RE: [gardeners] Opinions please

Terry King (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sun, 26 Aug 2001 09:14:29 -0700 

Learning that I can change things in my garden later is something that I am
slowly learning.  I've been trying to use the never do things twice rule and
it just doesn't work in the garden. I do like more formal structures but my
plantings are more informal.  Your right, when the plants fill out they will
hide a lot of irregularity, or is that add irregularity?  If the Etoile
Violette clematis I planted against the tree trunk survives and takes off it
will definitely be the focal point.

Thanks Lucinda.

Terry

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gardeners@globalgarden.com
> [mailto:owner-gardeners@globalgarden.com]On Behalf Of lneuru
> Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2001 8:40 AM
> To: gardeners@globalgarden.com
> Subject: Re: [gardeners] Opinions please
>
>
> I am sure the plants in the bed will be the focal point.  Do what you have
> time to do and don't worry about it.  You can always change it later.
> Lucinda
>
> ----------
> > From: Terry King <taeking@endlesshealth.com>
> > To: Gardens & Gardening <GARDENS@LSV.UKY.EDU>; Gardeners
> <gardeners@globalgarden.com>
> > Subject: [gardeners] Opinions please
> > Date: Sunday, August 26, 2001 10:54 AM
> >
> > When building a new bed do you prefer symmetrical geometric shapes or
> > freestyle or do you do a mix of both?
> >
> > I ask because earlier this year I tried a new technique to build a bed.
> Its
> > called Lasagna gardening (yes a Rodale Press book which I am regretting
> to a
> > certain extent every time I go to the mail box).  Basically it is
> building a
> > bed by sheet composting and planting immediately.  So far it seems to be
> > working fairly well with a few caveats.  One being that the book advised
> > laying thick layers of newspaper or cardboard on top of unbroken sod.
> This
> > does work well unless you have quackgrass, thistles, dandelions or any
> other
> > impossible to deter perennial weeds growing where you want the new bed.
> >
> > Anyway, I built a bed around the base of a Larch tree that grows in my
> lawn.
> > The dogs were always digging dust hovels there and the grass didn't grow
> > well because the trees sucks up so much moisture.  I slapped the bed
> > together in spare moments when I wasn't going to school.  I'm afraid I
> > wasn't as careful to shape as I should have been and the circle around
> the
> > tree isn't a completely round circle.  Its approximately 50' in
> > circumference and more of a rounded heart shape, without the extreme dip
> the
> > top of a heart shape has, than circular.  I am currently
> putting in a mow
> > strip of 8x16 red patio blocks and white sand to match the mow strips on
> my
> > other beds.  My other beds are more regular geometric shapes, mostly
> > straight sides and rounded corners.
> >
> > Since the bed is raised, I will finish it off by laying our native rock
> (a
> > mix if river rock and field stones) up the sloped edges of the
> bed inside
> > the mow strip.
> >
> > I can't decide if should leave the new bed the irregular shape or to do
> the
> > work to round it out?  I don't think it looks too bad the way it is but
> I'm
> > wondering what other people's perceptions are about an
> irregular bed in a
> > garden when the other beds are more regular geometrically?  My yard is
> not
> > formal by any means, it's more rustic with enough geometry to look
> organized
> > and tidy, or at least I hope so. :-D
> >
> > Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Terry
> > E. WA.
>