In my 20s, I lived in a mobile home park. We had 5 Pinoaks and an evergreen. One day, coming home from work - the trees where made defoliated except for the tippy top, and several trees were taken out because the owner didn't want to deal with any issues. Anyway - I cried for days - like just weeping. When you have a small place, and you don't own it, the trees brought lots of joy. Realizing how little power we had and that the power company and the owner of the park could just take out trees was just devastating.
As a homeowner in the same house for 50 years this year, boy do I have stories. Our power line in Ca in my neighborhood are underground. But when I moved in I was a young girl of 20 and knew nothing about trees and their grow habits. Fast forward 40-50 years and boy have I learned. Had a tree limb fall threw my old Spanish tile garage roof and they haven't made the tiles for 30 years!!!! Also had tree roots grow so large they lifted the driveway cement so high I could no longer open my garage door!!! Lots of expense and hassles. Read those labels before planting anything. These were planted by the developer and I didn't know better til it was to late!
The developers plant the cheapest trees possible, usually are the ones that get quite huge with no regard to foundations, roofs, etc. It's a shame too because these trees are majestic at 80' but not 10' away from the house!
I appreciate your honesty when explaining your do's and don't for your garden. Learning from our mistakes, or from weather/climate changes is always something gardeners will have to deal with. Your gardens are all lovely. Also, I absolutely love your skirt!!!
Did anyone notice Mr squirrel running along the top of the fence behind Linda when she was talking about point number three? I had to smile as I know how aggravated she gets with them!! He managed to get into her video anyway!!😂 Thank you Linda for all your helpful garden knowledge! Thank you for doing it in a way that we feel like part of a gardening family!!! ❤️😁
In South Africa all our power lines have been converted to underground in the roads. No more unsightly overhead utility lines. Hallelujah. Does mean that from time to time our driveways and sidewalks do get dug up!
will watch multiple times just to help me remember what is important in my gardening from now on. And one to keep in mind when I see a beautiful plant and try to make it fit in to my gardening zone of 5b in a very dry and hot Colorado. Thank you for putting this all together in one video.
I garden in the low country of SC, just north of Charleston, and our property abuts a wetland. This has been a HUGE learning experience for me, having grown up in the midwest, and spent most of my adult life in the northeast. We had a landscape designer come in to give advice on our property (3/4 acre), and draw up a plan for us. My husband wanted Charleston garden "rooms", I wanted a view - from the patio, the porch, the house. So what our professional gave us was the geometry, and the hardscape - paths, patio, pergola, and advice on plants. We talked about line of sight - height, texture, light, etc. But what he didn't necessarily stress, and what I learned to be really important, possibly because of the humidity and heat of our summers - is learning where the breeze comes from. DO NOT BLOCK THE BREEZE. No one ever told me this before when talking about garden design. We are lucky - the sun rises over the wetland trees in the back, and we can watch it go down from the front porch. More wonderfully, the house is situated on our corner lot so that the wind blows down the path and into the back yard. John (hubby) wanted a tall walled hedge so that you would enter the back yard as a kind of secret garden. I wouldn't let him do this because that is the direction from which the wind blows most of the time. The breeze is glorious. So I'm writing this to point out that the pattern of the wind is a consideration in design. When to block it, and when not to. It's not something you hear much about when talking about garden plans. This may be more important in the south - I believe most of the design of the city of Charleston places houses to capture breeze during summers with no a/c. Pay attention to the sun, but also to the wind !
Yes, an EXCELLENT point, and somewhat of a conundrum for me right now, as I want to cover things in the yard behind me, that aren’t aesthetically pleasing, yet I don’t want to #1, add more vegetation which brings mosquitoes and such, and #2, block the breeze. Since mosquitoes hate wind-you need wind and air flow. Soooo, trying to figure out how to camouflage without planting more and more evergreens. 🧐🧐. I don’t think it’s possible.
This is a brilliant suggestion. I follow quite a few gardening channels on TH-cam and have never heard this as a garden consideration. Really good, SallyJ401! Bravo.
Our house was built in the 1950s & several trees in our garden were not planted with thought to their full grown size & lifespan. We also have regulations about keeping plant growth away from powerlines now & trees were planted before those existed. We bought our house in 2015 & up until a couple years ago we were just observing the garden & taking things out as needed.
Getting back to basics. This is how my aunts and grandmother gardened. Mainly because of funds. You did not waste what precious little money you had on the maybes! They planted what was tried and true in our zone. Go to your old established nurseries. They are a wealth of knowledge. Keep you from making big mistakes. I follow what they taught me, and my garden makes me happy. I fortunately live in the very most southern states, so don’t have to worry about getting rain. And I stay organic. If it can’t survive the bugs, fungus or whatever, it perishes. That simple. And I get to plant something new🧚🏻♂️. AND AS A SIDE NOTE, watch out for nurseries that recommend a lot of product for your garden. Lots of time they just trying to run up the bill so they can make more money. Do your research before you go.
Yes to more flowering shrubs if you want flowers in your garden. The cost, quantity & care for so many annuals & perennials to fill in gaps can be overwhelming when all you need is a few flowering shrubs. Save the annuals for a few hanging baskets.:)
Love how your reflections and gardening plans will help all of us focus on our changing climate and incorporating more plants known to be sustainable in our specific regions. Your watering tips are more environmentally conscious as well as economical. That's a win all around. Thanks as always, Linda!
We cut down the horrible trees that were planted by previous owners. They regularly dropped limbs in high winds. I replaced them further from the house, with Texas natives. Unfortunately I have a crepe myrtle too close (my mistake) that makes a huge mess on my driveway. Another big mistake was planting what I thought were dwarf Nandinas that took over my front beds and had to be removed. The holly hedge in another area planted by previous owner has been indestructible, only losing a few leaves after our heat and drought. I use native limestone rocks to edge my beds (gathered by my husband) and have large limestone rocks as accents. Great advice and we do have to change accordingly as the climate does. Central Texas 8a.
Hi Linda and Stewart That’s a smart choice gardening for the extreme weather you experience now. Many gardeners love the English country garden look but think about how much rain they get in England and overcast days and you will understand how their gardens work. We all need to think about topography weather and use and expense when planning or re working the garden. I have globe arborvitae which got huge and are now a little in the way but so lush and beautiful. And hosta just looks awful when put in the wrong place. I will be replacing those with tall grasses. Good advice on the irrigation! You look great ! Margaret
From central Ontario, Canada: I love our "Emerald Green" arborvitae, but they definitely don't like intense sunshine. About three years ago, my neighbour removed his large Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), which had been providing dappled shade for some of my Emerald Greens. Those exposed Emerald Greens quickly died despite our in-ground sprinkler system. The healthy ones really provide much needed structure, and colour during our winters.
One of the reasons I love your garden is the combination of formal and some dedicated more free flow plants. In my yard I use mostly free flowing because of lack of an outdoor green thumb and inexperience in making decisions about what I want to have and what is actually going to survive better. In the past I’ve gotten hung up on certain plants that don’t always perform well or are high maintenance. After learning a lot from your video’s I realize it’s okay to pull something out that is over the top struggling or just planting something that proves it’s hardy and sustainable.
I’m getting ready to move in 18 months. Now, I’m thinking of simple ways I can adjust my garden to appeal to the next owner. Most people like a more simple design. Also, since I’m building a home, I also want to take advantage of transplanting my favorite plants from my current garden to the new yard, if the season allows. And, I’m finished with knock out roses because too much pruning and rust and spotting. I give up!
I have old roses bushes, moved from my grandmother's home-place. They have black spots on them now, need to be sprayed. I dead-head so they will continue to bloom. I find that therapeutic and yes, high maintenance. But I only have two, and I will not buy any roses now or in the future. Linda talks about the different elements that must be considered when planning your garden. Your time is one of those elements.
