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Gardens are living systems which can get out of balance. Certain plants need to be removed or containerized in the ground to prevent them from taking over. Shrubs need periodic pruning to clean out the dead wood and remain visually balanced with the rest of the garden. For us, this has become the year of renovating our perennial beds. Since our garden is now 14 years old, some of the beds are not as balanced visually as they were 5 years ago.
The day lilies are taking over our perennial beds, and in some cases choking out new plantings like blueberry bushes. They also don’t provide much visual interest except for the brief period in June when they produce orange flowers on 4 foot stalks. Some of the lower growing plants like the Cranesbill Geranium have become too big for their spot and need dividing. Overall, we’ve lost some of the diversity of plant life we had several years ago to attract wildlife and beneficial insects.
Mountain Laurel
Our plan for renovation is two-fold. After assessing the garden, we buy new plans based on our needs. For instance, our shaded area has lots of low-growing ferns and hostas, and needs some height from shrubs. We’re also removing plants like the day lilies and dividing other plants to fill in spots. There’s also some plants growing under our hedges which need to be rescued and moved elsewhere.
For the new plants, I found a few new ones at Home Depot – delphiniums and stonecrop. However, a trip to a local gardening center, Wedgewood Gardens, provided me with a much better selection of plants to choose from, plus I was able to pick up 2 shrubs on clearance. The mountain laurel pictured above is now in the shade bed and pushing new growth already; it was on clearance for $10.
Weigla
The bed behind our garage has long been a sore spot between my husband and I, and a difficult spot to deal with anyway. Since the bed has mostly poor soil, I decided to fill it with mint and day lilies. Apparently, my husband isn’t fond of the mint running rampant in the bed. I’m not too fond of the day lilies anymore. My husband cleaned out the mint in the middle of the bed and I found a weigla at Wedgewood on clearance for $20. As I work on the other beds, I’ll be moving tolerant perennials like sedum into this bed to fill it in.
I’ve slowly been cleaning the day lilies out the bed that runs along the southern side of our home. One spot is now home to delphiniums from Home Depot and plants moved back from the front of the bed. Often, moving big plants back from the front of the bed can improve the visual appearance of the bed without investing in new plants.
In this spot, I added in varsicolor iris, rudbeckia, and a silver plant which I forget the name of. Honestly, I’m bad about plant names though my husband can rattle off the Latin names on the spot.
How’s your flower garden looking? Do you have plans to make some changes?
Check out my Gardening Page for more information. This week’s vegetable gardening post about Companion Planting is up at Frugal Local Kitchen.
Also part of Seasonal Sunday, Tackle It Tuesday, Saturday Garden Journal, Simple Living Wednesday, Blooming Tuesday, Refresh Your Nest, and Garden Tuesday.
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I think that ‘renovating” is perhaps the hardest gardening task of all. To be able to dispassionately look at the garden and decide what needs to change – that is truly a gift!
Looks like you guys made some good choices of what to clear out. I am looking forward to thinking about flower gardening next year after we get a backyard fence in and I know my boundaries. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out for you.
I love this garden renovation. I, too, having been moving daylilies around. I had planted some under a small tree that grew much larger, and the daylilies had to come out. Happily, I was also renovating another bed, and so found a home for those daylilies. I had also planted a hellebore in between what were at the time two small shrubs, but they have since grown very large, so you couldn’t even see the poor hellebore anymore. I moved it to a spot more in the front of a border, so she is now has a good spot where it is featured, and we can enjoy the blooms next winter much more easily.
Hellebore is on my list, especially now that I have some more room. Do they like shade or sun? I think I have seen them planted in shady areas.
Hellebore like shade, although there is one, called Corsican Hellebore, that will grow in full sun.
Great! I started looking for them. I think our local gardening center carries them. I remember seeing one with greenish flowers.
I am so guilty of letting bully plants take over. It is so hard for me to rip up thriving plants, but after one bed turning into almost 100% purple coneflowers, I have learned how to be tough.
I love that phrase – “bully plants”!
I found someone at school who needs plants for her new home. I have some leftover pots, plus a few from my neighbor. I’m so happy to share what I have.
I have a few daylillies threatening to take over, too. I’ll probably tackle those next year. Your renovations are looking good. It’s amazing how good it feels to get these tasks done.
Ocassionally plants just lose their lustre in the garden and it’s time for a change.
I’ve had some beds that I felt were perfect and I’d never change a thing. A few years later after something has died and another not performing so well, a renovation is certainly in order.
So far, I’ve not tired of all the day lilies I have…but one day, who knows?
I have to admit I cringe at the thought of buying plants from Home Depot, I like to rely on our local nurseries for quality plants.
I’ve done pretty well with the HD plants. I think the aftercare is the most important part. Any plant will die if it’s not planted properly and then watered in.
Hi Barb,
Your gardens are looking great and you sure have been busy! I just redid half of my gazebo garden to balance things out a bit and to fill in more. Are we ever satisfied … lol. Your delphiniums are going to look wonderful. I’ve never had much luck with them even with adding lime to my soil. It could be the cold Northeast winters. Happy Gardening!
Here’s hoping mine do well. We’re just below Philly on the border between zone 7 and zone 8.
I love following garden renovations and you are doing such an excellent job too! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Natural Mother’s “Seasonal Celebration Sunday.” Hope to see you again this Sunday / Monday!! Rebecca x
Renovating beds is a lot of work- yours are taking shape, Barb – I hope you keep us updated! I’ve not had much luck with delphiniums, either, but I think that’s because my soil isn’t so great. I look forward to seeing how yours do.
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It was definitely time. The daylilies have crowded out so many wonderful plants.