The specialists of Bloom Garden Design are committed to helping you create environmentally responsible landscapes.

GARDEN TIPS

Working with your existing landscape will help to create a healthy garden.
Tread Lightly in your Garden
Many of my customers are interested in landscape designs that will be less energy intensive to maintain and better for the environment. The following tips can help plants to thrive, reduce water consumption, and minimize infestation of pests and diseases.

Start by assessing the surroundings. When you first move to a new home I would suggest you spend one entire year observing and taking notes. This exercise will help you to make better judgment about the quality of your soil, sun exposure, and moisture or dryness issues. Observing and learning about your existing trees shrubs and perennials will help you to assess if they are in the right location and therefore if they have the potential to stay healthy.

Happy Gardening.

Working with a Machine Operator

An excavator, a backhoe, or a bobcat can do lots of work very quickly and cause unintentional and irreversible damage to your garden. A solid idea about what you would like to achieve, followed with clear communication to the machine operator(s) is crucial.
Most machine operators need to be reminded that minimal disturbance of the land is the best. Let just think of dug up earth as areas where invasive weeds will most likely grow and therefore those areas will require maintenance.

In landscaping we can only succeed if we work with the existing contour of the land. Any dramatic changes will stand out and probably require expensive structures. As we dig we need to consider erosion and drainage. Water can do lots of damage on the surface as well as underground. Protecting existing trees and shrubs can be challenging but it is not impossible. Fencing, flagging and tying up branches are a few examples of strategies that you can use. Existing vegetation will experience lots of stress caused by root disturbance and lack of moisture. Frequent watering and fertilizing with an organic fertilizer will help plants to recover.

Landscape Designer and Horticulturist

Viktorie Hladik

List of past newsletter issues:

......Drainage.....

..... Deer Proofing .....

..... Using Natural elements.....

..... edible gardens .....

..... pests and diseases .....

..... foliage annuals .....

..... winter damage .....

..... edging beds .....

..... palace gardens .....

..... formal hedge .....

..... small trees .....

..... private garden .....

..... ground covers ......

..... house plants .....

..... conifers .....

..... winter preparation .....

..... garden year-round....

..... starting your landscape job .....

..... shade garden ......

..... landscape lights .....

..... designing your entrance .....

..... building a retaining wall .....

..... garden features .....

..... winter gardens .....