Hi Linda, I used to read a blog out of France and they showed trees that were pollarded. This took out all the heavy growth. The trees never get those huge limbs like the ones that came down at your house. I also grow what wants to grow! Life's to short to hang on to those picky plants! I enjoy life of those! jd
I’ve been in my home for 41 years,and I can luckily say,all our electrical,cable, is all underground. Therefore we have a beautiful canopy of large trees,lining the street. It’s amazing that your garden,still retains its beauty,in such extreme temperatures.
Hello Karen Lehn how are you doing and how’s the weather over there? I was going through comments when I came across your post.. I would love to be a friend, would be nice if you can add me up, i hope you don’t mind?
Great video. This year southern California has brought on gardening lessons galore! While the temperatures have been ideal ( until this week ) The drought has proven to bring on so many challenges. It seems like you can water forever, but without actual rain it is in vain. Thank you for sharing your observations, as usual it is valuable information.
Absolutely great and wise advice!! We learn from nature. Thanks for outlining these ideas. I plan to incorporate them in current and new gardens. Thank you!
Years ago our local fire department gave a program to our women's group, actually we were a rural Home Department. He said, "Never plant a tree within 30 feet of your house "
yes, very good advise. Have you checked out Piet Oudolf and Doug Tallamy? In my new gardens I am trying to plant native grasses and my tried and true native perineals. I am converting a street facing hill from lawn to gardens. I am stacking pavers in sorta random semicircles to terrace the hill and keep much of the mulch and water in place. I am using dwarf yaupon hollies instead of boxwoods for structure and to add order to the disorder of the grasses and such. So many native gardens and permaculture gardens look so random that they are a visual mess, IMO. Piet Oudolf has figured out how to make a prairie garden sing to your soul. I don't think I can pull that off, but I think if I use the yaupons like you use your boxwoods in your front garden, I can come close to a lovely resilient garden. It will be super fun to see how you configure your next garden. I would love to see you develop a native restorative garden that is still stunning to look at (like your garden is now). I think you can do it!
I'm a huge fan of shrubs that give interest in all 4 seasons. I just put in artic fire dog woods, loropetalums, Florida Sunshine Illiciums, and one Candy Corn spirea (the only one that's not evergreen but too beautiful not to use). Here in 7B, central NC, I've found its tricky to judge full sun to part shade and where the plant/shrub will be happiest. Erring on the side of caution is best, even if you sacrifice a little bit of color in the leaves it's better than stressing the plant/shrub and having to use more water. I'm late to the party when it comes to shrubs but they really do provide needed architecture and winter interest. I can't wait to see what it all looks like next year.
Good content Linda. I really resonate with the last point. I’ve recently moved to a small acreage of post oak savannah with prairie grass, pecan trees and old oaks. A dream come true for sure! Soooo my English cottage garden aesthetic from my past suburban, irrigated landscaping has taken a hard hit on the brakes this summer with weeks of triple digits and drought. Biggest lesson learned and still learning is to go with what nature gives you. Plant natives even if my beds will be empty while my plants are sleeping under a blanket of native mulch only to burst forth next year, providing nectar for the pollinators and homes for all the little bugs the many native birds eat so prolifically. I’m 60 not 35 and if I provide a salad bar for the deer well then I’ll take pictures and try again. I love my country home and am evolving as I learn how to garden here. I thought I was a pretty good gardener and then I moved to Texas 😂
As a garden designer one of the biggest mistakes I find people make is planting trees without considering eventual height and spread and far too close to buildings. So if you really love a certain tree maybe consider pollarding if space is restricted. Linda offers very good all round advice.
Where do I start? 1. Not planting hosta deep enough - it’s too rocky here and it’s hard to plant deep enough. They become too leggy. 2. Planting hosta too close to a walkway edge - they get very large and become very difficult to remove. 3. Skipping a year of boxwood fall neem oil - thrips come back during the spring/summer and you’ll have to start all over again. 4. Waiting too long to power wash the bluestone - my bluestone had turned from blue to green and became slippery and dangerous. 5. Waiting too long to hard trim the out-of-control/yellow leafed rhododendrons- spindly and leggy rhododendrons are ugly. 6. Planting a PeeGee Hydrangea too close to a rock wall - conditions were so wet that the roots rotted. I loved that plant. 7. Waiting too long to prune lilac bushes - blooms become very sparse or half bloomed with leggy branches. 8. Not learning how to properly care for Andromeda - four of them are still too yellow after 3-years but I’m not giving up.
Fluctuation in weather changes and knowing the history is so important. Oklahoma went through the extreme weather we are seeing today back in the 30s and early 40s. Finding the key to plants that can change both ways is the key.
Irrigation is so important! Here in California, drip irrigation conserves the most water. The individual emitters on the thin 1/4 inch tubing only last a few years and are hard to install, but 1/2 inch tubing with in-line emitters are sturdy and easy to install. Netafim and Rainbird are common brands. Also, we water during the night to decrease evaporation. Yes, Linda, we are re-designing our yards without turf and thirsty plants too. It feels like the best way to help our Earth.
What a great video!! As far as I'm concerned those of us who are sincerely interested in gardening do learn from experience, and pay attention to restrictions, etc.
When I bought my house, I inherited a row of forty year old 200’ tall Monterrey pines (year round growing season) along the SE side of our front yard and driveway, here on the mountain on Maui. They are gorgeous, but if high winds come, they come from the SE. If one of those trees toppled, it could take out the whole house, and me with it! In addition to that, those trees shade the front yard all winter, but not in summer. Chances are they will not come down in what is left of my lifetime, but with climate change, who knows. So your #1 tip is resonating with me , Linda!
We had to have our 60' locus tree removed 3 weeks ago because it was dangerous to be under and it just "did the twist" during all those high high winds during the winter Into spring. Now we are looking for someone to grind down the stump, and find the proper tree to plant in its place. It actually made me cry to see it go. It was 28 years old and beautiful!
I started to design and plant in the shade, but as the trees have been lost over the years , I am on my way to a sunny garden. I have found that as I see what is floundering in the sun now, I start transplanting them in another area in a shady spot and keep watering it real well. Doing this now in the early fall, they have a chance to be established before the cold weather here in Ohio. The second benefit is they are ready to come up happy and healthy in the spring.
Hi Linda! In answer to your question, my husband and I planted a white pine tree under a power line and told ourselves we wouldn't be alive by the time the tree grew large enough to get close to the lines. Well, we are still here and the tree has been cut back several times by almost half by a tree service the power company hired. It is very traumatic to see them cut it back, especially since the tree is in a row of three. The tree looks very strange because it is right in the middle of the plantings. I would definitely never plant a tree under power lines ever again. Thanks for all your expertise.
The modification I’ve had is with my Hydrangeas. Originally they were planted in more shade because I thought this was ideal for them. Now they are replanted in areas with lots more sunshine and they are thriving with blooms! 😊❤️
You don't tell what zone you are in, but I'm in Zone 7 and need to do the same. The tags say part shade/full sun, and they do need the direct sun (preferably morning sun) to produce blooms. So I have nice small shrubs, with no blooms since I planted them almost 3 years ago. So now, to find a sunny spot to move them to . Zone 7
@@spicyritas4795I garden in zone 9B northern California & my hydrangeas handle our very hot dry summers just fine, they are all in bright dappled shade under trees. They do need a lot of water through the heat of summer but as long as they have enough water they do very well.
Linda thank you for outlining areas for gardeners to consider as we adjust to wild swings in weather conditions. As gardeners we learned to adapt when our plants failed. Now we need to pre plan for extreme events. Mother Nature does keep us guessing right? Love your honest approach and beautiful inspiring videos. From Zone 5 b. Keep it coming. So grateful.
I also was very observant this summer in our heat. Looking for more drought tolerent plants. Deciding what to increase and what not too. Trying to work smarter , not harder as i age . Pulled a bunch out the other day that took over and reclaimed some neg. Space again. Refreshing! Harvesting seeds that i want to use nxt year. Robbing from Peter to pay paul. Always trying to learn, adapt, and improve.
