is that it is my hobby. The other part of the reason is that it is my job, and the plants come free, or at severe discounts. Most of my plants have already been in another persons garden. Either they decided they didn't like it, or it started to look ill. That's what you get for working in a place with a life-time satisfaction guarantee. Too Many Plants.

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