Getting a neglected garden back in shape
Long-time readers, I bet you thought you’d seen the last of my former garden since I said goodbye to Green Hall when we moved to a new home nearly two years ago. Oh, if only selling a home were that easy in this economic climate.
BEFORE. For the past year renters occupied our former home, and while they didn’t totally neglect the garden, watering didn’t occur very often, even during the height of the drought, and pruning was haphazard. They moved out on May 31, and on a serendipitously drizzly and cool June 2, I hired a landscaping crew to spend the day working in the garden with me, pruning back overgrown perennials and shrubs, weeding, and putting down a blanket of mulch. Here’s how the front garden looked when we arrived.
AFTER. The Texas mountain laurel on the far side had inexplicably fallen over but was still well-rooted, so we pruned it up to let it start again. Two vitex volunteers needed removing. The salvias, roses, and other perennials were very shaggy, so they all got pruned back by half. Now they’re ready for another bloom period. That big, bare patch in the middle of the bed used to be a path to a bench. The tenants’ children had wisely extended the path through a bed of Rudbeckia, so I decided to go with the new configuration and laid mulch along it. I’m still waiting on delivery of a few flagstones to be inserted into the path.
BEFORE. The other side of the front garden was equally shaggy. Long-time readers will notice the missing ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave, which used to anchor the space in front of the Mexican oregano; it made the move with me and reigns supreme over my new garden.
AFTER. Neatly pruned. A couple of plants were over-enthusiastically pruned by my helpers, like the ‘Adagio’ miscanthus grass, whose luxurious new growth was sheared into a ball while my back was turned. And of course I still “see” all the missing plants that I either took with me to the new house or that died during drought or freeze (I lost all my Salvia leucantha, it seems). But overall it looks tidy and green, and it’s even lower-maintenance now than it was when I lived here and fussed over it.
AFTER. It’s ready for a new owner to put his or her stamp on it, even if that means turning it all back into lawn. That happens. But I can’t help thinking it’d be crazy to put in a thirsty lawn when plants this tough have survived all this time on their own, waiting to be loved again.
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Ah – I need you to help me at my house – it looks like the before picture!
Does it sort of tweak your heart to see your former garden ignored so? Hopefully you will get your place sold so you don’t have to look back. Good job putting it into shape.
I’m sure the new owners will be grateful that they have no lawn to mow. All they need to do is add a birdbath here and a planter there. Nice job cleaning up- Hope things went as well on the inside and hope a Sold sign is the new feature in the garden.
Looked great while I was there today. Neat and tidy and not at all daunting – just refreshing! Fingers crossed! (Too bad about the Miscanthus ball – as you know, I can totally empathize with that!)
I had wondered about your former house. I’m surprised it hasn’t sold, hopefully it will this time around! You did a great job cleaning up the gardens.
Sheesh! I thought the BEFORE pictures were terrific! What do I know?
Hah, topiaried Miscanthus! But seriously, it didn’t look that bad. I hope the cleanup makes for a quick sale. You never know, the new owners might love the garden and merely add their own touches. I had a phone call a few months ago from a lady who rents my old house. She told me she loved the gardens I put in there, although she has modified them. Hopefully, you’ll be getting a similar call in a few years.
It really looks pretty good considering it didn’t have a gardener after you. That’s quite a testament. Let’s hope it finds a new owner/gardener soon. Have you considered sending it the Statesman Homes people to feature in their Sunday article?
I’ll talk to my realtor about it, Linda. —Pam
You did a great job with the old residence. It sure looks good. Even the before didn’t look that bad. Hopefully someone will come along & buy soon.
I agree–it’s a testament to your design AND practicality that the garden looks so good after a year of neglect! (And I’m LOL at the fact that someone–especially someone in a landscaping crew–sheared your miscanthus into a ball!)
May there be new owners in the house’s future … the garden looks wonderful!
Maybe it’s the photography, but the before didn’t look that bad to me either. Of course it is neat and tidy now that the work has been done, but as you say, the whole thing is so low maintenance and looks good all year around, a huge selling point!
It looks much better, and I’m certain the plants will respond to the pruning quite well. I’m curious how you go about finding a good crew to help for the day. I was wondering this when you laid the new flagstone path at the new house too. Any suggestions?
Jeremy, I laid the new flagstone path myself, but I did hire out the grass removal for it. I use a foreman and his crew that were recommended to me by a friend; he’s currently unavailable though due to a family emergency. —Pam
Lovely gardens. These are a good blueprint for hardy beauty.
I love nothing more then working on a neglected garden. Your pictures show the progress so well. Your design of the front yard looks great, even when the plants around it were neglected.
Hi Pam,
I must say your garden is so well designed that even the before photos look beautiful to me. Looks like the renters didn’t do damage at least. I hope you sell your house very soon, but it’s still wonderful to see your other garden again.
Beautiful before and after! Did you see the new issue of Gardens? That Catskills garden? I was simply swooning!
I haven’t gotten mine yet. I’ll be on the look-out. —Pam
Wish I’d known about your beautiful, up-for-grabs home when I was shopping last year!
I fI was moving to Austin, I’d totally buy your house! 🙂
I love the garden, and your work certainly paid off.