Zone 6 - I appreciate your sharing your garden wisdom. FYI, regarding those Emerald Arborvitae, I have 3 planted in full sun and they are lush, green and full! Our temps did stay in the 90s for longer than usual, this year and I dont have any kind of irrigation system at all. So Im thinking the crispy brown limbs on yours is due to your excessive high heat and not the different exposure. Just a thought.
My arborvitae’s are alive, but they sunburned, and most heavily sunburned on their west facing side (I’m zone 6b). I am already rethinking these I was already aware I relied too heavily on them in design.
@@adamthepugh Sorry to hear about your sunburned arbs. Mine could have just lucked out with the "cooler" micro-climate Ive created around them. Good luck with them in the future.
Hello Linda from Dallas, Texas zone 8a! I agree with everything you mentioned in this video. I've written in before about losing 1/3 of my garden due to extreme weather conditions and with that I'm NOW focusing entirely on plants that can handle temps from the range of zones 4/5 to zones 9/10. I'm planning/planting to win this time around😌
I live in the DFW area and the tree butchering goes on year around by the state utility “Oncore”. I just experienced it this June. My crepe myrtles and oak tree in back were cut 10’ in all directions. Luckily the myrtles grew back pretty quick.😤
Along the way, I started checking out the pros and cons of plants on the internet. That saved me from more disasters than I have already encountered. A small garden is all I will ever need. I'm at that age where less is very satisfying...
Very interesting and important video. I like your English inspired style. ...but you re in the prairie. Here in Europe there is a trend of prairie gardens. A mix of different grasses, perrannuals , some shrubs planted in a natural organic ( not geomatric) form. Piet Oudolf is an example of this style. In the garden of my grandparents which is a garden on a hill terranced with stairs upwards. They removed all the big trees planted at the sides ...( they could eventually fall on the house) but the roots kept the soil on the hill. After melting of the snow a mud avalanche occurs every spring. There should have been planted new smaller trees and shrubs to hold the soil ... About the Hew. I belief Hew can grow in full sun, in windy areas, in dry areas but also in the shade. Saw it on all these places doing well. My dentist had an old hew hedge cut back very severely . It looked awfull. But I saw it a few days ago ...it all came back . There are graveyards with non clipped hew ...full with red berries ....I saw it and thought if you let this tree just bee himself it looks the best. ( if there is enough space). Kind regards, Marcus
My MIL had beautiful redbuds along her fence in her backyard. She came home from work one day & they were all topped down by half or more since they were too close to the power lines. No notice was given. Absolutely gut wrenching! They never recovered & have since all died. She was so angry & I cried.
Thank you for these great observations. This is exactly what I’m dealing with. Ours is an older house with aging maples, pecans, dogwoods, an enormous camellia 6” from the foundation, too much lawn, and on and on. They’re 50-60 years old and have reached the end of their lifespan. We’re slowly redoing and thinking of everything you’ve mentioned. Great thoughts.
Yes! We had the power company come in and take down 12 gigantic cedar trees lining the back of our property! It was horrible, just devastating to us!!! Goldsboro, PA zone 6b
Hello from zone 7A E. Tennessee. I’ve been in my house 21 years and I love the garden more than I did when I moved in. As gardeners, I agree that it’s necessary to look towards accommodating all the changes you talked about but also not falling out of love with the garden that we have. I don’t think I could start over at my age so the best of luck to you as you try to start over somewhere else in the future.
Great, very thoughtful advice (as usual)! ❤️. One strategy I used in my very dry 9a garden in the Sierra foothills was to use plants that thrive in more severe climates than mine to create a lush look. For instance, I used plants from South Africa and Australia, gave them a bit more care and water (not much more) than they would have gotten in their natural habitat and had a very beautiful, green and relatively easy landscape year round. I kept the higher maintenance plants concentrated closer to the house. Most of my neighbors relied on traditional Mediterranean plants that unfortunately would go dry and disheveled by mid-summer. Our climate and persistent drought were simply no longer supporting that style any longer.
Lots of great advice. Also older neighborhood with overhead power lines. PEPCO massively and brutally pruned trees near lines. Certainly, helped with power outages. I'm really trying to concentrate on natives and shrubs and deer resistant plants and what works best for my 7a moderate winters and hot humid summers.
This video made me sad. Your garden has been so inspiring to me, and is actually so successful, Linda, even with your difficulties. I live in hot South Africa and I have a similar style of gardening to yours. It can still be done, just adapting the plants you choose to make sure that they can survive brutal Summers. I use a lot of South African plants, but my style remains rooted in Europe. I love your style, and hope it does not change too radically! Currently, I am busy building a European styled garden in the sandy soil of the humid east Coast of SA. What can I say? I am a Romantic at heart🙂Blessings
Thank you Linda. It is good to hear your thoughts on gardening as we navigate through climate change. I have been taking the same thought journey as I watch all the plants in my garden. I have decided to gradually take out my ball hydrangea macrophila because the blooms can't take the heat and replace them with more oakleaf hydrangea and lacecaps which seem to tough out the heat, require less water and attract pollinators. Pollinators are going to be relying on what we provide in our gardens more than ever. I have many nandina like you and they seem to be workhorses in my garden. Bees love their flowers and I cut they red berry stems and create bouquets for the Holiidays. Gotta save those small song birds. So much to think about. With much appreciation from Portland Oregon!
Linda you are leading the way for sustainable and beautiful gardens. I'm very interested in the changing garden as the climate changes. Thank you for sharing your ideas on this very relevant topic.
Love your top & skirt. In our Australian gardens everyone starts a new garden with lots of Natives, esecially many varieties of Bottle bushes (great pollinators). We, at first kept a lot of Gums (but need pruning often if near power lines or house. Lawns to keep areas cool. Always aware of bush fires & occasional cyclones. Our present home has a more tropical garden, too many huge palms, ferns & vines, looks great. Foregrounds partly shade, colour. Climate is definitely changing & our garden need too also, I agree.
I agree about the harsh, hot sunlight and "full sun" plants (arborvitae, for example) -- can have them in 5b Denver! Love the very last design you shared -- once again, I agree!
Thanks Linda for your timely advice.I pray that as you design yourl new garden that the right property/ home will become available to you and your husband.
Linda I have a love for the bird house at your last home and I was wondering where you purchased it, I would love to order one. I almost had the exact birdhouse which my dad built and it finally became so riddled with wood rot from age we had to take it down. Unfortunately my dad has passed on but I would love to try and replace and yours fits the bill. Thanks I look forward to hearing from you.
Five summers ago, I purchased my home here in south central Montana, zone 4b, partially because of the charm of the lane that runs along the front of the homes that comprise this rural neighborhood. It was our version of an English country lane with tall pines, junipers and cottonwood trees as well as shrubs such as lilac. The pines and junipers provided vertical interest and the cottonwoods, with their open and arching structure, provided shade and enhanced the sense of a private garden. A year later, those mature cottonwood trees were removed because they were too close to power lines. It broke my heart.
Wow Linda excellent advice. I can so relate to your high heat and drought conditions. I live in Cabot Arkansas 7b. What I’ve learned since moving in is that you cannot plant closer than 7 feet of the large Oakes and Hickory trees on our property. They suck all the moisture out of the ground in drought. The same goes for leaving them in zoysia grass areas. Better to take them down. Hydrangea, even lime light cannot take full hot afternoon sun here. I’ve moved all hydrangeas to afternoon shade.
