All Ted and Nancy Dobson wanted was a simple container garden. But when my partner and I first met with them, we discovered that the Dobsons’ backyard looked more like the bottom of a swimming pool than a patio. It was a little space, with house and garage walls on one side, a shoulder-high retaining wall on the other, and a river of concrete in between. The tight dimensions made the yard feel closed in, and we couldn’t remove the paving due to drainage issues. The Dobsons hoped, however, that adding several pretty planters would, at least, soften the look. Although it would have been simple enough to install a container garden, we knew that none of us would be ecstatic about the results. This property presented some imposing challenges, which were beyond the help of planters. We solved almost every problem at once, however, by building an elevated garden…
This article is only available to All Access members
This article is available online for the first time ever exclusively for All Access members. Sign up for a free trial to access our entire collection of articles, videos, and plant records.
December can be a hectic month no matter where you live. There are holiday parties to plan and attend, presents to be bought, and food to prepare. Some of us…
If adding interest is proving difficult, focus on smaller vignettes and combinations to add charm to your shady situation. See the full garden. Add something ornamental I use garden features…
Each region of the United States does the holidays a little differently. From how we decorate to what we eat, geography and climate have an impact on the ways we…
It's that time of the year again. We know that the gardener in your life may be particularly hard to buy for during the holiday season. How does one buy…
Starting Seeds Starting seeds is an easy and affordable way to get more plants, but getting them off to a good start can be tricky if you've never done it…
Comments
Log in or become a member to post a comment on this article.
Start Your FREE Trial Log in