When Joyce and Jon Householder moved into their Kansas home in 1988, they didn't inherit a garden-just an overgrown lawn and a few shrubs. But with a lot of hard work Joyce has transformed this blank slate into the ultimate reprieve from everyday life.
She prefers a laid-back approach to gardening and allows plants to grow where they please, creating beds and borders full of life and color. In the next few pages, you can learn about the challenges she has faced and take a walk through this unique and resilient garden.
TERRACED BORDERS
Over the years Joyce has transformed her 1 1/4 acres into the garden oasis it is today. It all started in the front yard, which sits at the bottom of a steep slope. While this was a fun sledding hill for her kids in the winter, it was a pain to mow. After a few summers of struggling with the lawn, she decided to install terraced flower beds instead, and that was the project that started it all.
RETAINING WALLS ARE THE GARDEN'S FOUNDATION Enlisting the help of neighbors and friends, the couple ripped out the existing junipers and railroad ties and chopped up the original sidewalk leading to the front door. Then they brought in topsoil, leveled out three terraced beds that range from 12 to 20 feet wide and 5 to 12 feet deep, and installed limestone retaining walls to hold the soil in place. These beds, which you can see on the previous page, hold colorful perennials that bloom throughout spring and summer, such as coreopsis, purple coneflower, salvia and baptisia. Shrubs and small trees, such as panicle hydrangea, Drift roses and Japanese maple, add structure and a backdrop all year.
This story is from the Issue 172 - August 2023 edition of Garden Gate.
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This story is from the Issue 172 - August 2023 edition of Garden Gate.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Spinach - Learn the secrets to growing this tasty green in spring and fall.
If you're one of those gardeners who can't wait to get started in spring and hates to throw in the trowel in fall, spinach is the perfect shoulder season crop. This mild, earthy-flavored green comes in many varieties, ranging from crinkly-leafed savoys to slightly textured semi-savoys and the flat, smooth-leafed types. Colors can be dark green, light green and even red-veined. Here's how to get the most of it every year.
Why Bulb Depth Matters - Dig deep enough to ensure your plants stand tall and live the longest
When you're planting bulbs, it's tempting to just dig a hole as deep as your trowel will reach easily, nestle the bulb in, cover it up and move on. But the fact is, each type of bulb will flower best and thrive at a different depth.A good rule of thumb is to plant a bulb two to three times its height. One reason planting depth is important is because it helps to keep the bulbs protected from fluctuations in temperature that happen closer to the surface.
GARDEN ESSENTIALS
FALL GARDEN CLEANUP TOOLS
Saving Seeds
Saving flower seeds is a great way to get more plants with almost no investment. It's easy to do. Here's how to save seeds from some of your favorite annuals as the growing season winds down.
Cucumber Trellis Flop
I watched cucumber trellis growers online for several seasons with envy. What a brilliant way to save space in raised garden beds and make it look fancy! Finally, I was sold and decided to try it in my garden.
9 Tough Perennials for Clay Soil
Whether you garden in the nutrient-poor red clay of the Southeast, the calcium combined-with-clay caliche of the West or something in between, the common denominator is that clay soil is difficult to grow in. Why? Tiny particles of clay hold tightly together, slowing drainage and limiting the amount of oxygen that can reach plant roots. You've seen the resultsanemic-looking or rotting plants.
Garden Fences
Discover the perfect blend of functionality, style, and materials for your ideal fence.
A GARDEN OF STORIES
Learn plant and project tips from a couple who's been gardening here for nearly 50 years.
Switchgrass
Adaptable switchgrass goes with the flow.
Establish a Monarch Waystation
Did you know that a single monarch butterfly can migrate up to 3,000 miles? That's a lot of ground to cover! This amazing insect makes a fascinating journey, unlike any other butterfly.