32 years ago when we built our first home and they had to run a new electric line and pole for our home, they cut down a lovely row of maples that ran along the edge of our yard and road. I loved them for the privacy they provided. They did not have to go all the way across the front of our property to the opposite end of our home, which was totally unnecessary, but they do what they want to do. 20 years later after the trees that I replaced those trees with, (however, I did try to stay further away from the lines) they did the same thing as they are doing now in your area--taking all trees out within 10 feet of the lines, so I lost a beautiful pine that grew a little too close. It was heartbreaking! 💔
This was absolutely WONDERFUL! And the timing of this video was spot on! We are in the midst of redoing all the landscaping in the front of our house and have been looking at different design ideas and just the right plants and materials to use. I too want to make the right choices taking into consideration changing weather conditions and a look that is more in tune with my style. These tips were just GREAT! As usual, you have put together with Stewart an informative and interesting video! This was just what I needed to hear...just when I needed it! Thank you so much for your knowledge and hard work! Oh, and let me just say that I LOVE your outfit today! That skirt!!!! LOVE IT! Sending you and Stewart lots of love and blessings!
Agree with everything u said. I live in an older neighborhood with power lines and and power company frequently chops the trees. I have one tree that shows signs of rot and will need removal. Trying to think of a smaller tree to plant.
Chiming in... so agree with your sun-full sun discussion. Sun intensity, full sun +draught they can't take all day sun or afternoon, zero shade placement. Fail. Especially in containers! Cant water 2x a day water restrictions. Things can't take it. Moving containers at least have option. In ground stuff? Rethinking all...
“Nice” wooded area behind our property when we purchased almost 20 years ago. Even though it was small, you couldn’t see through it in the summertime and into the backyard of the house behind us. Well, little did I know about trees. These are mostly tall skinny ash trees which have all passed on now from ash borer disease and are crashing down a few at a time (or in a big wind, more than a few at a time), luckily not onto our property, but making a huge mess looks wise. I do not plan to purchase another property, but if I did, I would question the potential health of not only what is going to be mine, but those surrounding it.
I had a garden in Topeka Kansas, where there was a huge sycamore tree. I utilized that tree as a canopy for a new border I was installing, the local power company came by and chopped down that 52" diameter tree down to a stump. I had to place umbrellas over my garden to protect them until I could figure out how two cope with this new environment.
I used golf umbrellas also after a huge maple had to come down. Also a gorgeous white pine to build a garage. My favorite tree. Now going to move shade lovers elsewhere.
Yes, all of that! I'm definitely transitioning to tougher shrubs like Sumac and yaupon holly to stand up to the texas heat. Looking to Australia is a great idea. Love your skirt!
Hi Linda, Stewert & Keri 👋 Great video today! I'm also embracing the inspiration of tough-as-nails gardens around the globe 🌎 🌿 Your outfit is great Linda 👌
We had to severely prune a major branch from a 50 foot silver maple after many battles with the garbage company about clearance for their trucks. (it barely extended beyond the curb but they balked). About 2 years later we lost the whole tree in an ice storm. I think the removal of the major branch weakened the whole tree and contributed to its demise. Still mourn that tree.
But I absolutely love the boxwood potager!!!! My favorite in your garden. I have three large maples that were planted many years before me, they were used to cool the house from the intense evening heat. However, they are way to close to house and in need of trimming away.
Perfect timing, Linda! This fall my husband and I are moving into a house in a retirement village where I will have a new (for me) garden. I plan to put in a Chinese Snowball Viburnum. Stewart, I have been listening.to you. It will not be close to power lines. It will take climate change into account. I'm thinking of putting annuals in pots and relying on blooming bushes and trees. Maybe some cute echinacia tucked in here and there. It will be a new adventure.
Oh Linda, I have mop-head hydrangeas that were getting too much sun in the back garden, so my son and I moved them to the front. Well, the tree in the front garden had to be cut down due to disease and now the sweet hydrangeas are in the sun most of the afternoon. Here in 7b North Carolina that is NOT a good thing. Ugh, I hate to move them as now they are pretty big, but to save them I have to find the perfect place. I wish I had just left them where they were because now the tree in the back garden will keep them out of the sun most of the afternoon.
I let out a cheer when u referenced more native plants trees or shrubs. Native plants are much much better for butterflies, bees and other pollinators. They are also better for birds. Natives also have much deeper root systems which is necessary to be drought tolerant. Nice!
Great video! You have such a wonderful style and garden. I live in zone 4a in western Canada. House is 54 yr old, utilities are underground. BUT the previous owners (original owners) went way overboard planting evergreens. We had several very large spruce and a massive Austrian pine - ridiculous for a 60x100 ft city lot. We've had several of the spruce removed also a mountain ash that was overhanging a wood burning fireplace chimney. The trees probably looked pretty cute originally - not so good when they were older. They are also total water hogs with shallow roots so it's been a challenge. We don't get the heat you get down there - really hot for us is is 30C (86F) but we are a dry climate naturally (worse over the past few years - mind you, we almost never have humidity issues!). I'd also have put in a greenhouse instead of a shed (the garden tools could have gone into the garage). I see such gorgeous greenhouses on IG accounts from people in the Scandinavian countries.
I found this very interesting and wise advice. Our Australian garden has to cater to drought, cold and heat. We do have a lot of shrubs and some plants are repetitive planted for structure. Summers have very little rainfall and overnight temperatures also remain fairly high. It is hard to find plants that cope with the harsh frosts and also the heat but what we have has worked really well. We do still have some perennials and annuals but rely mostly on shrubs and I also like to have bulbs for the different seasons and not just for Spring. Bulbs that come up after the worst of the heat and when the first showers of rain come I find very valuable for colour. They remain dormant in summer therefore don't need watering. Soil type is always a important consideration. Ours is clay based but improved over the past 18 years and we always mulch at the end of winter wile moisture is in the soil and to help keep the soil cooler under the mulch.
Biggest mistakes I am fixing now is I didn't pay enough attention to the size, mostly how wide instead of height. Once they grew they crowd each other out. So now as the weather cools and I can get out to transplant. I have been paying attention to drought and choosing plants that can handle it.
While the idea of a dedicated bubbler head for (all) woody perennials is a good idea, one little emitter at the base isn't going to cut it for all but the smallest shrubs/trees. A decent sized tree's root system can be 1.5 to 4 times the crown diameter. And most of the water absorbing root hairs are at the end. So a spiraling soaker hose is a the better option. Also, natives are good, but non-natives are not a horrible choice either. They have proven to have their merits for pollinators, such as blooming far into the autumn when most natives have been shutting down for the year for weeks if not months; let alone bloom.
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In my 20s, I lived in a mobile home park. We had 5 Pinoaks and an evergreen. One day, coming home from work - the trees where made defoliated except for the tippy top, and several trees were taken out because the owner didn't want to deal with any issues. Anyway - I cried for days - like just weeping. When you have a small place, and you don't own it, the trees brought lots of joy. Realizing how little power we had and that the power company and the owner of the park could just take out trees was just devastating.
As a homeowner in the same house for 50 years this year, boy do I have stories. Our power line in Ca in my neighborhood are underground. But when I moved in I was a young girl of 20 and knew nothing about trees and their grow habits. Fast forward 40-50 years and boy have I learned. Had a tree limb fall threw my old Spanish tile garage roof and they haven't made the tiles for 30 years!!!! Also had tree roots grow so large they lifted the driveway cement so high I could no longer open my garage door!!! Lots of expense and hassles. Read those labels before planting anything. These were planted by the developer and I didn't know better til it was to late!
I so get it all~
0
Bless your heart! Sorry you had to learn as they say, the hard way!
The developers plant the cheapest trees possible, usually are the ones that get quite huge with no regard to foundations, roofs, etc. It's a shame too because these trees are majestic at 80' but not 10' away from the house!
Linda, your potager has been such an inspiration for me. Your comments broke my heart 😀
I appreciate your honesty when explaining your do's and don't for your garden. Learning from our mistakes, or from weather/climate changes is always something gardeners will have to deal with. Your gardens are all lovely. Also, I absolutely love your skirt!!!
