desiGn and its relationshiP to Maintenance 19
Other factors to keep in mind
Winds also can be an important factor in considering a site. If your gardens are
exposed to high winds, as some of mine are, tall perennials that are noted for not
requiring staking may in fact need support in your windy site. Boltonia asteroides
‘Snowbank’ and Rudbeckia nitida ‘Herbstsonne’ are perennials that require
staking or pruning in my gardens to keep them from falling over, while they are
happy to stand on their own with no supplemental treatment in some of my
clients’ gardens.
You may be dealing with several different soil conditions and sun patterns in a
single garden as well as a variety of microclimates. Learn which areas are
sheltered and warmed by the morning sun, for instance, and which areas are frost
traps that remain colder than others. The sheltered sites are great for experiment-
ing with tender perennials that perhaps are not normally hardy to your growing
zone. The known cold areas should be devoted to reliably hardy species.
When evaluating the site take note of heat pumps, air conditioners, and any
other eyesores that need to be hidden. Take photographs to work with later while
designing; pictures help you to avoid ignoring such considerations. They also
make great “before” shots for record keeping and self-satisfaction to see your
accomplishment, or as additions to a professional portfolio of client “befores”
and “afters” as you see in this book.
Beds and borders
Will you create a border or island bed? A border is a garden that is bordered by a
wall, fence, or hedge. As I mentioned before, it is a good idea to leave a 2-ft.
catwalk at the back of the border to assist with maintenance. Otherwise it can be
difficult to reach the plants in the back, and these same plants often will leanThe newly transformed, vibrant
foundation planting 3 months
later! These types of images are
rewarding to share with clients.