How to Revive an Overgrown Garden Part One

I am embarassed to show this eyesore of a garden.  I’m not sure how it got so out of control.  A busy summer of working, teaching classes, and tending my own vegetable garden, allowed me to keep putting this perennial garden on the backburner.  It is right beside the drive way coming into my house. It’s not like I don’t see it EVERY SINGLE DAY!  But, I think it’s like a lot of things in life….your health, your weight, and your money.  A small problem can become big quickly when it’s not taken care of early.  So now that my fall garden is planted, the weather is cooler, and it’s a great time to plant perennials, it’s time to finally revitalize this overgrown garden.

But I’m a “gotta have a plan” kind of person.  It keeps me on tract.  I can quickly go to “chasing squirrels”, and get off track of what I was doing.  It also helps be complete the project in bite size pieces. The first thing I did was print off this garden project planner and project brainstorm sheet I developed  I .  Just click on the links to download yours.

Using the Garden Project Brainstorm Sheet I’ll brainstorm what needs to be done to get this garden in shape.

Here’s what went on my Brainstorm Project Sheet.

I also wrote how much I wanted to spend.

• Weed garden so that I can see what is there that I may want to keep, discard, or divide.
• Trim, clean up any plants I’m keeping.  For example my peony and azaleas.
• Remove or divide the plants that I’ll keep or discard.  Where am I putting the plants I am removing or dividing.  Have an idea, so that they don’t go to waste after you remove.
• Measure the space so that I know how much soil, mulch and  new plants I want.
• Research spring, summer and fall blooming plants for continued color.
• Make a list of plants I want to purchase, and how many based on my space.
• Purchase new soil, compost, and mulch for the area.  Add these to the garden to get it ready for  new plants.
• Purchase new plants including any annuals for color.
• Plant new plants.
• Mulch to keep this mess from happening again!
• Garden Decor.  The old Adirondack chair needs to be repainted.  Garden Flag?

Now that I know step by step what I need to do, I’ll use my project planner to write down all the things I need to buy and my action steps.  I can take the planner with me to the nursery to keep me on track when buying plants.

 

Join me for the next update when I clean this mess up, measure, and divide the perennials.

Happy Gardening!

Karen