Did anyone notice Mr squirrel running along the top of the fence behind Linda when she was talking about point number three? I had to smile as I know how aggravated she gets with them!! He managed to get into her video anyway!!😂
Thank you Linda for all your helpful garden knowledge! Thank you for doing it in a way that we feel like part of a gardening family!!! ❤️😁
Squirrels are always trying to upstage me!!!🤣
In South Africa all our power lines have been converted to underground in the roads. No more unsightly overhead utility lines. Hallelujah. Does mean that from time to time our driveways and sidewalks do get dug up!
That skirt is awesomely Autumnal!
will watch multiple times just to help me remember what is important in my gardening from now on. And one to keep in mind when I see a beautiful plant and try to make it fit in to my gardening zone of 5b in a very dry and hot Colorado. Thank you for putting this all together in one video.
I garden in the low country of SC, just north of Charleston, and our property abuts a wetland. This has been a HUGE learning experience for me, having grown up in the midwest, and spent most of my adult life in the northeast. We had a landscape designer come in to give advice on our property (3/4 acre), and draw up a plan for us. My husband wanted Charleston garden "rooms", I wanted a view - from the patio, the porch, the house. So what our professional gave us was the geometry, and the hardscape - paths, patio, pergola, and advice on plants. We talked about line of sight - height, texture, light, etc. But what he didn't necessarily stress, and what I learned to be really important, possibly because of the humidity and heat of our summers - is learning where the breeze comes from. DO NOT BLOCK THE BREEZE. No one ever told me this before when talking about garden design. We are lucky - the sun rises over the wetland trees in the back, and we can watch it go down from the front porch. More wonderfully, the house is situated on our corner lot so that the wind blows down the path and into the back yard. John (hubby) wanted a tall walled hedge so that you would enter the back yard as a kind of secret garden. I wouldn't let him do this because that is the direction from which the wind blows most of the time. The breeze is glorious. So I'm writing this to point out that the pattern of the wind is a consideration in design. When to block it, and when not to. It's not something you hear much about when talking about garden plans. This may be more important in the south - I believe most of the design of the city of Charleston places houses to capture breeze during summers with no a/c. Pay attention to the sun, but also to the wind !
THIS IS SUCH A GOOD POINT!!
Yes, an EXCELLENT point, and somewhat of a conundrum for me right now, as I want to cover things in the yard behind me, that aren’t aesthetically pleasing, yet I don’t want to #1, add more vegetation which brings mosquitoes and such, and #2, block the breeze. Since mosquitoes hate wind-you need wind and air flow. Soooo, trying to figure out how to camouflage without planting more and more evergreens. 🧐🧐. I don’t think it’s possible.
This is a brilliant suggestion. I follow quite a few gardening channels on TH-cam and have never heard this as a garden consideration. Really good, SallyJ401! Bravo.
Our house was built in the 1950s & several trees in our garden were not planted with thought to their full grown size & lifespan. We also have regulations about keeping plant growth away from powerlines now & trees were planted before those existed. We bought our house in 2015 & up until a couple years ago we were just observing the garden & taking things out as needed.
WONDERFUL INFORMATION, LINDA VERY EDUCATIONAL!!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL OUTFIT, THE SKIRT IS JUST GORGEOUS!!!!!!!.
Getting back to basics. This is how my aunts and grandmother gardened. Mainly because of funds. You did not waste what precious little money you had on the maybes! They planted what was tried and true in our zone. Go to your old established nurseries. They are a wealth of knowledge. Keep you from making big mistakes. I follow what they taught me, and my garden makes me happy. I fortunately live in the very most southern states, so don’t have to worry about getting rain. And I stay organic. If it can’t survive the bugs, fungus or whatever, it perishes. That simple. And I get to plant something new🧚🏻♂️. AND AS A SIDE NOTE, watch out for nurseries that recommend a lot of product for your garden. Lots of time they just trying to run up the bill so they can make more money. Do your research before you go.
Linda is slowly saying good-bye to this garden
You are very astute 🙏
Hopefully you will have under ground utilities in your new home. Excited to she where your new garden will be. 🏡🌸🌺
Yes to more flowering shrubs if you want flowers in your garden. The cost, quantity & care for so many annuals & perennials to fill in gaps can be overwhelming when all you need is a few flowering shrubs. Save the annuals for a few hanging baskets.:)
Your new home search should include your own new garden plans. Underground utilities is wonderful.
Love how your reflections and gardening plans will help all of us focus on our changing climate and incorporating more plants known to be sustainable in our specific regions. Your watering tips are more environmentally conscious as well as economical. That's a win all around. Thanks as always, Linda!
I am so excited to hear you’re going to start focusing on natives!! I’m in OKC too and I have loved watching you; now I’ll love you even more!!
We cut down the horrible trees that were planted by previous owners. They regularly dropped limbs in high winds. I replaced them further from the house, with Texas natives. Unfortunately I have a crepe myrtle too close (my mistake) that makes a huge mess on my driveway. Another big mistake was planting what I thought were dwarf Nandinas that took over my front beds and had to be removed. The holly hedge in another area planted by previous owner has been indestructible, only losing a few leaves after our heat and drought. I use native limestone rocks to edge my beds (gathered by my husband) and have large limestone rocks as accents. Great advice and we do have to change accordingly as the climate does. Central Texas 8a.
Hi Linda and Stewart
That’s a smart choice gardening for the extreme weather you experience now. Many gardeners love the English country garden look but think about how much rain they get in England and overcast days and you will understand how their gardens work. We all need to think about topography weather and use and expense when planning or re working the garden. I have globe arborvitae which got huge and are now a little in the way but so lush and beautiful. And hosta just looks awful when put in the wrong place. I will be replacing those with tall grasses. Good advice on the irrigation! You look great ! Margaret
From central Ontario, Canada: I love our "Emerald Green" arborvitae, but they definitely don't like intense sunshine. About three years ago, my neighbour removed his large Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), which had been providing dappled shade for some of my Emerald Greens. Those exposed Emerald Greens quickly died despite our in-ground sprinkler system. The healthy ones really provide much needed structure, and colour during our winters.
One of the reasons I love your garden is the combination of formal and some dedicated more free flow plants. In my yard I use mostly free flowing because of lack of an outdoor green thumb and inexperience in making decisions about what I want to have and what is actually going to survive better. In the past I’ve gotten hung up on certain plants that don’t always perform well or are high maintenance. After learning a lot from your video’s I realize it’s okay to pull something out that is over the top
struggling or just planting something that proves it’s hardy and sustainable.
I’m getting ready to move in 18 months. Now, I’m thinking of simple ways I can adjust my garden to appeal to the next owner. Most people like a more simple design. Also, since I’m building a home, I also want to take advantage of transplanting my favorite plants from my current garden to the new yard, if the season allows. And, I’m finished with knock out roses because too much pruning and rust and spotting. I give up!
Me too on the knock outs. No more roses for me.
Done with knock outs, too!
I have old roses bushes, moved from my grandmother's home-place. They have black spots on them now, need to be sprayed. I dead-head so they will continue to bloom. I find that therapeutic and yes, high maintenance. But I only have two, and I will not buy any roses now or in the future. Linda talks about the different elements that must be considered when planning your garden. Your time is one of those elements.
Hi Linda, I used to read a blog out of France and they showed trees that were pollarded. This took out all the heavy growth. The trees never get those huge limbs like the ones that came down at your house. I also grow what wants to grow! Life's to short to hang on to those picky plants! I enjoy life of those! jd
I’ve been in my home for 41 years,and I can luckily say,all our electrical,cable, is all underground. Therefore we have a beautiful canopy of large trees,lining the street. It’s amazing that your garden,still retains its beauty,in such extreme temperatures.
Hello Karen Lehn how are you doing and how’s the weather over there? I was going through comments when I came across your post.. I would love to be a friend, would be nice if you can add me up, i hope you don’t mind?
