There are at least seven temporary garden hedges that are fairly easy to grow. Even though it’s cold and snowy now, in just a few weeks it will be time to begin gardening in earnest. A little planning now will make things go much more smoothly come warm weather.
Temporary garden hedges perform a variety of functions:
Define a property line
Separate different portions of a garden
Accentuate a driveway or walkway
Provide shade where there is none
Provide height in a sea of low grass
Provide a display of vivid color where there was none
Hide an unsightly heating/cooling unit or gas tank
Attract a flock of butterflies or hummingbirds
There are seven annuals that I have used effectively to create these types of borders. With a little bit of pre-planning this year you can easily get results just like these photos. Sit down anytime (now is good) and create a rough sketch of your property. Where might one of these seven temporary garden hedges fit in perfectly?
seven temporary garden hedges – hollyhocks make a superb border
1–Hollyhocks have a number of reasons to commend them as borders. They are tall, so they create an effective screen along a driveway or against an old weathered wall. They grow thickly and crowd out other weeds. But one of their best attributes is that they self-sow. Hollyhocks are biennials, meaning they usually grow in one year and bloom in the next. But it is oh-so-easy to get them started, let them self-sow, and enjoy them each year for as long as you want. The colorful blooms on tall stalks can bloom for several months during spring and summer.
My own little Garden of Eden would not look like the painting of the same name by Breughel and Rubens. My garden would be a relatively small affair, easily weeded and maintained. I want a compact garden where every inch is utilized and nothing is overgrown.
When I was a very small child, and could not yet read, I would sit with my Grandma Hammons. Together we leafed through her huge old family Bible. I was particularly fascinated with Grandma’s Bible because, in addition to all the wonderful stories, it was filled with full-color illustrations. Some of the illustrations depicting famous Bible events were painted by old masters. One in particular, “The Garden of Eden” by Jan Brueghel and Peter Paul Rubens, both fascinated and perplexed me. Continue reading “My Own Little Garden of Eden”
On hot August days nothing beats retreating to the sheltering shade. Whether it’s an old lawn chair under a tree, or a hammock swinging gently under dappled sunlight, escaping the heat and activity of a summer’s day could be just a few feet away.
If you don’t have a large shade tree where you live, you can create your own artificial shade. Here is a photo of a shady area under a pergola I built. It didn’t take long for the wisteria and hummingbird vine to create quite a shady respite.
I let my green thumb sort of go wild, I’m afraid. I may have over-planted a bit, but I just let everything go wild to provide even more shade from the hot afternoon sun. (see below)
Plants help shade the pergola from late afternoon sun
A variety of plants love the shade and are thankfully quite easy to grow. For color nothing beats impatiens, and for cool contrast to dark leaves, try caladiums in shades of white or pale green, in addition to the usual red varieties. Don’t forget hostas for perennial ground cover. And elephant ears make a delightfully bold statement. Ferns (the native kind–not the annual Boston ferns) can be easily planted and will return and spread each year. Even moss can be made to flourish around stone if conditions are wet enough.
A variety of plants love the shade
Just keep the water hose handy, for most shade plants also require evenly moist soil conditions.
Gardens, particularly an English “cottage garden” can get quite unruly unless the space has a definite border of brick or timber. I have used cross ties, landscaping timbers, limestone rock and old brick to contain and frame a garden. Fallen logs are a favorite as well.
Brick and fencing contain this corner of my gardenSimple gardening timbers add visual interest hereThese old discarded railroad ties can hold back vigorous growth
And though I have used old railroad ties in the past, it is worth noting that “new” railroad timbers are infused with creosote, which can be toxic to both plants and people (if used indoors, like a greenhouse). If you can attain very old timbers, they have a weathered look and most of the creosote would have long leached out of them. If you want to be extra cautious, line your plant beds so that the timbers don’t come in direct contact with the soil.
Limestone rock contains this corner of the yardIf you have access to woodland areas, which are common in our part of the country, you may find an old fallen log that would fit your bill. Cedar works especially well since it takes many years for it to decompose. Be kind to your woodland plants and animals and don’t deplete your wooded area of all fallen trees. Plants, animals, and even insects depend on those logs. And really there is nothing quite more beautiful than an old rotted log with ferns and lichens growing all over it.
What do you use to shore up a border? Please return to My Garden Buddy and enter the conversation. Thanks.
