Q: I am a homeowner and have lived in northeast Portland for over 20 years. I grew up in New York and knew little about gardening and learning how to care for my garden has been quite a challenge over the years. I now have more time to devote myself and I finally want to start maintaining a beautiful and sustainable garden. The immediate problem is that due to many factors, my garden is filled with years of overgrown weeds, aging neglected plants and shrubs and I’m not sure where to start exactly. I’ve spent a lot of time this spring / summer pulling weeds, cutting and digging up massive invasive weeds and plants, looking around and figuring out what to do next and how to do it. I’m stuck here.
I have several “areas” around my house, all of which are different and need attention. I would divide it into the area in front of my house (west facing), which is partially shaded by a western cedar tree and a doug fir; a very dry parking lot, almost entirely made of weeds; a side courtyard that is shady in places on the north side of my driveway; my garden; and then a side courtyard on the south side of my house.
First, I’d like to start preparing the area in front of my house to plant some shrubs and native perennials in the cooler weather. I’ve tried this several times over the years, paid for help and none of it has worked at all. The plants died because they got too much or too little sun and probably because they weren’t well watered and the soil wasn’t properly adjusted. So, besides what and where to plant, I don’t know how to prepare the soil. I have a layer of dry, brown, grassy weed plants that are about 6 to 10 inches tall. I dug up most of the blackberries that grow on the edge and get worse every year. Do I have to hand-destroy all the stuff that grows? Pull out or break in?
The courtyard faces west and the two large trees are on the north side of the courtyard. Do I rake the needles and cones together or do I leave them there and let them rot and mix in compost and other dirt for planting? Should I try to cover the yard with plastic for the next few months? I feel like I need to not only plan a basic design, but do some really good prep and then of course try to fill it in with some plants so that all of the weeds aren’t weed again next spring. – Multnomah County
A: Such a huge project can quickly become overwhelming. A good strategy to help you move forward is to subdivide the project. Start with just part of the landscape you will see every day, maybe the front yard, to add value to your charming home.
Consider starting with specific research to define your needs and wants. Next, make a plan, but wait until fall to plant. Then autumn and winter rains thoroughly moisten the soil, which makes it easier to prepare the soil and planting. The rain also facilitates the aftercare and maintenance required to establish stable root systems. Even so, occasional additional watering directly in the root zones of evergreen plants may be necessary in winter.
Consider reading books for ideas, such as the Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping. And check out some other basic landscaping books such as: B. HP Books and OrthoBooks, which unfortunately no longer print. Even so, they can be available in local libraries. Today, librarians still enjoy the opportunity to discover other excellent resources for the public, including basic design software.
Local garden centers are another helpful resource. Some offer a range of planning aids, from a casual conversation to a detailed planting plan with installation, with several subdivisions between the two extremes. Some customers prefer to have the center’s landscaping department install the entire plan, while others do part of the installation themselves.
One key to success is making a list of how you plan to use the property. Divide it into functional areas for specific uses. Some considerations are a utility area (trash can, etc.); a vegetable and / or flower garden; a play area (children and / or pets); a place for outdoor entertainment; another for parking; and ways.
Next, define the desired plant species (trees, shrubs, herbaceous and / or deciduous perennials) and their approximate maturity size. (Note that you are not yet going to define specific plant varieties.) Part of the selection process needs to be considering how much care, including pruning, will be required in the years to come.
Group the plants according to their water needs, including sun or shade. And understand that all woody plants, even if considered drought tolerant, need to be watered regularly for the first two years as you gradually reduce the amount to their basic need for continued good health.
While you are determining what you want where, consider covering the floor with 3 to 4 inches of arborist wood shavings sourced from ChipDrop. When it’s time to plant, it’s easy to rake them out of the way. These chips are very different from off-the-shelf chips, but they work just as well and are free.
Explore the ChipDrop website including the video that explains why some people don’t like it. Yes, they are a little different from the norm, but they are still effective in covering the soil, reducing weed growth, and gradually conditioning the soil below.
A few resources to help you choose native plants:
– Jean Natter, OSU Extension Master Gardener Diagnostician
For answers to your gardening questions, turn to Ask to Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from the Extension Service at Oregon State University. OSU Extension Faculty and Master Gardeners answer inquiries within two working days, usually less. To ask a question, just go to the OSU extension website, enter it, and indicate the county you live in.