Great video. This year southern California has brought on gardening lessons galore! While the temperatures have been ideal ( until this week ) The drought has proven to bring on so many challenges. It seems like you can water forever, but without actual rain it is in vain. Thank you for sharing your observations, as usual it is valuable information.
At this point Linda, I’m excited about watching you begin a new garden!
Absolutely great and wise advice!! We learn from nature. Thanks for outlining these ideas. I plan to incorporate them in current and new gardens. Thank you!
where the potage is, I would have raised beds, maybe a small glasshouse and boxwood balls in pots around the four corners (a brit in the USA)
Years ago our local fire department gave a program to our women's group, actually we were a rural Home Department. He said, "Never plant a tree within 30 feet of your house "
yes, very good advise. Have you checked out Piet Oudolf and Doug Tallamy? In my new gardens I am trying to plant native grasses and my tried and true native perineals. I am converting a street facing hill from lawn to gardens. I am stacking pavers in sorta random semicircles to terrace the hill and keep much of the mulch and water in place. I am using dwarf yaupon hollies instead of boxwoods for structure and to add order to the disorder of the grasses and such. So many native gardens and permaculture gardens look so random that they are a visual mess, IMO. Piet Oudolf has figured out how to make a prairie garden sing to your soul. I don't think I can pull that off, but I think if I use the yaupons like you use your boxwoods in your front garden, I can come close to a lovely resilient garden. It will be super fun to see how you configure your next garden. I would love to see you develop a native restorative garden that is still stunning to look at (like your garden is now). I think you can do it!
Oh my yes and they are wonderful! You give great input!
I'm a huge fan of shrubs that give interest in all 4 seasons. I just put in artic fire dog woods, loropetalums, Florida Sunshine Illiciums, and one Candy Corn spirea (the only one that's not evergreen but too beautiful not to use). Here in 7B, central NC, I've found its tricky to judge full sun to part shade and where the plant/shrub will be happiest. Erring on the side of caution is best, even if you sacrifice a little bit of color in the leaves it's better than stressing the plant/shrub and having to use more water. I'm late to the party when it comes to shrubs but they really do provide needed architecture and winter interest. I can't wait to see what it all looks like next year.
Good content Linda. I really resonate with the last point. I’ve recently moved to a small acreage of post oak savannah with prairie grass, pecan trees and old oaks. A dream come true for sure! Soooo my English cottage garden aesthetic from my past suburban, irrigated landscaping has taken a hard hit on the brakes this summer with weeks of triple digits and drought. Biggest lesson learned and still learning is to go with what nature gives you. Plant natives even if my beds will be empty while my plants are sleeping under a blanket of native mulch only to burst forth next year, providing nectar for the pollinators and homes for all the little bugs the many native birds eat so prolifically. I’m 60 not 35 and if I provide a salad bar for the deer well then I’ll take pictures and try again. I love my country home and am evolving as I learn how to garden here. I thought I was a pretty good gardener and then I moved to Texas 😂
As a garden designer one of the biggest mistakes I find people make is planting trees without considering eventual height and spread and far too close to buildings. So if you really love a certain tree maybe consider pollarding if space is restricted.
Linda offers very good all round advice.
I like the way you think.
The ideas you expressed are very important,indeed!
Thank you for this video.......the Thoughtful Gardener......is a great approach to sustainable gardens..The Thoughtful Gardener is you...Thanks, Bob
Where do I start?
1. Not planting hosta deep enough - it’s too rocky here and it’s hard to plant deep enough. They become too leggy.
2. Planting hosta too close to a walkway edge - they get very large and become very difficult to remove.
3. Skipping a year of boxwood fall neem oil - thrips come back during the spring/summer and you’ll have to start all over again.
4. Waiting too long to power wash the bluestone - my bluestone had turned from blue to green and became slippery and dangerous.
5. Waiting too long to hard trim the out-of-control/yellow leafed rhododendrons- spindly and leggy rhododendrons are ugly.
6. Planting a PeeGee Hydrangea too close to a rock wall - conditions were so wet that the roots rotted. I loved that plant.
7. Waiting too long to prune lilac bushes - blooms become very sparse or half bloomed with leggy branches.
8. Not learning how to properly care for Andromeda - four of them are still too yellow after 3-years but I’m not giving up.
Fluctuation in weather changes and knowing the history is so important. Oklahoma went through the extreme weather we are seeing today back in the 30s and early 40s. Finding the key to plants that can change both ways is the key.
Irrigation is so important! Here in California, drip irrigation conserves the most water. The individual emitters on the thin 1/4 inch tubing only last a few years and are hard to install, but 1/2 inch tubing with in-line emitters are sturdy and easy to install. Netafim and Rainbird are common brands. Also, we water during the night to decrease evaporation. Yes, Linda, we are re-designing our yards without turf and thirsty plants too. It feels like the best way to help our Earth.
What a great video!! As far as I'm concerned those of us who are sincerely interested in gardening do learn from experience, and pay attention to restrictions, etc.
When I bought my house, I inherited a row of forty year old 200’ tall Monterrey pines (year round growing season) along the SE side of our front yard and driveway, here on the mountain on Maui. They are gorgeous, but if high winds come, they come from the SE. If one of those trees toppled, it could take out the whole house, and me with it! In addition to that, those trees shade the front yard all winter, but not in summer. Chances are they will not come down in what is left of my lifetime, but with climate change, who knows. So your #1 tip is resonating with me , Linda!
We had to have our 60' locus tree removed 3 weeks ago because it was dangerous to be under and it just "did the twist" during all those high high winds during the winter Into spring. Now we are looking for someone to grind down the stump, and find the proper tree to plant in its place. It actually made me cry to see it go. It was 28 years old and beautiful!
I am so so 😞
I started to design and plant in the shade, but as the trees have been lost over the years , I am on my way to a sunny garden. I have found that as I see what is floundering in the sun now, I start transplanting them in another area in a shady spot and keep watering it real well. Doing this now in the early fall, they have a chance to be established before the cold weather here in Ohio. The second benefit is they are ready to come up happy and healthy in the spring.
Can't wait to see your new garden(s)...🌸🌸🌸
Hi Linda! In answer to your question, my husband and I planted a white pine tree under a power line and told ourselves we wouldn't be alive by the time the tree grew large enough to get close to the lines. Well, we are still here and the tree has been cut back several times by almost half by a tree service the power company hired. It is very traumatic to see them cut it back, especially since the tree is in a row of three. The tree looks very strange because it is right in the middle of the plantings. I would definitely never plant a tree under power lines ever again. Thanks for all your expertise.
The modification I’ve had is with my Hydrangeas. Originally they were planted in more shade because I thought this was ideal for them. Now they are replanted in areas with lots more sunshine and they are thriving with blooms! 😊❤️
You don't tell what zone you are in, but I'm in Zone 7 and need to do the same. The tags say part shade/full sun, and they do need the direct sun (preferably morning sun) to produce blooms. So I have nice small shrubs, with no blooms since I planted them almost 3 years ago. So now, to find a sunny spot to move them to . Zone 7
@@jomoney465I’d like to plant some but I’m in zone 8. I’m not sure if they’d be able to handle the heat even with part shade.
@@spicyritas4795I garden in zone 9B northern California & my hydrangeas handle our very hot dry summers just fine, they are all in bright dappled shade under trees. They do need a lot of water through the heat of summer but as long as they have enough water they do very well.
@@mellfraze8112 thank you for the info. I will give them a try. I’ve got just the spot you suggested.
Linda thank you for outlining areas for gardeners to consider as we adjust to wild swings in weather conditions. As gardeners we learned to adapt when our plants failed. Now we need to pre plan for extreme events. Mother Nature does keep us guessing right? Love your honest approach and beautiful inspiring videos. From Zone 5 b. Keep it coming. So grateful.
Great Video Linda and Greetings from Massachusetts
I also was very observant this summer in our heat. Looking for more drought tolerent plants. Deciding what to increase and what not too. Trying to work smarter , not harder as i age .
