My wife and I fell in love with gardening during the pandemic while binge-watching Gardener’s World. Once we moved into a house, we decided to transform our front yard into a tribute to the Jewel Garden at Longmeadow. After three years of work, the garden truly hit its stride last summer. It’s amazing to see how much the space has changed and flourished! The photos I’ve shared capture the garden during different months: August, May, June, July, and September.
So beautiful! Are those geraniums up front?
Vic said:
So beautiful! Are those geraniums up front?
Thank you! Yes, it’s all geranium macrorrhizum grown as a hedge. It got huge by the end of the year. Planning to clip it several times this summer so it stays more compact and doesn’t drown the Geums behind it.
This is my dream. How did you decide how far to space things as you were planting? I want to do this bushy sort of crowded look but worry I’ll go overboard.
Tenzin said:
This is my dream. How did you decide how far to space things as you were planting? I want to do this bushy sort of crowded look but worry I’ll go overboard.
I probably give plants about 2/3rds of the spacing listed on the plant tag. Because I pack things in so tightly, it’s important to provide plant supports so things don’t grow into each other too much. Gardener’s World had a great segment on making affordable supports out of steel rods, which has been a lifesaver for us.
Zorion said:
Beautiful! What type of geraniums do you have? I love their mounding habit.
Thank you! Up front, it’s just the basic geranium macrorrhizum. It grows and transplants so easily—it only took a year to establish the hedge. I also have some Geranium phaeum ‘Album’ in my backyard, and it’s one of my favorites.
Wow, that is stunning. I’m assuming there’s part sun there maybe? My geraniums got fried in direct sun.
Val said:
Wow, that is stunning. I’m assuming there’s part sun there maybe? My geraniums got fried in direct sun.
Yes, there’s no sun after 2 pm. It presents some challenges but keeps the geraniums looking good year-round.
I really like this garden style, but my concern is how to manage weeds. How do you do it?
Will said:
I really like this garden style, but my concern is how to manage weeds. How do you do it?
We haven’t encountered many weed problems, thanks to dense planting and mulching with 2-3 inches of compost every year (usually in late February). It leaves little space for weeds to take hold.
Where in the world are you? Which zone?
Eden said:
Where in the world are you? Which zone?
Oregon, USA, Zone 8b.