Pulled a bunch out the other day that took over and reclaimed some neg. Space again. Refreshing! Harvesting seeds that i want to use nxt year. Robbing from Peter to pay paul. Always trying to learn, adapt, and improve.
Zone 6 - I appreciate your sharing your garden wisdom. FYI, regarding those Emerald Arborvitae, I have 3 planted in full sun and they are lush, green and full! Our temps did stay in the 90s for longer than usual, this year and I dont have any kind of irrigation system at all. So Im thinking the crispy brown limbs on yours is due to your excessive high heat and not the different exposure. Just a thought.
My arborvitae’s are alive, but they sunburned, and most heavily sunburned on their west facing side (I’m zone 6b). I am already rethinking these I was already aware I relied too heavily on them in design.
@@adamthepugh Sorry to hear about your sunburned arbs. Mine could have just lucked out with the "cooler" micro-climate Ive created around them. Good luck with them in the future.
@@alcg3981 If anything, we all agree that this has been a really peculiar gardening season, weatherwise! Happy Gardening!
Hello Linda from Dallas, Texas zone 8a! I agree with everything you mentioned in this video. I've written in before about losing 1/3 of my garden due to extreme weather conditions and with that I'm NOW focusing entirely on plants that can handle temps from the range of zones 4/5 to zones 9/10. I'm planning/planting to win this time around😌
Yes!
I live in the DFW area and the tree butchering goes on year around by the state utility “Oncore”. I just experienced it this June. My crepe myrtles and oak tree in back were cut 10’ in all directions. Luckily the myrtles grew back pretty quick.😤
Aargghhh!
Along the way, I started checking out the pros and cons of plants on the internet. That saved me from more disasters than I have already encountered. A small garden is all I will ever need. I'm at that age where less is very satisfying...
Yup!
Words of wisdom , thanks Linda
Very interesting and important video.
I like your English inspired style. ...but you re in the prairie.
Here in Europe there is a trend of prairie gardens. A mix of different grasses, perrannuals , some shrubs planted in a natural organic ( not geomatric) form.
Piet Oudolf is an example of this style.
In the garden of my grandparents which is a garden on a hill terranced with stairs upwards. They removed all the big trees planted at the sides ...( they could eventually fall on the house) but the roots kept the soil on the hill.
After melting of the snow a mud avalanche occurs every spring.
There should have been planted new smaller trees and shrubs to hold the soil ...
About the Hew.
I belief Hew can grow in full sun, in windy areas, in dry areas but also in the shade.
Saw it on all these places doing well.
My dentist had an old hew hedge cut back very severely .
It looked awfull.
But I saw it a few days ago ...it all came back .
There are graveyards with non clipped hew ...full with red berries ....I saw it and thought if you let this tree just bee himself it looks the best. ( if there is enough space).
Kind regards,
Marcus
My MIL had beautiful redbuds along her fence in her backyard. She came home from work one day & they were all topped down by half or more since they were too close to the power lines. No notice was given. Absolutely gut wrenching! They never recovered & have since all died. She was so angry & I cried.
I can only imagine!
How terrible
That is heartbreaking
Absolutely brilliant 👍🇺🇸
Thank you for these great observations. This is exactly what I’m dealing with. Ours is an older house with aging maples, pecans, dogwoods, an enormous camellia 6” from the foundation, too much lawn, and on and on. They’re 50-60 years old and have reached the end of their lifespan. We’re slowly redoing and thinking of everything you’ve mentioned. Great thoughts.
Yah for Aussie gardens that will give you great inspiration for gardening in the heat. Love!! today's outfit.
Yes! We had the power company come in and take down 12 gigantic cedar trees lining the back of our property! It was horrible, just devastating to us!!! Goldsboro, PA zone 6b
Hello from zone 7A E. Tennessee. I’ve been in my house 21 years and I love the garden more than I did when I moved in. As gardeners, I agree that it’s necessary to look towards accommodating all the changes you talked about but also not falling out of love with the garden that we have. I don’t think I could start over at my age so the best of luck to you as you try to start over somewhere else in the future.
🙏🙏🙏
Needed the evergreen talk. Thank you.
Really good video Linda. One I think I
Great, very thoughtful advice (as usual)! ❤️. One strategy I used in my very dry 9a garden in the Sierra foothills was to use plants that thrive in more severe climates than mine to create a lush look. For instance, I used plants from South Africa and Australia, gave them a bit more care and water (not much more) than they would have gotten in their natural habitat and had a very beautiful, green and relatively easy landscape year round. I kept the higher maintenance plants concentrated closer to the house. Most of my neighbors relied on traditional Mediterranean plants that unfortunately would go dry and disheveled by mid-summer. Our climate and persistent drought were simply no longer supporting that style any longer.
7b, W. TN
Linda, what you did with the irrigation end piece at the base of the little evergreen was ingenius!! Love this.
Really good points to consider here. I am planning some intentional garden decisions myself.
Lots of great advice. Also older neighborhood with overhead power lines. PEPCO massively and brutally pruned trees near lines. Certainly, helped with power outages. I'm really trying to concentrate on natives and shrubs and deer resistant plants and what works best for my 7a moderate winters and hot humid summers.
Good for you!
This video made me sad. Your garden has been so inspiring to me, and is actually so successful, Linda, even with your difficulties. I live in hot South Africa and I have a similar style of gardening to yours. It can still be done, just adapting the plants you choose to make sure that they can survive brutal Summers. I use a lot of South African plants, but my style remains rooted in Europe. I love your style, and hope it does not change too radically! Currently, I am busy building a European styled garden in the sandy soil of the humid east Coast of SA. What can I say? I am a Romantic at heart🙂Blessings
Good luck!
Thank you Linda. It is good to hear your thoughts on gardening as we navigate through climate change. I have been taking the same thought journey as I watch all the plants in my garden. I have decided to gradually take out my ball hydrangea macrophila because the blooms can't take the heat and replace them with more oakleaf hydrangea and lacecaps which seem to tough out the heat, require less water and attract pollinators. Pollinators are going to be relying on what we provide in our gardens more than ever. I have many nandina like you and they seem to be workhorses in my garden. Bees love their flowers and I cut they red berry stems and create bouquets for the Holiidays. Gotta save those small song birds. So much to think about.
With much appreciation from Portland Oregon!
Linda you are leading the way for sustainable and beautiful gardens. I'm very interested in the changing garden as the climate changes. Thank you for sharing your ideas on this very relevant topic.
Thank you Sydney
Love your top & skirt. In our Australian gardens everyone starts a new garden with lots of
Natives, esecially many varieties of Bottle bushes (great pollinators). We, at first kept a lot
of Gums (but need pruning often if near power lines or house. Lawns to keep areas cool.
Always aware of bush fires & occasional cyclones. Our present home has a more tropical garden, too many huge palms, ferns & vines, looks great. Foregrounds partly shade, colour.
Climate is definitely changing & our garden need too also, I agree.
I agree about the harsh, hot sunlight and "full sun" plants (arborvitae, for example) -- can have them in 5b Denver! Love the very last design you shared -- once again, I agree!
Thanks Linda for your timely advice.I pray that as you design yourl new garden that the right property/ home will become available to you and your husband.
Hi Linda thank you! great information and I'm learning here
Linda I have a love for the bird house at your last home and I was wondering where you purchased it, I would love to order one. I almost had the exact birdhouse which my dad built and it finally became so riddled with wood rot from age we had to take it down. Unfortunately my dad has passed on but I would love to try and replace and yours fits the bill. Thanks I look forward to hearing from you.
Five summers ago, I purchased my home here in south central Montana, zone 4b, partially because of the charm of the lane that runs along the front of the homes that comprise this rural neighborhood. It was our version of an English country lane with tall pines, junipers and cottonwood trees as well as shrubs such as lilac. The pines and junipers provided vertical interest and the cottonwoods, with their open and arching structure, provided shade and enhanced the sense of a private garden. A year later, those mature cottonwood trees were removed because they were too close to power lines. It broke my heart.
Oh what heartbreak!
Love your outfit today !! That skirt is beautiful ! Good gardening info !
Wow Linda excellent advice. I can so relate to your high heat and drought conditions. I live in Cabot Arkansas 7b. What I’ve learned since moving in is that you cannot plant closer than 7 feet of the large Oakes and Hickory trees on our property. They suck all the moisture out of the ground in drought. The same goes for leaving them in zoysia grass areas. Better to take them down. Hydrangea, even lime light cannot take full hot afternoon sun here. I’ve moved all hydrangeas to afternoon shade.
32 years ago when we built our first home and they had to run a new electric line and pole for our home, they cut down a lovely row of maples that ran along the edge of our yard and road. I loved them for the privacy they provided. They did not have to go all the way across the front of our property to the opposite end of our home, which was totally unnecessary, but they do what they want to do. 20 years later after the trees that I replaced those trees with, (however, I did try to stay further away from the lines) they did the same thing as they are doing now in your area--taking all trees out within 10 feet of the lines, so I lost a beautiful pine that grew a little too close. It was heartbreaking! 💔
This was absolutely WONDERFUL! And the timing of this video was spot on! We are in the midst of redoing all the landscaping in the front of our house and have been looking at different design ideas and just the right plants and materials to use. I too want to make the right choices taking into consideration changing weather conditions and a look that is more in tune with my style. These tips were just GREAT! As usual, you have put together with Stewart an informative and interesting video! This was just what I needed to hear...just when I needed it! Thank you so much for your knowledge and hard work! Oh, and let me just say that I LOVE your outfit today! That skirt!!!! LOVE IT! Sending you and Stewart lots of love and blessings!
They are pruning all trees that are within within 20 feet in Little Rock. If you look down the row of power lines, there are all 1/2 trees
🥹
Agree with everything u said. I live in an older neighborhood with power lines and and power company frequently chops the trees. I have one tree that shows signs of rot and will need removal. Trying to think of a smaller tree to plant.
Chiming in... so agree with your sun-full sun discussion. Sun intensity, full sun +draught they can't take all day sun or afternoon, zero shade placement. Fail. Especially in containers! Cant water 2x a day water restrictions. Things can't take it. Moving containers at least have option. In ground stuff? Rethinking all...
“Nice” wooded area behind our property when we purchased almost 20 years ago. Even though it was small, you couldn’t see through it in the summertime and into the backyard of the house behind us. Well, little did I know about trees. These are mostly tall skinny ash trees which have all passed on now from ash borer disease and are crashing down a few at a time (or in a big wind, more than a few at a time), luckily not onto our property, but making a huge mess looks wise. I do not plan to purchase another property, but if I did, I would question the potential health of not only what is going to be mine, but those surrounding it.
Great advice
I had a garden in Topeka Kansas, where there was a huge sycamore tree. I utilized that tree as a canopy for a new border I was installing, the local power company came by and chopped down that 52" diameter tree down to a stump. I had to place umbrellas over my garden to protect them until I could figure out how two cope with this new environment.
Trauma!
I used golf umbrellas also after a huge maple had to come down. Also a gorgeous white pine to build a garage. My favorite tree. Now going to move shade lovers elsewhere.
Stuart might be able to dub in Italian… so much style, no one would think you were in Oklahoma ♥️
Yes, all of that! I'm definitely transitioning to tougher shrubs like Sumac and yaupon holly to stand up to the texas heat. Looking to Australia is a great idea. Love your skirt!
Hollys seem like weeds to me. They grow too fast.
Hi Linda, Stewert & Keri 👋 Great video today! I'm also embracing the inspiration of tough-as-nails gardens around the globe 🌎 🌿 Your outfit is great Linda 👌
Great information thanknyou. Love your skirt
We had to severely prune a major branch from a 50 foot silver maple after many battles with the garbage company about clearance for their trucks. (it barely extended beyond the curb but they balked). About 2 years later we lost the whole tree in an ice storm. I think the removal of the major branch weakened the whole tree and contributed to its demise. Still mourn that tree.
Sorry to hear that. And, thanks for sharing that lesson about factoring in utilities/traffic/pedestrians at the perimeter of one’s garden.
But I absolutely love the boxwood potager!!!! My favorite in your garden. I have three large maples that were planted many years before me, they were used to cool the house from the intense evening heat. However, they are way to close to house and in need of trimming away.
Perfect timing, Linda! This fall my husband and I are moving into a house in a retirement village where I will have a new (for me) garden. I plan to put in a Chinese Snowball Viburnum. Stewart, I have been listening.to you. It will not be close to power lines. It will take climate change into account. I'm thinking of putting annuals in pots and relying on blooming bushes and trees. Maybe some cute echinacia tucked in here and there. It will be a new adventure.
Go for it!
This video is amazing thank you so much for sharing this info, so much to learn from.
Oh Linda, I have mop-head hydrangeas that were getting too much sun in the back garden, so my son and I moved them to the front. Well, the tree in the front garden had to be cut down due to disease and now the sweet hydrangeas are in the sun most of the afternoon. Here in 7b North Carolina that is NOT a good thing. Ugh, I hate to move them as now they are pretty big, but to save them I have to find the perfect place. I wish I had just left them where they were because now the tree in the back garden will keep them out of the sun most of the afternoon.
I let out a cheer when u referenced more native plants trees or shrubs. Native plants are much much better for butterflies, bees and other pollinators. They are also better for birds. Natives also have much deeper root systems which is necessary to be drought tolerant. Nice!
Great video! You have such a wonderful style and garden. I live in zone 4a in western Canada. House is 54 yr old, utilities are underground. BUT the previous owners (original owners) went way overboard planting evergreens. We had several very large spruce and a massive Austrian pine - ridiculous for a 60x100 ft city lot. We've had several of the spruce removed also a mountain ash that was overhanging a wood burning fireplace chimney. The trees probably looked pretty cute originally - not so good when they were older. They are also total water hogs with shallow roots so it's been a challenge. We don't get the heat you get down there - really hot for us is is 30C (86F) but we are a dry climate naturally (worse over the past few years - mind you, we almost never have humidity issues!). I'd also have put in a greenhouse instead of a shed (the garden tools could have gone into the garage). I see such gorgeous greenhouses on IG accounts from people in the Scandinavian countries.
I found this very interesting and wise advice.
Our Australian garden has to cater to drought, cold and heat. We do have a lot of shrubs and some plants are repetitive planted for structure.
Summers have very little rainfall and overnight temperatures also remain fairly high. It is hard to find plants that cope with the harsh frosts and also the heat but what we have has worked really well.
We do still have some perennials and annuals but rely mostly on shrubs and I also like to have bulbs for the different seasons and not just for Spring. Bulbs that come up after the worst of the heat and when the first showers of rain come I find very valuable for colour. They remain dormant in summer therefore don't need watering.
Soil type is always a important consideration. Ours is clay based but improved over the past 18 years and we always mulch at the end of winter wile moisture is in the soil and to help keep the soil cooler under the mulch.
Smart practices!
Biggest mistakes I am fixing now is I didn't pay enough attention to the size, mostly how wide instead of height. Once they grew they crowd each other out. So now as the weather cools and I can get out to transplant. I have been paying attention to drought and choosing plants that can handle it.
While the idea of a dedicated bubbler head for (all) woody perennials is a good idea, one little emitter at the base isn't going to cut it for all but the smallest shrubs/trees. A decent sized tree's root system can be 1.5 to 4 times the crown diameter. And most of the water absorbing root hairs are at the end. So a spiraling soaker hose is a the better option.
Also, natives are good, but non-natives are not a horrible choice either. They have proven to have their merits for pollinators, such as blooming far into the autumn when most natives have been shutting down for the year for weeks if not months; let alone bloom.
Nice hat !